17-year-old wins Epson Tour FireKeepers Casino Hotel event in playoff
Golf fans in Battle Creek saw two things they had never seen before at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship.
It was the first time the event had gone to a playoff.
And that playoff hole was won by a 17-year-old, the tournament's youngest champion ever.
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Xiaowen Yin, who won't be 18 until December, recorded her first career win on the Epson Tour by defeating Gina Kim in a one-hole playoff in the ninth annual FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship at the Battle Creek Country Club on Sunday.
The 17-year-old earns a $30,000 payday with the victory, making it the highlight of her rookie season on the tour.
"This is unbelievable to me. I never thought I could win this. I am so happy," Yin said.
Yin led throughout all three rounds of the weekend after having never led a round previously in her short career.
However, she found herself tied with Kim on the final hole of regulation, each with a makeable par putt within 10 feet. But each missed the chance to win the tournament on the 18th hole, finishing at 13-under-par.
The playoff rules had both golfers going back to the tee box at No. 18 in a sudden-death format. Kim found her approach shot just on the fringe of the green with Yin away near the greenside bunker in the rough.
Yin pitched up to the green, but was still 11 feet out with Kim inside of that, looking at a four-foot par putt.
Yin buried her long putt and when Kim missed, the tournament championship was decided.
"That last putt, I wasn't really nervous. I was thinking, I can make this putt," Yin said. "And then, I was just thinking we were going to play another hole, but she missed."
This is Yin's fourth top-10 finish this season, but her best result before Sunday was fifth. Despite that, the teenager played with composure.
"The course was in amazing shape. I had a great week here. I wasn't thinking too much. I was just trying to focus on my shots," Yin said.
Kim's second place netted her $18,685, with Lara Wearn, Grace Kim and Rachel Rohanna all tied for third at 11-under par.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: 17-year-old wins Epson Tour FireKeepers Casino Hotel event in playoff
