Shanshan Feng

Shanshan Feng
Feng at the 2009 LPGA Championship.
Personal information
NicknameJenny
Born (1989-08-05) 5 August 1989 (age 37)
Guangzhou, China
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Sporting nationality China
Career
Turned professional2007
Former toursLPGA Tour
Ladies European Tour
Professional wins23
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour10
Ladies European Tour7
LPGA of Japan Tour7
Other1
Best results in LPGA major championships
(wins: 1)
Chevron ChampionshipT3: 2021
Women's PGA C'shipWon: 2012
U.S. Women's OpenT4: 2012, 2021
Women's British OpenT2: 2014
Evian ChampionshipT2: 2019
Achievements and awards
Ladies European Tour
Order of Merit		2015
Medal record
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place2016 Rio de JaneiroGolf

Shanshan Feng (Chinese: 冯珊珊; pinyin: Féng Shān Shān, Mandarin pronunciation: [fə̌ŋ ʂə́ŋ ʂə́ŋ]; born 5 August 1989) is a Chinese professional golfer. She played on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. She was the first player from China to become a member of the tour which she joined in 2008.

Early life

2009 Women's British Open

In 1989, Feng was born in Guangzhou, China, in the province of Guangdong. She started playing golf at the age of 10 at the urging of her father, Feng Xiong, who worked at the golf association in their hometown.

Due to limited resources and a lack of reputable golf coaches, Feng's father, who was the captain of a junior golf team, worked with her every day. During the week, Feng would attend school from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then her father would bring her to the driving range where she would practice for two hours hitting golf balls off a mat. On the weekends, she traveled outside of the city to a local course to play practice rounds and work on her short game. She had some success as a junior. In 2004, Feng won the China Junior Championship and the China Junior Open.

Amateur career

Feng was a winner of the China Amateur three years consecutively: from 2004 through 2006. She was the Champion of the 2006 China Women's Amateur Open. A member of the 2006 All-China Championship Team, she earned a medalist honors at the event.

When Feng was in high school an agent discovered her, at a tournament in China, and this led to her meeting coach Gary Gilchrist. When Feng was 17 years old, Gilchrist offered her a full scholarship to attend his junior golf academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Feng accepted the offer and moved to the U.S. hoping to become a professional golfer. In 2007 she was named Golfweeks's Top Chinese Amateur after winning four tournaments on the International Junior Golf Tour (IIGT) in 2007.

Despite the scholarship to Gilchrist's academy, living expenses, tuition at a nearby high school, and traveling costs became heavy financial burdens on her parents, Feng Xiong and Zheng Yuyan, who both work at governmental institutes and earn average salaries. Feng's parents had spent almost all of their savings by the end of 2007, and they considered mortgaging their house to support their daughter. However, the family support paid off in December 2007 when Feng, a teenager amateur, earned a spot on the LPGA Tour's 2008 season after tying for ninth place at the Tour's qualifying tournament.

Professional career

In 2007, Feng turned professional. She had 10 victories on the tour, including the 2012 LPGA Championship, a major title, in which she shot a bogey-free 67 in the final round to win by two strokes. She was the first player from China to win an LPGA major championship, as well as the first player from mainland China (male or female) to have won a major championship. Her best finish in 16 previous majors was a tie for 22nd at the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship. With the victory, she moved from tenth to fifth in the Women's World Golf Rankings.

On 20 August 2016, Feng won the Olympic bronze medal in women's golf at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. From November 2017 to April 2018, she was first in the Women's World Golf Rankings. In August 2022, Feng announced her retirement from professional golf.

Awards and honors

Professional wins (23)

LPGA Tour wins (10)

Legend
Major championships (1)
Other LPGA Tour (9)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin
of victory		 Runner(s)-up Winner's
share ($)
1 10 Jun 2012 Wegmans LPGA Championship 72-73-70-67=282 −6 2 strokes South Korea Ji Eun-hee
United States Stacy Lewis
Japan Mika Miyazato
Norway Suzann Pettersen		 375,000
2 6 Oct 2013 Reignwood LPGA Classic 70-64-64-68=266 −26 1 stroke United States Stacy Lewis 270,000
3 24 Nov 2013 CME Group Titleholders 66-74-67-66=273 −15 1 stroke United States Gerina Piller 700,000
4 12 Oct 2014 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 67-67-69-63=266 −18 3 strokes Thailand Pornanong Phatlum 300,000
5 30 Oct 2016 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia (2) 66-70-64-67=267 −17 3 strokes Norway Suzann Pettersen 270,000
6 6 Nov 2016 Toto Japan Classic^ 69-64-70=203 −13 1 stroke South Korea Jang Ha-na 225,000
7 28 May 2017 LPGA Volvik Championship 68-67-66-68=269 −19 1 stroke Australia Minjee Lee
South Korea Park Sung-hyun		 195,000
8 5 Nov 2017 Toto Japan Classic^ (2) 66-63-68=197 −19 2 strokes Japan Ai Suzuki 225,000
9 11 Nov 2017 Blue Bay LPGA 69-67-73-70=279 −9 1 stroke Thailand Moriya Jutanugarn 315,000
10 7 Jul 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic 64-67-65-63=259 −29 1 stroke Thailand Ariya Jutanugarn 300,000

