Three Chinese golfers Yang Guang-ming, Zhang Xin-jun and Zhang Chang-lei could not be separated as they finished in a three-way tie for first place at the Volvo China Open Mid China Qualifying event at Lakehill Golf Club.
Their five over par totals of 149 for the 36-hole event earned them each a place in the RMB20 million (Approx. US$3million) Volvo China Open at Luxehills International Country Club in Chengdu , which starts on April 21st.
It was a particularly pleasing result for Luxehills as the 26-year-old Yang is based at the club and will therefore give Chengdu golf fans a home favourite to follow as China's national open golf championship comes to town for the first time.
“I’m extremely happy with today’s result,” said Yang, the father of a two-year-old daughter. “I want to thank Volvo for giving me this chance. We all know that the Volvo China Open is a high profile event on the European Tour, and to win it at my home course would be a dream come true.”
The members and management at Luxehills were thrilled to hear of Yang’s success in Zhejiang province.
“This is very good news indeed,” said C.B Fong, general manager at Luxehills. “This will bring extra interest to everybody in Chengdu, and indeed to the people of Sichuan who will be watching the Volvo China Open in a month’s time.”
The calm, sunny and dry conditions of the second and final round were in complete contrast to those endured in the opening round and it was expected that scores would fall for during final round.
However, with at least 10 players in with a good chance of qualifying it seemed that the pressure caused by the prospect of a place in their open golf championship conspired with the tough test presented by the 7,596 yard Neil Haworth-designed golf course got in the way of the anticipated low scoring.
Both Yang and Zhang Chang-lei added 75s to their first rounds of 74 for an aggregate 149.
Clearly delighted by the result, 25-year-old Shanghai-based Zhang Chang-lei said: “I played in the Volvo China Open at Jinji Lake last year and because it’s our national Open Championship it was a very special experience for me. So to qualify again for Chengdu is definitely one of the highlights of my season.”
Meanwhile, former national amateur squad member Zhang Xin-jun improved on his first round 76 by three, adding a 73 to also finish on 149 and ensure the first-ever three-way tie at the top of a Volvo China Open Qualifier leaderboard.
“I struck the ball really well today and I was both relieved and happy to see my 10-foot putt go in on the last,” said Zhang, who was born in Xian but recently moved to Chengdu .
“Since I now live in Chengdu I’m hoping that the local golf fans will give me lots of support when I play in the Volvo China Open next month," added Zhang.
A fourth player, Liao Gui Ming also tied for first place, but withdrew from the line-up; however Liao also shared in the winner's prize-fund taking home a cheque for 19,250RMB.
With no outright winner, the trio shared the first, second and third prizes, each earning RMB19,250 for their efforts, but the big prize for the threesome is the opportunity to line up in the Volvo China Open itself, rubbing shoulders with global golf stars such as Pádraig Harrington, Sergio García and Chinese number-one Liang Wenchong.
The 17th Volvo China Open will take place over the JMP-designed 7,335-yard layout at Luxehills International Country Club in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and offers a record prize fund of RMB20 million (approx US$3 million) with the Champion receiving a cheque for RMB3.3 million (approx US$500,000).
