Ruoning Yin said she gets goosebumps just thinking about the crowd support this week at the 2024 Buick LPGA Shanghai. Perhaps she gave the crowd some goosebumps herself with an incredible closing performance.
Yin, the 22-year-old from Shanghai, China, captured her hometown event at Qizhong Garden Golf Club on Sunday, shooting rounds of 63-64 on the weekend to win by six shots at 25 under. It’s the fourth LPGA victory for Yin, who earned $315,000 with the win.
“Pretty amazing and just, like I said, able to win at home in front of all the family and friends, it’s just amazing,” Yin said. “It’s phenomenal to be able to do that. It’s a pleasant week.”
After the opening round, Yin was eight shots behind leader Sei Young Kim. Slowly but surely, Yin began to chip into the lead.
After the second round, she trailed by four. Heading into the final round, she was one shot behind. Then on Sunday, she dominated to earn her second win of 2024.
“I think I’m just really happy that I put on a show and that everybody enjoys it,” Yin said.
After the opening round, Yin said she had a conversation with her coach, who was in Los Angeles, to fix some issues she was having off the tee. She knew she needed to find the fairway to have success, and after the opening round, she did just that, allowing her stellar iron game to take over.
Kim and Mao Saigo tied for second at 19 under. Yealimi Noh was fourth at 18 under.
Near the end of her press conference, Yin was asked how this compared to winning a major, which she did last year at the KPMG Women’s PGA.
“I love to win major(s), and I just love to win at home as well,” she said. “Just all the crowds, all the fans, all my family, words can’t express my feelings right now.”