Wang Dong-yu gave himself an early birthday present finishing joint winner of the Volvo China Open Tianjin Binhai Forest Qualifying event.
Wang, who lives in Shanghai, will celebrate his 18th birthday next month and now has the opportunity to play with the stars of the European Tour in the Volvo China Open at Topwin Golf and Country Club from April 27-30.
Wang is just the seventh amateur golfer to win a Volvo China Open Qualifying event and only the 19th to gain a place in the prestigious National Open via the qualifying system.
“I judged the wind much better today than I did yesterday,” said Wang, who won the Boy’s B group in the Volvo China Junior Match Play Championship in 2012. “It was even more windy today than it was yesterday so it was a tough day out there.”
“The most satisfying birdie was on the par four 18th where I had 190-yards to the flag,” Wang added. “I hit a five-iron to three feet from where I made a closing birdie.
“I was more at ease this week with my dad on the bag, as he gives me encouragement when I’m not playing well. I usually listen to his advice, but if we disagree about strategy I go with the shot that I think will work out best.
“Last year I was a spectator at the Volvo China Open, and I saw Li Haotong win the title. I really hope I get drawn to play with him in the opening two rounds because the first time I played in a professional event I was drawn to play with him then too.”
Overnight leader Chao Hai-meng seemed to have things under control on what turned out to be a much more windy day that the opening round moving to two under par after the front nine holes.
He dropped shots on the 10th and 14th holes to offer hope to the chasing pack, and he looked like giving up another shot when he missed the green with his approach on the 17th, however he held his nerve and holed his chip shot from within the hazard for an unlikely birdie four.
Chao said after the round that he was confident throughout the two days as he had prepared well, and that the tournament structure was extremely professional.
“The event team did a great job this week in organising the tournament,” said Chao, who is based in Beijing. “The Volvo China Open is a very well organised event but the qualifiers are also very well organised and run.”
Chao ended with a level par round of 72, while Duan Chen-xiao, also from Beijing, was on the 18th tee when the final group were still on the ninth hole, however the 25-year-old shot an amazing round of 68 to earn the third and final qualifying spot on two over par 146 while almost half the field still had lots of golf to play.
“I’m always confident about my iron play, but my putting often lets me down,” said Duan, who grew up in Canada. “Today my putting was good and I holed three birdies from more than 10 yards.
“The 18th turned out to be the key hole for me today as I found a bunker off the tee but I hit my approach shot to about 12 feet of the flag to two putt for a satisfying par.”
