17-Year-Old Anna Huang Eagles Last to Win PIF London Championship as Hull Four-Putt Costs Her
Anna Huang eagled the final hole to win the PIF London Championship by two shots, the 17-year-old Canadian's fourth Ladies European Tour title in 11 months. Huang finished on 22 under par at the Centurion Club near St Albans, two clear of England's Charley Hull on 20 under. (BBC Sport)
Huang led from the first round — a wire-to-wire win, meaning she was atop the leaderboard after every single round. She opened with a six-under 67 on Thursday, extended her lead with a bogey-free, eight-under 65 on Saturday to reach 19 under, and closed with a three-under 70 on Sunday. A three-shot lead to start the final round is comfortable on paper. Over water, with a seasoned champion charging behind you, it never feels that large. (Ladies European Tour)
Hull, 30, was aiming for her 10th professional title and sixth LET win. She had every right to fancy her chances after a extraordinary second round: a 62 that equalled the lowest score in the tour's history and broke the course record at Centurion. That came after an opening 74 — three over par — that had left her well off the pace. From there, a 62 is the kind of round that turns a tournament upside down. (BBC Sport)
And Hull nearly did. She birdied the last for a final-round 69 to finish on 20 under, and at one point held a one-shot lead with two holes to play. Then came the par-three 17th. Hull four-putted — four strokes on the green, for a double bogey (two over par on the hole). A four-putt on a par-three is a collapse that can happen to anyone under pressure: the first putt rolls too far, the comeback runs past, and the hands tighten with each tap. Suddenly the lead was gone. (BBC Sport)
Huang did not wait to be asked. She eagled the 18th — two strokes to finish the hole from whatever distance she had — to win by two. A closing eagle to seal a wire-to-wire victory is the kind of finish that stays with you. (BBC Sport)
Singapore's Shannon Tan finished third on 17 under, with Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit fourth on 15 under. (BBC Sport)
Four LET titles in 11 months for a player who does not turn 18 until later this year. Huang's LET player profile lists her lowest competitive round as 64 — a number she may well threaten as she settles into the tour. For now, the teenager from Canada has a trophy, a wire-to-wire win, and a closing eagle that Hull will remember rather longer than she will. (Ladies European Tour)
