Beijing-based Xiao Bo-wen topped the Volvo China Open Qualifying at Palm Island Resort with a seven under par score of 137 for the 36-hole competition. Xiao finished just one-shot ahead of the other two qualifiers, Huang Wen-yi and amateur player, She Zi-han.
Xiao, 25, could not contain his delight when he holed a 40 foot putt for birdie on the final green, knowing that it meant qualification.
“I’m so delighted with this week’s work as I missed out at Wolong Valley last year after having led after the opening round,” Xiao said.
“I was also in second place after round one in the Tianma qualifying two weeks ago, and again I missed out. Today I learned from those experiences and kept calm. I was aware that there was a big group of players in with a chance of qualifying, so I decided to be aggressive on the 18th tee, but I then hit my approach shot well past the flag. Fortunately my putter saved me!”
Xiao first picked up golf in 2008 while working at a driving range in Beijing. Just four years later, and after many hours of practice on that very same range, he turned pro.
“This is my first time to qualify for the Volvo China Open and I’m very thrilled about it,” added Xiao. “I’m now going back to Beijing to practice and prepare for the tournament.”
Huang, 34, from Jianxi province, finished in joint second place with teenager She. “Before I started my round today I thought I would need to shoot 66 or better to qualify,” Huang said. “I thought that seven under would qualify. When I finished with a 67 I thought I might just make a play off, so I went back to the range to practice.”
Huang slipped down the CGA rankings at the end of last year as he chose to play several events in Europe instead of playing in China, and so had to qualify for his national Open.
His form has been good this year and he recently finished top of the PGA Tour China qualifying event in Guanxi province.
She hails from nearby Shantou, and looked as though he would win the qualifier outright as he stood at 10 under par after 16 holes today. A three-putt bogey on the 17th was followed by a potentially disastrous triple bogey seven on the final hole after he found water with his approach shot. He was unlucky that heavy rain began to fall as he played the final three holes, a situation that he found hard to cope with.
“I wasn’t really nervous, I just found it hard to play in the rain,” said She.
Chen Xiao-ma was once again unfortunate to miss out on qualification having been well in the hunt for most of the competition. He finished with a disappointing round of 73 to add to his 66 of round one, but will have one final chance to qualify in two weeks in Shandong province.
All three qualifiers can now look forward to making their preparations for the Volvo China Open which will receive worldwide coverage in just over four weeks. There is now just one chance remaining for Chinese golfers to qualify for their own open championship, and this will take place in less than two weeks over the Valley Course at Nanshan International Golf Club in Shandong. It is sure to attract a large number of golfers, all keen to win a place in this important and prestigious tournament.
The 21st staging of the Volvo China Open takes place from April 23-26 at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club in Shanghai, China.
