Feng defends title

China's Shanshan Feng defended an LPGA title for the first time when she secured a two-shot victory at the TOTO Japan Classic on Sunday.“I've played here twice and won twice,” an excited Feng said after carding 68 to finish at 19-under-par 197.Her third round of 63 was the key to victory.“I shot a very low score yesterday and that really helped me win the tournament today,” Feng said after claiming her eighth LPGA victory, and her second this year on the U.S.-based circuit.Suzuki (68) had to settle for second place, much to the disappointment of the large gallery enjoying a crisp, cloudless day in the pretty countryside nearly 100 kilometres north-east of Tokyo.Swede Anna Nordqvist (66) was two shots further back in third place.Feng's victory was certainly no stroll in the park. The pivotal moment came at the par-five 17th, where her tenuous one-stroke advantage looked likely to evaporate.With Suzuki having a tap-in birdie, Feng had to hole her 20-footer to preserve her lead. And hole it she did, her putt catching the left edge of the hole, circling the cup and dropping in.Runner-up Suzuki, who subsequently bogeyed the last, enjoyed a consolation of sorts, her performance lifting the 23-year-old to the top of the Japan LPGA money list.Feng acknowledged Suzuki's quality at the tournament jointly sanctioned by the LPGA and the JLPGA.“Normally I say my ball-striking is pretty good but today her ball-striking was much better,” Feng said.“It gave me a lot of pressure but I tried to ignore it and play my own game.” -NAMPA/REUTERS

Feng defends title

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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Feng defends title

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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