Zhang's a green machine

China's 'next big thing' out to justify hype in Kunming

Chinese youngster Zhang Jin starts this weekend's 1.5-million-yuan ($230,000) Kunming Championship at Yulongwan with big expectations after finishing runner-up to American Charlie Saxon in Guilin last week and soaring to ninth on the PGA Tour Series-China order of merit.

Zhang, 22, has reason to be confident, too. Two months ago in a European Challenge Tour event at Yulongwan, he was China's top finisher with a tie for seventh, one shot behind Saxon.