Malaysia’s Kelly Tan settled for a 40th place finish on six-over-par in the ISPS Handa Vic Open following a closing 80.
On a blustery final day at the 13th Beach Golf Links in Victoria, Australia, Tan fell back with six bogeys and one double bogey.
The tournament was won by Korea’s Hee Young Park, who made par on the fourth hole of a three-way playoff Sunday with compatriots Hye-Jin Choi and So Yeon Ryu.
Park, Choi and Ryu returned repeatedly to the tee on the dogleg par-5 18th to play out a gripping finale after finishing tied at 281, 8-under par.
Former world No. 1 Ryu dropped out on the second playoff hole when she missed a birdie putt but Park and Choi continued until luck and nature intervened.
Choi’s tee shot on the fourth playoff hole came to rest against a pine cone in light rough left of the fairway, leaving her with no choice but to chip out. Her attempt to do so came up short, she put her next into a hazard, dropped out, and finally reached the fringe of the green in six.
The ISPS Handa Vic Open is a trailblazer for gender equality in golf, with men and women playing on the same courses, at the same time and for equal prize money of US$1.1 million. A field of 144 men and 144 women played one round on each of the first two days on the par-72 Beach Course and par-73 Creek Course. The third and fourth rounds take place on the Beach Course.
In the men’s event, Australia’s Min Woo Lee held his nerve on a day of high winds and high drama to win his first professional title.
