Shanshan Feng is beginning to grow quite fond of golf in Dubai.
Feng, of China, claimed her second victory in three years at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters Saturday, closing the four-day event at 19-under-par for a five-shot win in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“It’s my second time to win here, and the staff just told me I’m actually one of the two people that has won twice here, and the other one is Annika,” said Feng. “So it makes me like feel really proud of myself.”
Feng set the pace right from the start, firing a 6-under 66 in the first round and followed with a 67 and another 66 to take a five-shot lead into the final round Sunday.
On the front nine of the final round saturday, Feng birdied the third, seventh and eighth on the Majlis course to reach 20-under and was seven strokes clear after as many holes. With the title firmly in her grasp, she bogeyed the 11th and 15th but birdied the 17th and finished with a tap-in par to round off a rewarding week in Dubai.
Feng, currently ranked no. 5 in the world before winning Saturday, also won the event in 2012 and caps a three-month stretch that includes two wins, a second place finish and four top 10s.
“It’s a great run that she’s been on to finish out the year,” said Gary Gilchrist, Feng’s coach. “Shanshan has been playing with a winning mindset. That’s what makes her one of the best in the world right now. It’s not always about how you start but how you finish.”
Feng has been coached by Gilchrist since the onset of her career, going back to her days as a junior. Since turning pro in 2007, she has notched 13 professional titles on three different tours (LPGA, LET, JLPGA) with one major championship, the 2012 Wegmans LPGA Championship.
