Malaysia’s Aretha Pan is hoping to build on her recent good form and claim a maiden international title this year.
Pan recorded her best finish so far on the China LPGA Tour with a T3 performance at the CLPGA Zhuhai Heritage event last week. Earlier this year, the 24-year-old won her first professional title in the ladies’ event of the domestic PGM Tour’s Sime Darby Closed Championship.
“I’m very happy with my performances this season so far and the win on the PGM Tour really boosted my confidence. I hope to keep the momentum going and earn an international win this year,” said Pan, who hails from Kota Kinabalu.
Pan was the first round leader in the Zhuhai event after an opening 69 at the Golden Gulf Golf Club in Guangdong, eventually finishing four shots behind winner Yupaporn Kawinpakorn of Thailand.
“Putting is the key for me. I just changed my putter two months ago and it really helped me sink a lot of important putts that week,” noted Pan.
Pan is in her fifth season on the China circuit and also holds a card for the Taiwan LPGA Tour. With eight events played and eight to go on the 2018 China LPGA Tour schedule, Pan is 20th on the Order of Merit with ￥67,348 in earnings and is on course to surpass her best season in 2016 when she finished 14th on the money list with ￥117,947.
“There’s a co-sanctioned event with the Korea LPGA in early July with no cut [the Asiana Airlines Open], so hopefully I can play in that,” said Pan, adding that her career goal is to qualify for the LPGA Tour.