^ Co-sanctioned with the LPGA of Japan Tour

LPGA Tour playoff record (0–3)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 2011 Mizuno Classic Japan Momoko Ueda Lost to birdie on third extra hole
2 2012 HSBC Women's Champions South Korea Na Yeon Choi
South Korea Jenny Shin
United States Angela Stanford		 Stanford won with par on third extra hole
Choi eliminated by par on second hole
Feng eliminated by par on first hole
3 2014 Lorena Ochoa Invitational United States Christina Kim Lost to par on second extra hole

LPGA of Japan Tour wins (7)

No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Winner's
share (¥)
1 7 Aug 2011 Meiji Cup 68-67-67=202 −13 2 strokes South Korea Jang Eun-bi
Japan Miho Koga		 16,200,000
2 25 Sep 2011 Miyagi TV Cup Dunlop Ladies Open 70-70-68=208 −8 1 stroke Japan Yuri Fudoh 12,600,000
3 27 May 2012 Yonex Ladies 70-69-69=208 −8 Playoff Japan Yukari Baba 10,800,000
4 5 Aug 2012 Meiji Cup 72-70-67=209 −7 Playoff South Korea Ahn Sun-ju
Japan Shinobu Moromizato		 16,200,000
5 30 Sep 2012 Japan Women's Open Golf Championship 68-75-74-71=288 E 1 stroke South Korea Inbee Park 28,000,000
6 6 Nov 2016 Toto Japan Classic^ 69-64-70=203 −13 1 stroke South Korea Jang Ha-na 23,175,000
7 5 Nov 2017 Toto Japan Classic^ (2) 66-63-68=197 −19 2 strokes Japan Ai Suzuki 25,510,500

^ Co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour

Ladies European Tour wins (7)

No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner-up Winner's
share (€)
1 2 Mar 2012 World Ladies Championship
individual event		 66-69-71=206 −10 1 stroke Thailand Pornanong Phatlum 56,275
2 8 Dec 2012 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters 66-65-67-69=267 −21 5 strokes Netherlands Dewi Claire Schreefel 75,000
3 13 Dec 2014 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters (2) 66-67-66-70=269 −19 5 strokes Spain Carlota Ciganda 75,000
4 10 May 2015 Buick Championship 65-67-69-70=271 −17 6 strokes South Korea Kang Hyeon-seo 82,500
5 12 Dec 2015 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters (3) 67-67-67-66=267 −21 12 strokes Thailand Thidapa Suwannapura 75,000
6 15 May 2016 Buick Championship (2) 71-66-70-67=274 −14 Playoff South Korea Choi Na-yeon 72,324
7 10 Dec 2016 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters (4) 72-70-64=206 −10 2 strokes England Charley Hull 75,000

Ladies European Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 2016 Buick Championship South Korea Choi Na-yeon Won with birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (1)

Major championships

Wins (1)

YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunners-up
2012LPGA Championship−6 (72-73-70-67=282)2 strokesSouth Korea Eun-Hee Ji, United States Stacy Lewis, Japan Mika Miyazato, Norway Suzann Pettersen

Results timeline

Results not in chronological order.

Tournament200720082009201020112012
ANA Inspiration CUT T55 T22
U.S. Women's Open CUT CUT T48 CUT T42 T4
Women's PGA Championship T58 CUT T54 T50 1
Women's British Open CUT T67 T73 T30 CUT
Tournament201320142015201620172018201920202021
ANA Inspiration T25 6 T8 T50 T21 T25 CUT T3
U.S. Women's Open T9 T15 CUT T38 T5 CUT CUT T4
Women's PGA Championship T9 T6 T13 T17 CUT T18 CUT CUT
The Evian Championship^ T11 T10 3 4 T6 T44 T2 NT
Women's British Open T25 T2 T24 T17 T7 T7 CUT

^ The Evian Championship was added as a major in 2013

  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
NT = no tournament
"T" = tied

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
ANA Inspiration001137119
U.S. Women's Open000345148
Women's PGA Championship100136139
The Evian Championship01135677
Women's British Open010136129
Totals122918305742

Olympics medals (1)

