Annika Sorenstam with the trophy Picture: Richard Castka/LAGT.org

(SUZHOU, China – 2nd Nov 2008) -- World No. 3 Annika Sorenstam secured her 89th career title when she clinched the EUR200,000 Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open in China on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Swede defeated China's Li Ying Ye at the second extra hole of a sudden death playoff in the inaugural event at Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club in Suzhou.

Five strokes behind Ye overnight, Sorenstam shot a final round of seven-under 65 for a three-round total of 13-under 203 to tie with Ye at the end of regulation play.

Both players birdied the first playoff hole but Sorenstam clinched the victory when Ye missed a short putt at the second extra hole.

Sorenstam, who fired eight birdies and one bogey in the final round, drew one stroke clear of Ye after a birdie at the 16th but temporarily lost her lead when Ye birdied the 17th. Both players birdied the par five 18th hole.

"I had a good start and that's what I wanted to do. Ye played well throughout the tournament and it was difficult to play the catch-up game with her until I managed to draw level at the 15th hole,” Sorenstam said.

"I tried my best to apply the pressure on her but she never succumbed to it and I thought anything could happen in the playoff. This is my 89th career win and I'm so happy,” she added.

Ye, who held the lead for the first two rounds in the three-day event, said: "I made a couple of mistakes. Today my game was good and at times I've failed to check my game, thus I made costly mistakes and lost three or four stokes, that was as good as being in the bag. I hope to learn from this experience and improve further to be able to participate in big tournaments."

Sharing third on a six-under 210 total were Thailand’s Porani Chutichai (68), Amanda Moltke-Leth of Denmark (68) and Australia's Karen Lunn (71), who is the chairman of the Ladies European Tour (LET).

Lunn was disappointed with the two bogeys she had on the home stretch and said: "It was unforced errors and I should have done better. I missed a couple of close putts and though I'm in this position (joint third), I'm not happy with my play today."

Another three players – Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum, Russamee Gulyanamitta and China's Yang Taoli finished joint sixth on four-under-par.