Suh Bo-Mi poses with her trophy next to a statue of Sun Tzu at Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club. Tzu is a Chinese general traditionally believed to have authored The Art of War.

(SUZHOU, CHINA – Sunday 1st November 2009) -- South Korea’s Suh Bo-Mi claimed a one stroke victory at the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open in China on Sunday, winning her first title in five years as a professional.

The little known 28-year-old from Seoul held a two stroke lead going into the final round and she maintained her advantage over a cool and windy final day at Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club in Suzhou, 160 kilometres north of Shanghai.

She sealed the win with a clutch birdie putt at the final hole to earn the €30,000 first prize. Suh added a final round of 72 to her opening rounds of 69 and 69 for a 54-hole total of 210, six under par.

She eventually stole the title by a shot from Gwladys Nocera of France, who had a two under par 70, which tied for the lowest round of the day.

Nocera was playing for her first win of the season on the Ladies European Tour but her challenge was dealt a blow on Saturday morning when her Chinese playing partner reported to the tournament committee that she had arrived two minutes late to the tee ahead of the first round on Friday.

With neither the player nor officials previously aware of the situation, a two stroke penalty was enforced retrospectively under Decision 34-3/1 of the Rules of Golf and Nocera’s first round score was corrected from 68 to 70.

After a second round of 71, Nocera fought back on Sunday with three birdies over the more difficult back nine playing into the wind, at the 10th, 16th and 18th holes.

She gave the field hopes of a first LET victory this season when she tapped in for birdie at the par-five 18th but eventually finished in outright second, having started the day three shots back in fourth place.

Suh began the final round strongly when she birdied the third hole, moving three ahead, but she dropped a shot at the sixth and was two ahead of Australian Frances Bondad as the duo made the turn. However the fifth year Korean LPGA and Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT) player showed her inexperience as she missed the greens at both the 11th and 12th holes, dropping two more shots in succession.

Her fortunes changed when she birdied the 16th and then played a fantastic approach to the 18th, leaving a 20 foot putt for eagle. Misreading the slope, her first putt ran four feet past the hole but she took her time over the second putt before rolling it straight in for birdie. She claimed that she had no idea that she had won. “I didn’t know. The other players came to me and said congratulations,” she said.

Suh now has the opportunity to join the Ladies European Tour and receive a full category three winner’s exemption through until the end of 2012.

“I’m very happy. It’s a dream come true,” added the 41st ranked played on the KLPGA. “Today was very windy so it was difficult to concentrate. I tried to control my game.”

Her father Suh Sang Hong, who introduced her to the game at the age of 17 after she quit playing the piano, acted as her caddie and was tearful as she made her winner’s acceptance speech.

Nocera was naturally disappointed but looking forward to next week’s tournament in South Korea. She said: “I tried my best but unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough. We will start afresh next week.”

Thailand’s rising teenage star Pornanong Phatlum was delighted to finish in outright third place on three under after a round of 71. She bettered her equal sixth place in the 2008 tournament and said: “My short game was very good and putting very good too. I could make the birdies. Last year here was very windy and cold also.”

Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord, who clinched her second Ladies European Tour title two weeks ago in Italy, finished in fourth place at two under after a 70.

Rueing a few missed putts, she said: “There were a couple of tough pins and there was a lot of wind. When we were on 17 it was 2 and a half (clubs difference). It is 100 metres and that is normally a three quarters pitch and I hit a good eight so it was a lot of wind.

“The wind came stronger on the back nine and it was the opposite wind today so the holes played so different. The short par fours on the back nine, we were hitting rescues and long irons in today.

“I made some good up and downs and saved some good putts. I hit some good shots up to the pins as well. I feel pretty safe with my swing. I was struggling with the putting yesterday but I felt that was better today. I couldn’t get the speed, I was hitting everything short. I hope that it’s better next week.”