China’s Peng lifts first WTA title
BEIJING - China’s Peng Shuai won the first WTA Tour title of her career Sunday, beating America’s Alison Riske to secure the Tianjin Open. Peng – listed as 182nd in the world by the WTA – beat the 56th-ranked American 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 in an hour and 45 minutes. Riske’s victory in the 2014 Tianjin Open remains her only WTA Tour win. This year’s event has total prize money of $426,750. At the semi-finals earlier in the day, she knocked out world number eight Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in a gruelling encounter lasting two and a half hours with the Russian two-time Grand Slam champion and second seed. Peng, 30, had defeated Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 to make it to the finals. China has hosted an increasing number of WTA tournaments as it seeks more clout in the game.–AFP
Ciganda wins Korea LPGA Championship
SEOUL - Carlota Ciganda of Spain secured her first LPGA Tour victory after defeating Alison Lee from the United States in a playoff in South Korea Sunday. Ciganda entered the final round of the Korea LPGA Championship at Sky 72 in Incheon at eight-under par, five strokes behind the overnight leader Lee. But the 26-year-old overcame the deficit with a furious charge featuring six birdies and ended the regulation tied with Lee at 10-under 278. They returned to the 18th hole for the playoff, where Ciganda defeated Lee, the world number 44, with a birdie on the first extra hole. It was the first LPGA Tour title for Ciganda, the world number 37 who made her debut in 2012. She became the third European winner this year following Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist and Germany’s Caroline Masson.–AFP
Pavit dedicates Macau win to late Thai king
MACAU - Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert beat India’s Anirban Lahiri in a play-off Sunday at the Venetian Macao Open, dedicating his first Asian Tour win to late King Bhumibol. He and Lahiri, the reigning Asian Tour number one, shot a seven-under-par 64 and 65 respectively in the final round to tie at 16-under-par 268. Pavit won in extra time with a birdie on the par five 18th hole when Lahiri found the water hazard with his second shot after a wayward drive en route to a bogey. Pavit said the inspiration from the king, who died Thursday aged 88, had helped him and the other Thai players. “All the Thai players are very sad after hearing the news back home,” he said. “The king is our inspiration this week, our life and this trophy is for the king. I dedicate this win to the king.”–AFP
Pavit dedicates Macau win to late Thai king
MACAU - Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert beat India’s Anirban Lahiri in a play-off Sunday at the Venetian Macao Open, dedicating his first Asian Tour win to late King Bhumibol. He and Lahiri, the reigning Asian Tour number one, shot a seven-under-par 64 and 65 respectively in the final round to tie at 16-under-par 268. Pavit won in extra time with a birdie on the par five 18th hole when Lahiri found the water hazard with his second shot after a wayward drive en route to a bogey. Pavit said the inspiration from the king, who died Thursday aged 88, had helped him and the other Thai players. “All the Thai players are very sad after hearing the news back home,” he said. “The king is our inspiration this week, our life and this trophy is for the king. I dedicate this win to the king.”–AFP
Pavit dedicates Macau win to late Thai king
MACAU - Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert beat India’s Anirban Lahiri in a play-off Sunday at the Venetian Macao Open, dedicating his first Asian Tour win to late King Bhumibol. He and Lahiri, the reigning Asian Tour number one, shot a seven-under-par 64 and 65 respectively in the final round to tie at 16-under-par 268. Pavit won in extra time with a birdie on the par five 18th hole when Lahiri found the water hazard with his second shot after a wayward drive en route to a bogey. Pavit said the inspiration from the king, who died Thursday aged 88, had helped him and the other Thai players. “All the Thai players are very sad after hearing the news back home,” he said. “The king is our inspiration this week, our life and this trophy is for the king. I dedicate this win to the king.”–AFP