China Open puts safety first as Zhang reigns supreme

Championship overcomes pandemic issues in big boost to domestic game

Zhang Jin held his nerve to fend off 2016 champion Li Haotong and win the 27th Volvo China Open by a shot in Shenzhen on Sunday.

Beijing-based Zhang, 26, said that his pre-tournament goal was simply to make the cut in the China Tour's final event of the year. Four days and 72 holes later at Genzon Golf Club, Zhang became the sixth Chinese winner of the tournament.

A huge amount of work went on behind the scenes to ensure that the event could actually take place. Concerns over COVID-19 delayed the tournament's original November date, and to ensure the safety of players and staff alike the course was last week closed to spectators.

Fans, though, could catch the action live online on Sina Golf, and the WeChat channels of the Volvo China Open and the China Golf Association (CGA).

"We all know that Volvo's persistent pursuit of safety has never been in doubt," said Michel Zhao, chair of the Volvo China Open board and vice-president of communications and MarCom for Volvo Car Asia Pacific.

"Even if there was no epidemic situation, we would always pay attention to the health and safety of the participants, staff and observers," Zhao added.

"When the SARS outbreak emerged in 2003, we postponed the original date to the end of the year for health and safety reasons. In 2020, because of COVID-19 we delayed the event for seven months.

"Last year, the success of the Volvo China Open in fighting epidemic diseases was recognized by governments and golf associations at all levels.

"In addition to this, the Volvo China Open submitted an application to the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf and fully accepted its guidance and supervision. Through various sustainable development measures we are committed to a Volvo China Open that is both player and event sustainable."

Pang Zheng, vice-president and secretary-general of the CGA, said that the China Open's ability to negotiate the difficulties presented by the pandemic was a big boost for the domestic game.

"In the context of the normalization of epidemic prevention and control, it is a great thing for China's golf industry that the Volvo China Open has been held continuously for 27 years," said Pang.

"It will certainly play an important role in Chinese players' preparations for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, and even the 2024 Paris Olympic Games."

Three former champions were in the field of 108 this year, including Li Haotong, the winner in 2016 when the event was part of the European Tour, now rebranded as the DP World Tour.

Li's life changed forever when he became the fourth Chinese winner of the China Open, and in 2018 he captured his second European Tour title at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Former champion Rory McIlroy was seeded No 1 that week but Li blocked out all negative thoughts to win the event by a single shot from the illustrious Northern Irishman.

Li's Dubai win saw him become the first male Chinese mainland golfer to break into the world's top 50, and earned him automatic entry to the four majors and the World Golf Championship events.

With all eyes on Li last week at Genzon, Zhang was going about his business on the course quietly and efficiently to stay in the mix with the leaders, including amateur Ding Wenyi.

Ding finished second in last year's tournament, and since then secured a repeat win at the China Amateur Open. He also placed first at the 2021 National Games.

Zhang assumed the sole lead at the end of round three, before beginning the final round with two birdies that were canceled out by two bogeys on the front nine.

He regained his confidence with a 10-foot putt on the 15th, and teed off on the short 18th tied with Li on 7-under.

Li hooked his final tee shot left over the water and was only able to make par; Zhang found the green before stroking an eagle chance to within inches of the cup for a tap-in birdie to land the 350,000-yuan ($55,000) first prize.

The champion thrust his arms into the air and roared into a nearby TV camera: "I did it, Dad, I did it."

"I'm so happy to hoist this heavy trophy," said Zhang. "Lady Luck was clearly on my side today. I wanted to tell my father watching TV that I did it. Today I finally won."

Defending champion Zhang Huilin holed a five-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a final-round 70 to secure the China Tour order of merit title ahead of Hak Shu-yat of Hong Kong.

The money-list triumph earned Zhang Huilin a DP World Tour card.

"This has been a pressure-packed tournament, and I thought about a lot of things, both as the money leader and as defending champion," said Zhang Huilin.

"The global stage is all I've ever dreamed about since I started playing golf. I will embrace membership of the DP World Tour."