China’s Ruining Yin racked her nerve to put a birdie on the final hole to win the Women’s PGA Championship in New Jersey.
The 20-year-old, who is ranked 24th in the women’s world rankings, had a bogey-free 67 on the weather-delayed final day at Baltusrol Golf Club, where a birdie finish of 18th lifted her to minus eight. Former US Open champion Yuka Saso.
Yin found the rough with her tee shot on fifth and had to lay down, before hitting a stellar iron to eight feet and curling a hole to secure her first major win.
“I knew I had to birdie that hole to win the tournament, and I’m glad I did,” said Yin, who won the Los Angeles Open in April. “I only missed six greens in four days I think, so keeping track of my course was good.”
Solheim Cup stars Carlotta Ceganda and Anna Nordqvist shared a third-place finish under Meghan Kang, Xiu Lin and Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Middaugh, while Irish night leader Leona Maguire was knocked out of contention after a disappointing Sunday, shooting a final round 74 to finish within one run. From the eleventh, four shots behind Yin.
Former amateur star Rose Chang, who won the Mizuho US Open on her professional debut earlier this month, was far from the lead after a birdie-six in her first 14 holes on Sunday. However, the 20-year-old feinted 16th and finished tied for eighth for five-under.