Singles: 1 (1 bronze medal)

No. Date Tournament Score To par Gold medalist Silver medalist
1 20 Aug 2016 Summer Olympics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 70-67-68-69=273 −10 South Korea Inbee Park New Zealand Lydia Ko

LPGA Tour career summary

YearTournaments
played		Cuts
made		Wins2nd3rdTop 10sBest
finish		Earnings
($)		Money
list rank		Scoring
average		Scoring
rank
2007 1 0 0 0 0 0 MC 0 n/a 75.50 n/a
2008 26 16 0 1 0 4 2 472,758 36 72.45 57
2009 21 12 0 0 0 0 T20 123,694 75 72.60 69
2010 17 15 0 0 0 4 T4 281,303 38 71.69 26
2011 17 15 0 1 0 4 2 362,097 32 71.22 20
2012 19 18 1 1 1 8 1 1,101,147 10 70.84 8
2013 19 18 2 2 0 10 1 1,716,657 4 70.37 6
2014 24 24 1 2 1 12 1 1,404,623 6 70.37 7
2015 21 20 0 1 2 12 T2 1,086,338 9 70.44 9
2016 21 20 2 1 1 11 1 1,458,579 5 69.88 4
2017 22 20 3 1 2 12 1 1,728,191 4 69.78 8
2018 22 21 0 0 3 6 T3 738,823 27 70.42 18
2019 23 17 1 1 0 6 1 986,190 16 70.23 16
2020 Did not play
2021 8 7 0 0 1 3 T3 520,964 40 70.81 n/a
Totals 261 223 10 11 11 92 1 11,981,365 13

World ranking

Position in Women's World Golf Rankings at the end of each calendar year.

YearWorld
ranking		Source
2006609
2007534
200848
200983
201079
201113
20125
20134
20145
20156
20164
20171
201811
201923
202031
202123

Team appearances

Amateur

Professional

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Gary Gilchrist on Growth of China's Future Golfers". The A Position. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  2. ↑ "Guangzhou Sports Officials visit Seattle in September 2011". Washington Cultural Exchange. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  3. ↑ "Get to Know Shanshan Feng". LPGA. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "Shanshan Feng Bio". LPGA. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  5. ↑ Golf Channel television interview with Feng upon winning the 2012 LPGA Championship on 10 June 2012
  6. ↑ "Feng Shanshan, China's first golf number one and 'guinea pig'". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "China's Shanshan Feng does things her way". ESPN. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Shanshan Feng Bio". LPGA. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 "Feng Shanshan's driving ambition" (PDF). China Daily. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  10. ↑ "Shanshan Feng". BBC News. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  11. ↑ http://tucsoncitizen.com/usa-today-sports/2012/06/10/shanshan-feng-wins-a-major-for-china/[permanent dead link]
  12. ↑ Mell, Randall (10 June 2012). "Feng win could inspire Chinese girls". Golf Channel. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  13. ↑ Voepel, Michael (11 June 2012). "Shanshan Feng becomes first winner from China". ESPN W. Retrieved 12 June 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ↑ DiMeglio, Steve (10 June 2012). "Shanshan Feng claims China's first major title in golf". USA Today. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  15. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". Rolex Rankings. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  16. ↑ Porter, Kyle (20 August 2016). "2016 Rio Olympic golf: Park, Ko take medals as Americans just miss bronze". CBS Sports.
  17. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". Rolex Rankings. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  18. ↑ Rogers, Amy (2 August 2022). "Former world No. 1 Shanshan Feng announces retirement from LPGA". Golf Channel. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  19. ↑ Eubanks, Steve (2 August 2022). "Shanshan Feng Bids A Fond Farewell To Fans Everywhere". LPGA. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  20. ↑ Nichols, Beth Ann (9 August 2022). "Celebrating a newly-retired Shanshan Feng, the pioneering Chinese player who broke barriers with humor and one-of-a-kind style". Golfweek. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  21. ↑ Levins, Keely (1 August 2022). "Former World No. 1 Shanshan Feng, first Chinese LPGA Tour player, announces retirement". Golf Digest. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  22. ↑ "Shanshan Feng results". LPGA. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  23. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 26 December 2006.
  24. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 25 December 2007.
  25. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 30 December 2008.
  26. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 29 December 2009.
  27. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 28 December 2010.
  28. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 27 December 2011.
  29. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 31 December 2012.
  30. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 30 December 2013.
  31. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 29 December 2014.
  32. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 28 December 2015.
  33. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 26 December 2016.
  34. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 25 December 2017.
  35. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 31 December 2018.
  36. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 30 December 2019.
  37. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 28 December 2020.
  38. ↑ "Women's World Golf Rankings". 27 December 2021.