KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Taiwan's Peiyun Chien won the inaugural Kansas City Championship on Sunday for her first Symetra Tour title after rain washed out the final round.
Play was stopped at 8:40 a.m. at Staley Farms because of heavy storms, and was called for the day at 2 p.m.
Chien beat Jackie Stoelting and Emma Talley by a stroke, opening with a 4-under 68 on Friday and shooting a 67 to reach 9-under 135.
''I'm very happy to win the Kansas City Championship,'' Chien said. ''I'm excited to win my first big tournament and I'm excited to move my ranking to top 10 or more.''
Chien earned $15,000 to jump from eighth to fifth on the money list with $55,385, with the final top 10 earning LPHA Tour cards. She has seven top-10 finishes this season.
''My dream has always been to play on the LPGA,'' Chien said. ''I think after today, the dream is going to come true next year. I hope that every week I can play my best and every shot do my best.''
Stoelting had rounds of 65 and 71. A two-time winner this year, she earned $8,257 and remained third on the money list with $71,744.
''It is unfortunate we couldn't play the final round, but a big `thank you' to the staff and volunteers for working tirelessly to try and get the course playable,'' Stoelting said. ''A tie for second place is one step closer to getting my LPGA card back. I'm happy with my game and excited for the rest of the year.''
Talley shot 68-68, and jumped from 31st to 21st with $27,640. Last month in her professional debut, the former Alabama star lost a playoff to Stoelting in Albany, New York.
''I am very happy with second place this week,'' Talley aid. ''Obviously, I wish we would have been able to play the last round, but that is just how golf is sometimes. My game feels really good right now and I am super excited for the next few weeks.''
