Liu lands first Symetra Tour title

Liu Yu survived a closing bogey to win the Tullymore Classic by a stroke on Sunday for her first Symetra Tour title.

The 21-year-old from Beijing closed with a 4-under 68 to finish at 16-under 200 at Michigan's Tullymore Golf Resort. She earned $15,000 to jump from 10th to fifth on the money list with $42,571. The top 10 at the end of the season earn LPGA Tour cards.

Liu was doused with water on the 18th green by fellow players Liu Ruixin, Tiffany Chan, Victoria Morgan and Mind Muangkhumsakul.

"It is amazing. The first win was really tough," said Liu, the third Chinese winner on the tour. "To have my friends out there supporting me on the last hole is definitely an experience that I will remember forever."

Liu tied for fourth last year at Tullymore after taking the lead into the final round. She tied for fifth the previous week in the Island Resort Championship in Harris. In her lone college season, she helped Duke win NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference titles in 2014.

"This definitely helps not only from the ranking standpoint, but as a big confidence booster for me knowing that I am capable of winning out here," Liu said. "I've been close a couple of times, but I haven't been able to get it done until now. Getting a win really differentiates the best players from the good players."

Jessica Welch (67), second-round leader Lindsey Weaver (71) and Germany's Sophia Popov (67) tied for second. Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen (68) was another stroke back. She leads the money list with $62,956.

Liu chipped in for birdie from the rough on No 15.

"That was definitely one of the turning points," Liu said.

"Lindsey was first to hit and she knocked it close. I had 174 yards to the pin and it was downwind so I used my 7-iron and I did a three-quarter shot, but I just smashed it and it went over the green and in the rough. I felt that I really needed a par save there but didn't expect it to go in."

Liu saved par on 16 after hitting her second shot into the water and made another par on 17.

On the par-5 18th, Liu hit her tee shot right and into the long grass and took an unplayable lie. Weaver hit her third to about 15 feet, and Liu hit her fourth to five feet.

Weaver's birdie try lipped out, and Liu two-putted for victory.

Liu opened with a career-best 64 and shot a 68 on Saturday. She finished two strokes off the tour's 54-hole scoring record set by Vicky Hurst in 2008 in McAllen, Texas, and matched by Christine Song in 2010 in Mason, Ohio.

Associated Press