KUALA LUMPUR: Ashley Lau, in her 24th start after turning professional in 2022, clinched her breakthrough victory when she sensationally pipped the illustrious Shin Ji Yai of South Korea to the women's Victorian Open title in Australia today.
Ashley, 23, saved the best for last as she fired a splendid six-under 66 in the finale at 13th Beach Golf Link to win by one shot from Ji Yai, denying the latter of becoming the first player to successfully defend the title in the tournament since its inception in 1988.
Starting the day two shots off the pace in tied fifth position, Ashley traded seven birdies, including a crucial gain at the last hole, against a lone bogey, to storm to first position with a four-day aggregate of 12-under 277.
However, she faced a nail-biting situation as Ji Yai, who was playing in the final group, had three holes to complete with just a one-shot deficit.
Ji Yai, however, could not find the birdie she needed to at least force a decider as she settled for 69 and a sole runner-up finish.
Ashley could not have asked for a better way to mark her first win by defeating a player of Ji Yai's calibre, a former world No. 1 who boasts 64 wins worldwide, including 11 times on the LPGA Tour.
"I said 'you know I can't do this, I'm super nervous, I've never felt this nervous before', so I went and took a walk and talked to my friend for a little bit," Ashley told the WPGA Tour of Australasia website.
"When the news came in that I'd won, I started crying.
"I came down here just to prepare for the upcoming Epson Tour (developmental circuit for the LPGA Tour). This is a big confidence boost."
It was nothing but a well-deserved triumph for Ashley, who had been making her presence felt in the last two starts on the WPGA Tour of Australasia.
She opened her campaign two weeks ago with a tied eighth finish at The Players Series Murray River before finishing solo second at last week's Webex Players Series Victoria.