The continued rise of golf in China was again underlined on Sunday when Zhang Lianwei became the nation’s first winner on the European Senior Tour in the SSE Enterprise Wales Senior Open.
Zhang’s personal milestone came 13 years after his breakthrough victory on the European Tour, in the 2003 Caltex Masters in Singapore, since when he has been followed into the winners’ enclosure by his compatriots Liang Wenchong, Wu Ashun and, most recently, Li Haotong.
That talented trio have all cited Zhang as the man who inspired their rise to prominence, and in turn the 51 year old has been rejuvenated by the exploits of China’s newest generation of golfing stars – most notably Li, who has been mentored by the elder statesmen.
Li, whose winning style and daring golf game had already won him admirers in China, exploded into the nation’s consciousness with a stunning three-shot win in his national Open at Topwin Golf and Country Club, on the outskirts of Beijing.
Li therefore kept the title in Chinese hands following Wu’s one stroke victory in Shanghai in 2015, a milestone victory which also led to him being named the named Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Month – the first time a player from China had been awarded the prestigious accolade.
Liang’s European Tour victory came in the 2007 Singapore Masters, four years after Zhang’s triumph at Laguna National Golf and Country Club.
The pair partnered each other in the World Cup of Golf on four occasions, and this year Liang will be hopeful of representing his country in the Olympics, with golf making its return after a 112-year absence.
Currently, both Liang and Li are on course to qualify for the men’s competition in Rio, where they will be bidding to enhance China’s incredible Olympic legacy, which includes over 200 gold medals since the Los Angeles games in 1984.
After securing victories on the both the European Tour and Senior Tour, China could also see its first Challenge Tour winner in October when Europe’s leading developmental tour stops off for two tournaments on the Road to Oman.
The Foshan Open made its debut on the Challenge Tour schedule in 2013, and the Spanish duo of Nacho Elvira and Borja Virto are now both playing their trade on the European Tour thanks in no small part to their victories at Foshan Golf Club.
The Donghai Bay course at Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club will host the inaugural Hainan Open a week before the Foshan Open, giving Chinese golf fans another chance to watch some of the game’s brightest young talent in competition.
Ben Cowen, the European Tour’s Director of International Policy, said: “Following on from Li’s superb victory on home soil last month in the Volvo China Open, it was great to see the first Chinese victory on the European Senior Tour in Wales on Sunday, and it was fitting that it was Achieved by Zhang Lianwei, who was also our first Chinese winner on the European Tour in 2003.
“Zhang’s victory in Singapore 13 years ago paved the way for subsequent generations of Chinese golfers, and his maiden Senior Tour win now writes another chapter in the country’s golfing development on the global stage.
“I am sure the focus and publicity generated by these victories for Li and Zhang, combined with golf’s return to the Olympic games this summer, will help grow the game in China and it would be terrific to see our first Chinese winner on the Challenge Tour, particularly with two events taking place in China in October.”
