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BEIJING Haason Reddick Shirt , Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Amanda Tan showed her mettle on Friday as the Singaporean fought off a late challenge from Thailand's Saranporn Langkulgasettrin to capture the BridgeCC CLPGA Beijing Heritage title in a play-off for her maiden pro win.

After starting the back nine at Beijing Orient Tianxing Country Club with a birdie blitz where she picked up five strokes over the first six holes for a three shot lead, the teenager (67) could only hang on as Saranporn closed with three straight birdies to force the extra session as Tan made a bogey six at the last for a two-shot swing.

In the play-off, the 18-year-old Tan quickly ended it with a birdie on the final hole as Saranporn misread her putt and could only muster par. The victory was worth RMB30,000.

""I feel excited and happy. It has been a long time since I have won, not only as a pro but as an amateur as well. This is my first time I have won an event. It gives me lots of confidence. I'm ready for the next event. I really want to share this good news with my parents.""

Tan, who turned pro in February, credited her strong putting for the win and her iron play for being able to get close to the holes. She admitted to feeling pressure on the final hole of regulation and missing her putt.

""In the play-off I didn't think too much about being the champion. Saranporn had won two titles already and had more experience than I do, so maybe she deserved the title. I just focused on my shots.""

Saranporn, winner of the Wuhan and Zhuhai legs this year, said she felt great about her game after struggling with her putting. She lamented making bogey at holes 11 and 13 and missing a birdie putt at the 15th hole.

""But then I made three straight birdies. Amanda thought my score was better than hers so at the last she putted too strongly because she thought she would only have the chance for the play-off,"" said the 17-year-old Phuket native. ""No pressure, but struggling with my putts. Amanda's putts were really good today. On the back nine she made five birdies over six holes. She was really good today. I didn't feel sad.""

Chinese amateur Wang Xinying (72) finished a distant third at six shots back, one stroke ahead of a group that included compatriots Wang Mengzhu (69) and Sui Xiang (69), Thais Wannasiri Sirisampant (67) and Tiranan Yoopan (71) and South Korean Park Jin-hee (66).

Bae In-ji carded a hole-in-one at the 156-yard 16th hole to help the South Korean to a 73 and equal-15th finish.

Beijing Orient Tianxing Country Club is a 6,270-yard, par-72 layout designed by TK Pen.

BridgeCC CLPGA Beijing Heritage third round leading scores (China unless stated; *denotes amateur; + Tan wins in first-hole play-off)

203 - Amanda Tan+ (Singapore) 67-69-67, Saranporn Langkulgasettrin (Thailand) 69-66-68

209 - Wang Xinying* 69-69-72

210 - Park Jin-hee (South Korea) 73-71-66, Wannasiri Sirisampant (Thailand) 74-69-67, Wang Mengzhu 71-70-69, Sui Xiang 68-73-69, Tiranan Yoopan (Thailand) 70-69-71

211 - Yan Panpan 72-71-68, Sun Jiaze* 71-70-70, Piyathida Ployumsri (Thailand) 66-73-72

212 - Michelle Ko (Malaysia) 72-72-68, Ye Liying 73-67-72, Titiya Plucksataporn (Thailand) 70-70-72

213 - Janya Morrakotpan (Thailand) 75-70-68, Bae In-ji (South Korea) 68-72-73

214 - Ji Yifan* 69-72-73

216 - Cai Danlin* 73-76-67, Du Mohan* 74-73-69, Liu Yiyi* 72-74-70, Cho A-ra (South Korea) 72-73-71, Wang Ziyi* 73-71-72

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TEHRAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday discussed the Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum on the phone, state IRIB TV reported.

The Iraqi Kurds on Monday cast their votes in a referendum that will determine the independence of the Kurdish region and the disputed areas that are currently under de facto Kurdish control.

Both Rouhani and Erdogan emphasized their coordinated opposing stance over the referendum in their telephone conversation.

The integrity of Iraq is highly important for Iran, Rouhani said, adding that the security of his country and the region is, to a significant degree, depends on this factor.

This is a clear message for those who are going to disturb the security and stability of the region, Rouhani pointed out.

Turkey would also give any appropriate response to the Kurdish referendum at political, economic or military level, Erdogan said.

Ankara is ready to boost his ties with the Islamic republic given the current situation in the region, Erdogan stressed.

On June 7, the Kurdish regional President Masoud Barzani announced his intention to hold a referendum on the independence of the Kurdish region from Iraq on Sept. 25.

The independence of Kurdistan is opposed by many countries because it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and because it could undermine fight against Islamic State militants.

In addition, neighboring countries such as Turkey, Iran and Syria see that such a step would threaten their territorial integrity, as larger populations of Kurds live in those countries.

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