Danielle Kang found the perfect way to celebrate her 26th birthday, which fell on Saturday.
Kang, of Westlake Village and Pepperdine, carded a 3-under-par 69 to win the Buick LPGA Shanghai by two strokes over seven players at Qizhong Garden Golf Club http://frystraka.com/en/golf-course/qizhong-garden-golf-club/ in Shanghai, China.
“It’s still my birthday back in the United States,” said Kang, whose only other LPGA Tour victory came in a major championship, the 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. “I hope I win more. I did the best I can.
“I’m going to keep working hard and keep giving myself chances and keep putting myself in contention. I’ll win more. I’ll play better. More so than anything I’m finally at a place where I’m peaceful and happy with my game, with my life. There is just so much more you can get through.”
The 26-year-old Kang, who the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2010 and 2011, pulled away on a crowded leaderboard by making birdies on the 11th, 13th, 14th and 17th holes to post a score of 13-under 275.
Lydia Ko of New Zealand had four birdies down the stretch in a 66 to finish in the tie for second with Annie Park (67) of USC, Marina Alex (67), Wenbo Liu (68) of China, Brittany Altomare (71), Ariya Jutanugarn (71) of Thailand and Sei Young Kim (72) of South Korea.
Bronte Law of England shot 70 and finished three shots back in a tie for ninth with Yi Liu (71) of China and Carlota Ciganda (73) of Spain, who was in the hunt until going double bogey-bogey on the 15th and 16th holes.
Paula Creamer of Pleasanton closed with a 71 to finish 12th.
For complete results, visit http://www.lpga.com/leaderboard
