Xiyu Lin wins Aramco Team Series in Hong Kong | LPG | Professional Women’s Golf Association

Xiyu Lin won her third Ladies European Tour (LET) title after securing a playoff win at PIF – Hong Kong’s Aramco Team Series.

The final round of the event in Hong Kong had to be canceled due to Typhoon Koinu and the government issued a T8 warning.

At the end of the second round on Saturday, two players tied at 11 apiece were at the top of the standings with Korea’s Jin Young Ko and China’s Lin.

With the tournament shortened to 36 holes, both Ko and Lin traveled to the Hong Kong Golf Club on Sunday morning for a playoff that started at 9:30 a.m. (local time).

On the first playoff hole, world number three Ko found water with her second shot, but her fourth hit just a few feet from the pin.

Lin had a chance to make a par putt to win, but she missed the right one, so she holed a five, then Ko holed her putt to also make a five and send them both back to the tee.

With the wind blowing and rain pouring down, Lin hit her second shot on the edge of the green while Ko was off the green to the right.

The Chinese star then made her monster birdie putt to put pressure on the two-time Major champion, who had to hole out.

Despite a good effort, Ko was unable to birdie, leaving Lin and her caddy to celebrate at the edge of the green for winning her third LET title.

“It means a lot. It doesn’t happen very often and I’m just happy that I was able to do it in front of everyone,” Lin said.

“Especially after the first playoff hole where I missed the shorter winning shot, I was a little nervous. After missing that putt, I quickly regrouped. I think I played a lot smoother on the second hole. I didn’t think I’d be able to make a birdie in those conditions on the 18th hole, so that’s a big bonus for me. I’m just happy that I managed to do it.

“Any time you can capture a victory in front of the number one and number three in the world, it’s a pretty good feeling, and I’ve also had a lot of support from the local fans this week. I feel really grateful. It means a lot to me and will always hold a special place in my heart.”

This is the third playoff Lin has participated in in the last two seasons, following two losses on the LPGA Tour at the 2022 Honda LPGA Championship in Thailand and the 2023 JM Eagle LA Championship.

However, the world number twelve remain patient and bide their time and were glad it happened in Hong Kong.

She explained: “It was one of my best putts. I’ve been in the playoffs many times over the last two seasons and never won, but I kept telling myself that I hadn’t done anything wrong and my time had come. I’ll come.

“I’m playing against Jin Young, it’s not easy, she is one of the best players in the world, but in these conditions everyone is the same. Whoever shows more patience wins this overtime. I coped with it great, I’m proud and happy of myself. I know that putt is a bonus, but because I stayed patient, it’s my bonus and my time.”

Dutch star Anne Van Dam finished the week in third place at 10 under par, with Australian Stephanie Kyriacou and Spain’s Nuria Iturrioz one shot further in fourth place.

Sweden’s Lisa Pettersson and Thailand’s Trichat Cheenglab finished sixth on 7-under-par, while Lilia Vu, Leonie Harm and Tiffany Chan rounded out the top 10 on 4-under-par.

In the race to the Costa del Sol in 2023, the French Celine Boutier still leads with 1,792.88 points, the second place is taken by the Swedish Johanna Gustavsson (1,551.07) and the third by the Spanish Ana Peláez Triviño (1,487.20).

India’s Diksha Dagar is in fourth place with 1,484.61 points, followed by Thailand’s Cheenglab in fifth place with 1,448.22 points.

Aditi Ashok of India is sixth, Linn Grant of Sweden is seventh, Klara Davidson Spilkova of the Czech Republic is eighth and Dutch star Van Dam moves from 21st to ninth (1,142.80) in the rankings.

Just behind Van Dam in tenth place is the Spaniard Iturrioz with 1,131.51 points, while Pettersson advanced to 11th place.