Tardy finished Sunday at 19-under-par. The nearest challenger was compatriot Sarah Schmelzel, who signed for 69 to finish four shots adrift of the 27-year-old to finish second. Japan's Ayaka Furue finished in third place a further stroke back.

The win in China is a reward for the grind Tardy has put in over the last few years; her road to the LPGA Tour was a challenging one. She very nearly walked away from chasing her LPGA dream.

"Getting to the LPGA wasn't an easy path for me," Tardy said.

"I think I played the 2019 year, and COVID hit. Didn't play great in 2019. So, our status was the same for 2021. Ended up playing really well in 2020 and they gave out five cards, and missed the card by one spot. That happened basically the next two years for me.

"Life on the road is not for everybody, and so I just didn't know if this was the profession for me.

"Now that I'm an LPGA winner, I'm so happy I stuck to it. This is a dream come true."

Tardy emerged to prominence when she snatched the lead halfway through last year's U.S Women's Open at Pebble Beach and eventually finished in a tie for fourth, six shots behind Allisen Corpuz. However, even then, she still doubted whether she could consistently mix it at that level.

"There has been a lot of struggle. I did play well at the U.S Open, but there was a lot of doubt in my head that I couldn't compete at this stage, so just to be able to come out on top and be an LPGA winner means the world," Tardy added.

"Now that I'm an LPGA winner, I'm so happy I stuck to it. This is a dream come true." – Bailey Tardy.

New Zealander Lydia Ko continued her excellent start to 2024 after a tough 2023, finishing in a tie for fourth with Perth's Minjee Lee and Canadian Savannah Grewal at 13-under.

Gabi Ruffels was the next best Aussie, finishing in a tie for 15th, while Karis Davidson and Robyn Choi narrowly failed to make the halfway cut.

The Blue Bay LPGA concludes the LPGA Tour's Asian swing. The tour has a week off before heading stateside in Los Angeles for the L.A Open at Palos Verdes Golf Club from March 21-24.