Shanshan Feng wins the 2012 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters in style
Held the under patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on Saturday came to an end when Shanshan Feng lapped the field and made history by winning the tournament. Attending the prize ceremony was HRH Princess Haya, along with Her daughter, HH Sheikha Al Jalila Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Both HRH Princess Haya and HH Sheikha Al Jalila presented Feng with the winner’s trophy. Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Vice-chairman and CEO of ‘golf in DUBAi’, was also present at the ceremony, along with representatives of the sponsors.
Starting the day with a healthy five-shot cushion on Sunday, the world number six from China went about her business without much ado, closing with a 69 to finish at 21-under-par 267, a good five shots ahead of the Netherland’s Dewi Claire Schreefel.
It was the lowest 74-hole total since the inception of the season-ending Ladies European Tour event in 2006, beating the previous best of 18-under jointly held by Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam and In Kyung Kim of South Korea.
The Omega’s newest ambassador had her moments to reach another landmark, but fell short by one stroke in matching’s Sorenstam’s largest winning margin of six shots she recorded in the inaugural edition in 2006.
“It feels nice to finish off in such a dominant matter,” said a jubilant Feng, the only player from China to win on the LPGA Tour. She couldn’t have asked for a better finish in a tournament she dominated from the word go. “This is my third wire-to-wire victory since August last year,” said Feng.
“This (Omega Dubai Ladies Masters) is like a major on the Ladies European Tour. I have always heard about it that it’s very nice. Indeed, it is. I can tell this from experience now.
“I love the (Majlis) course, I love the people here,” said the 23-year-old, who turned professional in 2007. “I think I putted very solid the whole week and that was the key to my victory,” said whose goal before the start of the week was to rake in a top-five finish.
The Netherland’s Schreefel was equally excited with her second place finish, four shots ahead of Becky Brewerton of Wales and Caroline Masson of Germany.
“I’m very excited with this finish. I think I played really well the whole week,” said Schreefel. “I was just focusing my game since Shanshan was so far ahead. It was actually good because I could concentrate on my game.
“This second place almost feels like a victory since she (Feng) had already run away with it with her first two round. I may not have won, but I am very pleased with my game, which was just solid,” said the Dutchwoman, who had set up a new course for ladies with a 63 on Friday.
Elsewhere, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda finished tied 10th which was good enough for her to win the ISPS Handa Order of Merit with euro 251,289 in earnings from 19 events, ahead of her nearest challenger Caroline Masson of Germany.
“It has been a great year. Naturally, I am very pleased to have won the Order of Merit. I would like to congratulate Caroline because is a great player and she has recently won her LPGA card. I wish her the very best.”
Among the notables, defending champion Lexi Thompson finished tied 10th on nine under 279 while Laura Davies, who is also a golf in DUBAi ambassador, settled for 16th place on eight-under 280. Charismatic Michelle Wie ended on 19th place with on six under 282.
golf in DUBAi’ is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and DUBAL as the sponsor. The co-sponsors are: CNN, Drydocks World & Maritime World, Emirates NBD, Gulf News, Mercedes-Benz and wasl while Dubai Duty Free, Carpetland and Motivate are the Patrons in golf in DUBAi’s drive to showcase the emirate’s vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.
Final Scores:
267 – Shanshan Feng (CHN) 66 65 67 69
272 – Dewi Claire Schreefel (NLD) 69 71 63 69
276 – Caroline Masson (DEU) 68 68 69 71, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 70 73 68 65
277 – Cindy Lacrosse (USA) 67 69 69 72, Lorie Kane (CAN) 68 70 68 71, Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 68 68 68 73
278 – Felicity Johnson (ENG) 68 67 72 71, Line Vedel (DNK) 69 72 68 69
279 – Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 69 71 67 72, Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 70 68 73 68, Nontaya Srisawang (THA) 68 73 68 70, Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 71 73 67 68, Holly Aitchison (ENG) 70 72 66 71, Lexi Thompson (USA) 69 68 72 70
280 – Laura Davies (ENG) 71 71 66 72, Julieta Granada (PAR) 70 70 69 71
281 – Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 74 70 70 67
282 – Florentyna Parker (ENG) 66 74 69 73, Trish Johnson (ENG) 70 71 71 70, Michelle Wie (USA) 70 73 70 69, Sarah Kemp (AUS) 69 72 72 69, Stacy Lee Bregman (ZAF) 69 72 71 70
283 – Bree Arthur (AUS) 69 70 71 73, Caroline Afonso (FRA) 74 70 70 69, Joanna Klatten (FRA) 71 65 72 75, Elizabeth Bennett (ENG) 69 73 71 70, Sahra Hassan (WAL) 67 76 69 71, Yu Yang Zhang (CHN) 69 74 70 70
284 – Hee-Kyung Seo (KOR) 74 70 73 67, Linda Wessberg (SWE) 70 70 73 71, Becky Morgan (WAL) 69 75 70 70, Kristie Smith (AUS) 70 72 69 73
285 – Hannah Jun (USA) 71 72 68 74, Tandi Cuningham (ZAF) 72 69 73 71, Lydia Hall (WAL) 68 71 72 74, Klara Spilkova (CZE) 67 73 69 76, Beth Allen (USA) 70 70 72 73, Stacey Keating (AUS) 72 70 71 72, Jennie Lee (USA) 70 69 75 71, Diana Luna (ITA) 70 71 68 76
286 – Malene Jorgensen (DNK) 70 74 72 70, Stefania Croce (ITA) 69 74 68 75, Valentine Derrey (FRA) 69 74 72 71, Julie Greciet (FRA) 72 71 73 70
287 – Ashleigh Simon (ZAF) 68 74 72 73, Diana D Alessio (USA) 73 70 70 74, Virginie Lagoutte-clement (FRA) 72 71 70 74
288 – Stephanie Na (AUS) 71 74 73 70
289 – Carly Booth (SCO) 78 67 72 72, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 68 73 76 72, Nikki Garrett (AUS) 70 73 73 73
290 – Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 70 73 72 75
291 – Danielle Montgomery (ENG) 71 72 74 74, Maria Verchenova (RUS) 71 71 75 74, Charlotte Ellis (ENG) 70 73 75 73
292 – Lucie Andre (FRA) 76 69 73 74
293 – Sophie Sandolo (ITA) 71 73 76 73, Chrisje De Vries (NLD) 71 74 72 76
296 – Sophie Walker (ENG) 74 71 75 76
HRH Princess Haya, along with Her daughter, HH Sheikha Al Jalila Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, presenting the winner’s trophy to Shanshan Feng at the Emirates Golf Club on Saturday
