Amazing Angel wins Omega Dubai Ladies Classic in in playoff thriller

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Amazing Angel wins Omega Dubai Ladies Classic in in playoff thriller
Angel Yin receives the winner's trophy from Hend Bilselah and Walid Al Attar of Emirates Global Aluminium at the Emirates Golf Club

Dubai - The 19-year-old from Los Angeles, California held her nerves in the face of adversity to land her first major title

By James Jose

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Published: Sat 9 Dec 2017, 8:56 PM

Last updated: Sat 9 Dec 2017, 11:05 PM

It was a new name and a new trophy and the tournament couldn't have asked for a more dramatic finish for a new winner.
The rebranded Omega Dubai Ladies Classic witnessed its first ever playoff and American young gun Angel Yin kept it all together to clinch the 12th edition of the tournament on Saturday.
The 19-year-old from Los Angeles, California held her nerves in the face of adversity to land her first major tournament title.
It was the Solheim Cup winner's first professional triumph and the exciting talent that she is, perhaps it will be one of many more to come.
Angel, one of the longest hitters on the women's tour, and who finished tied 10th here last year, raised her game a couple of notches in the second play-off on the par-4 17th of the Majlis Course of the Emirates Golf Club, to beat out South Korean In-Kyung Kim, a winner here in 2009.
Prior to that, Angel had to save par after rolling it into the water on the 18th. Even then, she missed a tough birdie putt on 18 to force a play-off between her, Celine and Kim, with all three locked on 15- under.
Until then, her final round had been without a blemish and the five-under for the day had nudged Angel to 15-under and tied with Kim and Celine.
A three-way play-off was to follow and it seemed Celine had the advantage of having experienced a play-off previously when she won her home event - the Lacoste Ladies Open de France two years ago.
Celine had won a three-hole play-off back then against Danish rookie Emily Pedersen back then. She began confidently as well off the tee but went on to flounder in the closing stages.
Angel, who averages 276.75 yards off the tee, and Kim birdied the extra 18th, while the water hazard poured water on Celine's hopes. Celine's third shot hit the water after which the tussle narrowed down to Angel and Kim.
Now a two-horse battle, Angel's tee shot hit the green on the 17th but she recovered brilliantly to inch closer. And although she missed an eagle putt, Angel tapped-in for a birdie.
The pressure was now on Kim and she missed the birdie and with it a chance to land the spoils.
Overnight leader Anne Van Dam of The Netherlands fired a final round of one-under 71 to finish fourth on 13-under.
India's Aditi Ashok gave a shot at it initially with a tidy front nine which had two birdies. And although the Bangalorean had four birdies on her return journey, she had a bogey on the par-3 15th and a double bogey on the 18th, where she misjudged and hit the water.
Aditi, England's Charley Hull as well as Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg finished tied fifth.
After Angel had closed it out on the 17th, two of her friends on the tour - Denmark's Nicole Broch Larsen and Germany's Olivia Cowan surprised the American by pouring water on her to start off the celebrations.
Drenched in water and still trying to let it all sink in, Angel had help from one of the tournament officials, who had a water pistol, and got some 'revenge' on her mates.
It made for a wonderful image to end the season and look forward to another promising year.
james@khaleejtimes.com
 


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