Dylan Frittelli is looking to take full advantage of the final four events of the season and make a late charge up the Road to Oman Rankings to seal top spot on the European Challenge Tour for 2016.
The South African arrives at the Hainan Open in formidable form after finishing tied 12th at the Fiji International last week on the European Tour, while two weeks ago he recorded a top ten finish at the Kazakhstan Open on Europe’s top developmental tour.
Twice a Challenge Tour champion, the 26 year old currently sits in seventh place in the Rankings with 97,070 points, more than 50,000 behind current leader Jordan Smith.
But the 2016 Rolex Trophy winner, who has finished in the top ten six times on the Road to Oman this season, believes it is still all to play for in four of the most lucrative tournaments of the year.
“My aim now is to win the Rankings,” said Frittelli, who finished second in the Australian PGA Championship last year.
“There are seven, maybe eight guys who are in line to win that list, so hopefully I can play well through these first two events and set myself up for the Middle East, as if you win one of the last three and get a top five somewhere then any of those eight guys have got a chance.
“I had an awesome time in Fiji. The golf course was pretty tough and the wind blew all week – the weekend there was probably a 20 or 30 mile per hour breeze.
“I feel that it was very good preparation for this week which was the main thing – as I played there to get ready for Hainan with its nice, warm and windy conditions.
“I walked the course yesterday and I didn’t hit any shots, but it looks like a really fun track. There are lots of longish holes with wide fairways so think the driver is going to be key this week. If you hit it straight and hit your irons close then it should be a putting contest as everyone will be able to hit a lot of greens this week.
“I played the Foshan Open two years ago so I feel somewhat at home here – definitely more familiar then I did last time, which I think bodes well for the week.
“I am really enjoying the culture change here. I haven’t got out much yet as I just slept last night but I am looking to get out and check out a marina nearby, probably with Ryan Fox tomorrow or on Friday.”
Returning to action this week are England’s Sam Walker and Smith who will tee it up for the first time since they finished first and second respectively at the Kazakhstan Open.
Sweden’s Alexander Björk comes to China as the form horse after shooting a six under par final round of 66 to rise up the leaderboard and claim joint second place at the 11th hour at the Terre dei Consoli Open last week.
Among the home favourites is Hui-lin Zhang, who returns to Sanya with fond memories after he won the 2015 Hainan Open at Dragon Valley Golf Club – which is close to this week’s venue, Sanya Luhuitou GC.
