Sports
PIF London Championship: Charley Hull lets late lead slip as Anna Huang, 17, wins
PIF London Championship result
-22 A Huang (Can); -20 C Hull (Eng); -17 S Tan (Sin); -15 P Tavatanakit (Tha), -14 K Bennett (Aus)
Selected others: -12 A Hewson (Eng); -11 L Hall (Wal); -10 G Hall (Eng), A Donegan (Ire)
England’s Charley Hull let slip a one-shot lead with two holes to play at the PIF London Championship as 17-year-old Anna Huang won her fourth Ladies’ European Tour (LET) event.
The 30-year-old Hull was on course for her 10th professional title and sixth LET success, but four-putted the penultimate hole for a double bogey, while Huang eagled the last to win by two shots.
“That was probably the most thrilling round of golf of my life, that was crazy, I’m just so shocked,” the Canadian told the LET website.
“I knew coming down three tough holes was not easy and I tried to focus on each shot because anything can happen in golf and I stayed in my own lane.
“I can’t believe I made another eagle. I focused on the putt and made a good stroke, and it went in.
“Charley is such a phenomenal player and playing with her in the past two days in the final group has been really cool. The crowds have been cheering really loud, so it was really fun to be part of the last group.”
The tournament took place at Centurion Club, near St Albans, and Huang led after the first round with a six-under round of 67.
Hull’s first round on Thursday had been a one-over 74, but she catapulted herself into contention with an 11-under 62 on Friday to equal the lowest round in LET history and break the course record at the Centurion Club.
Huang’s best round came on Saturday with an eight-under 65 and she began the last round with a three-stroke advantage.
Birdies on the sixth, ninth, 13th, 15th and 16th took Hull into the lead by one shot, but that disappointing double-bogey five on the par-three 17th handed the advantage back to Huang and she finished in style.
Hull, who birdied the last for a 69, finished on 20 under to be three clear of Singapore’s Shannon Tan, with Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit fourth on 15 under.
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