KUALA LUMPUR: Natasha Andrea Oon's bid to qualify for next year's LPGA Tour continues to gain momentum after she secured another runner-up finish on its development circuit, the Epson Tour.
The 21-year-old carded rounds of 67, 68, and 67 to finish in a share of second place with American Auston Kim on 14-under 202 at the Island Resort Championship, which concluded on Sunday in Michigan.
The US$200,000 (RM938,000) event, the 11th leg of the 22-tournament season, was won by Taiwan's Tsai Ching Tseng. A brilliant closing 65 made the difference for Ching Tseng to narrowly pip Natasha and Auston for the title and clinch the US$33,750 (RM158,200) winner's cheque.
The runner-up finish was Natasha's third this season after coming close at the IOA Championship and Casino Del Sol Golf Classic in March. But she was hardly disheartened.
"I had a good score today, and I am not even mad with myself," said Natasha, who pocketed US$18,251 (RM85,600) for her effort. "There were some putts out there that I could have made, but I am really happy I played this well.
"Going into the next event, just knowing that I have been in contention all year, I feel like I could win soon."
Backed by another three top-10 outings to date, Natasha is well-placed in second in the tour's Race for the Card standings after amassing US$82,257 (RM385,800).
The top 10 money leaders at the end of the season will earn a promotion to the LPGA Tour. Another Malaysian, Alyaa Abdulghany, also stepped up her promotion bid with a tied 11th result.
She signed off with 71, 70 and 68 for a seven-under 209 total. Alyaa earned US$3,659 (RM17,200) to bring her season tally to US$36,979 (RM173,400) and sits 15th in the Race for the Card standings.
Meanwhile, Malaysian No. 1 men's golfer Gavin Green also enjoyed a solid result on the DP World Tour in Munich. The 29-year-old shot rounds of 68, 73, 70 and 70 to finish joint 12th on seven-under 281 at the BMW International Open, six shots back of winner Thriston Lawrence of South Africa.
As a result, Gavin climbed 12 spots to No. 79 in the season-long Race to Dubai standings. Gavin needs to finish in the top 110 to retain his status for next season, but his bigger ambition will be to break into the top 50 and make the cut for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.