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Zhang and Li enjoy good finish at Pine Valley Beijing Open

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May 11, 2008: Chinese stars Zhang Lianwei and Li Chao shot 69 and 70 respectively to finish as the top two local performers in the US$1 million Pine Valley Beijing Open, the first event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and China Golf Association.

Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita won the event by three strokes with a 12-under-par total of 276, crowning a successful week for the Japan Golf Tour Organization as it sanctioned an overseas event for the first time.

The 42-year-old Zhang, who tied-10th in last year’s inaugural event, ended with an even-par 288 to finish tied for 31st, while 29-year-old Li was a shot behind in joint-35th place.

Young Chinese amateur Zhang Xinjun suffered a double-bogey on the first but recovered to post an admirable 72 and finish four-over. Fan Zhipeng was one stroke back after falling away with a 77, having been China’s leading light for the previous two rounds.

Zhang Lianwei and Li, who between them have won 14 events on the Omega China Tour, both just made the cut at even-par on Friday but saved their best for the last round over the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout at Pine Valley.

Zhang, who two weeks ago was the second-round co-leader in the European Tour-sanctioned BMW Asian Open in Shanghai, was a relieved man.

I’m very happy to finish with a 69 as it’s a good end to the week. There was less wind today and I liked the greens,” said Zhang, winner of five events on the Asian Tour and six on the Omega China Tour.

It rained this morning so the greens were a little wet, but the ball stopped nicely. It was also nice for holding approach shots. However, when it was raining and the wind got up, it was sometimes difficult to choose the right club.”

Li’s ambition to play a bogey-free final round went up in smoke at the first hole, but the big man responded with a birdie on the par-five second. Two more birdies and a bogey put him one-under at the turn.

The Beijing star was then on a roll with a hat-trick of birdies from 11 to 13 to go four-under before bogeys at 14 and 17 took the gloss off an otherwise impressive performance.

It wasn’t great. It’s good that I shot six birdies but bad that I had four bogeys. Overall I’m happier with my score today as I’m under par, but I’m disappointed as I was aiming to go bogey-free,” Li said

An eight-time winner on the Omega China Tour, Li was the only Chinese player to make the cut in all three recent Asian Tour events in China, following last month’s Volvo China Open in Beijing and the BMW Asian Open.

The three Asian Tour events have been good for me, as they’ve given me more experience of higher-level events, but I didn’t have a breakthrough performance. I made the cut in all three but didn’t finish well in any, so I’m not that satisfied. I still haven’t won on the Asian Tour, so I want to change this in the future.”

Amateur Zhang Xinjun, who made headlines last September when he was third after three rounds of the Omega China Tour’s Yanji Championship, showed great composure after an opening double-bogey to respond with three birdies on the front nine

After a bogey on 11, the 20-year-old shot seven straight pars to finish his first Asian Tour event with an even-par round.

I’m happy I controlled my emotions after the double bogey and then got three birdies. I also played okay on the back nine,” said the Xian-born Zhang, who’s now developing his game in Chengdu.

I could have scored better, as I had birdie chances from within six feet on 15 and 16. I chipped well again today and this has been the best part of my game all week. It has always been the part of golf I enjoy practising the most.”

In contrast to his three compatriots, Shenzhen-based Fan had his highest score of the week on the final day, mainly due to some erratic putting.

Actually, I didn’t play too badly, but I missed four putts from within three feet. Overall, I’m happy I made my first cut in an Asian Tour event in three attempts,” said the 29-year-old, who has played every event on the Omega China Tour since turning pro last January.

Now I’ll focus on the next three events on the Omega China Tour, as I want to win one tournament this year,” added Fan, who has three top-six finishes on the local circuit and is looking to enter the Asian Tour Qualifying School at the end of the year

Li, Fan and Zhang Xinjun now head south for the Shanghai Championship, the fourth event on this year’s Omega China Tour, while Zhang Lianwei will play in the Japan PGA Championship.