Spain’s Ana Pelaez secured her second Ladies European Tour title at the Aramco China Championship in Shenzhen, firing a nine-under round of 64 that featured a hole-in-one and left English contenders Mimi Rhodes, Charlotte Heath, and Annabell Fuller trailing behind.
Rhodes and Pelaez Shine While Heath Falters
Mimi Rhodes solidifies her status following her breakthrough 2025 season and Solheim Cup debut.
Ana Pelaez re-enters the winner’s circle for the first time since the 2022 Madrid Ladies Open.
Charlotte Heath and Annabell Fuller saw their hopes fade on the last day of the Aramco China Championship.
Pelaez Storms to Title as English Hopes Fade
Heath had shared the overnight lead with Pelaez’s compatriot Luna Sobron on 16 under after the third round at Mission Hills. Rhodes sat just one shot back, while Fuller remained within striking distance three strokes adrift. But the final day unfolded with a dominant charge from the Spanish contingent.
Fuller opened aggressively on Sunday, carding four birdies in her first six holes to reach 16 under. Three bogeys on the back nine halted that momentum, though a closing birdie salvaged a one-under 71 to finish on 14 under in ninth place. Heath struggled to find a rhythm, carding an even-par 73 with two birdies and two bogeys to slip down the leaderboard.
Spanish star in Shenzhen 🏆🌟 Ana Pelaez posts a sensational 64 (-9) to win the 2026 #AramcoChinaChampionship pic.twitter.com/soTaZGfmKL
Rhodes emerged as the highest-placed English competitor. The 24-year-old, who earned three Ladies European Tour victories in 2025 and debuted at the Solheim Cup in September as Team Europe defeated Team USA in the Netherlands, posted a blemish-free, two-under 71 with birdies at the fourth and 17th holes to take outright second place on 17 under.
Pelaez Seals Victory with Closing Round 64
Pelaez proved unstoppable during her closing round. Her 64 included seven total birdies—highlighted by three consecutive gains to finish the tournament—alongside an ace at the par-three 13th hole. The victory marks her first trophy on the circuit since the 2022 Madrid Ladies Open.
Your champion in China: Ana Pelaez Triviño! 🏆#AramcoChinaChampionship #PIFGlobalSeries #GolfSaudi pic.twitter.com/oFlPkHtMIg
Sobron carded an even-par 73 to finish in a share of third place at 16 under, locking down that position alongside Heath and China’s Shiyuan Zhou, Ruixin Liu, and Liqi Zeng. Alice Hewson rounded out the notable English performances by finishing 20th at 11 under.
Sakuma Claims Toto Japan Classic Victory
Simultaneously, the LPGA Tour concluded its late-season Asian Swing with the Toto Japan Classic at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course. Shuri Sakuma secured a four-shot victory in her homeland, posting an eight-under 64 to finish at 20 under overall. Sakuma, a serial winner with eight titles on the LPGA of Japan Tour, outpaced 54-hole leader Akie Iwai, who settled for second place at 16 under after a closing 71.
The Asian Swing previously visited the Buick LPGA Shanghai in China, the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea, and the Maybank Championship in Malaysia. The tour now shifts back to the United States for The Annika in Florida, following Sweden’s Linn Grant’s victory at the event in 2025 and Nelly Korda’s dominance across three of the four preceding years.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
