WORLEY, Idaho — Clariss Guce finished tied for ninth, while Pauline Del Rosario wound up shared 18th Sunday as Chinese Yue Ren ran away with the title via two-hole playoff win over Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen in the Circling Raven Championships.
It was the second-best outing for the 33-year-old Guce who also placed joint ninth in Hartford, and T3 in Casino del Sol earlier this year.
Guce turned in a third straight 69 for 9-under-par 207 total to pocket $4,635 cash prize.
Del Rosario fired a 71 to end up at 207 for $2,794. Still, it was the 24-year-old’s best finish so far in the season.
The final day saw low scores all around. Two players shot impressive 8-under 64s, while three others signed for 7-under 65s.
One of those two 64s came from Yue Ren, who forced a two-hole playoff with first- and second-round leader, Chanettee Wannasaen, ultimately walking away victorious at 13-under. Ren picked up her first Epson Tour victory and a $33,750 winner’s check on Sunday in Idaho.
“I feel so excited and a little tired,” laughed Ren who won $33,750 top prize.
“I’m so happy. The last few weeks, I wasn’t feeling good with my game, and I made little improvements on my swing. My chipping and putting was good, and my irons and driver were much better. My putting was really good; I love my putter. Today I was feeling really good about my game. On all of my shots, I just did my best.”
Wannasaen also picked up her best Epson Tour finish this season. The Thailand native carded five birdies and a lone bogey on the day, signing for a final-round 68.
Just one shot shy of the playoff, in a share of third, are Israel’s Laetitia Beck and the Republic of Korea’s Minji Kang. Beck was the other player who fired an 8-under 64 during the final round. Kang was also under par, signing for her third consecutive 4-under, 68 on Sunday.
Rounding out the top five, are Ashley Lau, Hira Naveed, Laura Wearn and Robyn Choi, who all finished the tournament 10-under to sit in a tie for fifth.
All four had under-par final rounds, with Lau carding the low round of the group (-7). Naveed made a hole-in-one on No. 4 with an 8-iron from 146 yards, signing for the second-lowest round of the group (-6).
