BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- As the Le Coq Sportif Beijing Ladies Classic gets set to tee off on Friday, defending champion Shi Yuting says she is raring to go on a course that she has come to know well.
The 21-year-old is in a unique position as she has won the tournament for two consecutive years at Beijing Orient Pearl Golf Club and is now aiming to become the first player to ‘three-peat’ at the same event on the China LPGA Tour.
“I made my debut here at the age of 13. Over the years I have gotten to know this golf course well and have even memorized the slopes of the greens. I have made at least one birdie at every hole under pressure, which could be helpful this week,” said Shi on Thursday.
The Beijing native comes home in solid form after a string of good performances on the Japan LPGA development circuit where she has made the cut in her last three starts. In March, she was second at the Hengqin Phoenix Tree Building Orient Golf Challenge in Zhuhai.
Still, Shi said the past two years had been difficult apart from winning the Le Coq Sportif Beijing Ladies Classic events for her second and third wins as a pro. Last year, she beat New Zealander Munchin Keh at the second hole of a playoff.
“Those two wins were inspiring for me and made me believe what I had believed in that I still had potential for a good comeback,” she said. “I’ve had a solid start this year but didn’t have the best stuff. I learned a lot during the off-season but you need time to digest. I believe I am heading in the right direction and real good things will come soon.”
The RMB800,000 championship also provides a rare chance for Shi to play with her younger sister, Yuli, who is now in her second season as a pro.
“Last year, she (Yuli) made her first cut here since she turned pro. Now she is feeling more like she belongs on this tour and is playing a catch-up game against me. I am feeling a little bit of heat from her and want to step on the gas and not lose any ground.”
Hoping to go one better this year and spoil the Shi family reunion is Keh. The third-year pro is in Beijing after enduring a marathon travel day on Monday. After flying out of Singapore at 9am, the 26-year-old eventually got to her hotel in the Chinese capital at around 11.30pm when her flight was diverted due to high winds.
Last year, Keh shot a tournament best seven-under 65 in the final round to force the playoff with Shi. After Shi sank a 15-foot putt for birdie on the second hole of sudden death, Keh replied by missing an eight-foot putt.
“I played some of my best golf at this tournament last year. It’s nice to be back and enjoy it again,” said Keh whose best result this year was an equal second in March at the Worrells NSW Women’s Open on the ALPG Tour.
“I’ve made a few swing changes lately. Hopefully it all meshes together this week and works out well.”
This week’s field features 132 players with RMB120,000 going to the winner.
