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Fan carries China torch at Pine Valley Beijing Open

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May 10, 2008: Fan Zhipeng credited two foreign pros after shooting a gutsy two-over-par 74 in strong winds to continue leading the Chinese contingent going into the final day of the US$1 million Pine Valley Beijing Open, the first event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and China Golf Association.

Zhang Lianwei and Li Chao, who between them have won 14 events on the Omega China Tour, both shot 75 while 20-year-old amateur Zhang Xinjun posted a 76 on a day when only eight players broke par. All three had started the round on even-par.

Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita enjoys a six-stroke lead at 12-under-par.

Fan, who has three top-six finishes on the Omega China Tour, only turned pro early last year after representing China in the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar. Enjoying weekend play for the first time in three Asian Tour events after opening rounds of 72 and 70, the 29-year-old sits in joint-29th position on two-over.

“I’m satisfied with this score in these conditions. This week, I feel I’m playing at what should be my normal level,” said Fan, who is attached to the Mission Hills Golf Club.

“I’ve been driving well, although my approach shots are not so good. I missed the green on nine holes, but chipped and one-putted man times to save par.”

Fan credited his improved short game to watching Markus Brier and Raphael Jacquelin last month as they came to defend their respective titles at the Volvo China Open in Beijing - where Fan missed the cut by one stroke - and the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai.

“I watched them both closely on the driving range and as they practised their chipping,” Fan admitted. “I watched them for 30 minutes and their technique was similar when chipping from just off the green. I’m trying to incorporate this into my game.”

Li, an eight-time winner on the Omega China Tour, could have posted one of the rounds of the day but for two holes. The 29-year-old started strongly and bagged birdies at the par-five second and the par-three sixth to make the turn in two-under.

However, he made a clumsy double-bogey on the par-four 10th after his approach rolled just off the green, about 20 feet from the flag. The big man with the light touch was far too gentle with his chip attempt, which only just reached the green, and after going three feet past with his first putt, he missed the return.

It was even worse on the par-four 18th, where he drove right into the rough and chipped back into the fairway. A distracted downswing resulted in him hitting short and it took him two attempts to reach the green, where he two-putted.

“My front nine was good, but it got much windier. I basically just went wrong with a double on 10 and a triple on 18,” said Li, the only Chinese to make the cut in all three recent Asian Tour events held in China.

“I really regret the last hole. When I was hitting my third shot, a spectator coughed on my backswing, which affected my shot and I didn’t make the green. On Sunday, I hope to shoot a bogey-free round in the 60s.”

Zhang Lianwei, tied with Li in 51st place, looks unlikely to better his tied-10th finish in last year’s inaugural event after a disappointing finish to his third round.

The 42-year-old, who has won five titles on the Asian Tour and six on the Omega China Tour, started with six straight pars.

However, consistency went out of the door in the next eight holes, which included four bogeys and three birdies, and he also dropped shots on the last two holes.

“The wind was so strong, especially on the back nine. I’m disappointed to bogey the last two holes, but I did my best. In this kind of weather, your choice of club becomes very important,” said Zhang, who switched to his old clubs on Friday.

“I still need more time to get used to my new clubs, but I hope to fight back on Sunday.”

Chengdu-based Zhang Xinjun, playing in his first Asian Tour event, also started off steadily with pars on the first five holes, but his next five were a truly mixed bag.

Changing winds and the wrong choice of club contributed to a double-bogey on the par-three sixth, where he flew the green. His spirits were raised with a superb eagle on the 571-yard par-five eighth, where he fired his five-wood 255 yards to 20 feet beyond the flag, before sinking the putt.

However, he then bogeyed nine and on 10 suffered another double after a wayward drive. Further bogeys on 12 and 17, and a birdie on the par-five 13^th followed.

“The wind was so strong and kept changing, which meant I sometimes chose the wrong club, especially on holes six and 10,” said Zhang, who was third after three rounds of last year’s Yanji Championship on the Omega China Tour.

“However, I’m satisfied with my game today and still happy to have made the cut in my first Asian Tour event. I’m putting well and my short irons are also good. I also learned a lot today from my playing partner, Park Jun-won,” said Zhang in reference to the 21-year-old Korean.

Liang Wenchong, China’s top player and the Asian Tour’s reigning Order of Merit winner, is missing the event to attend his elder brother’s wedding.