China
Zhang wins 2nd Omega China Tour
(CRIENGLISH.com)
Updated: 2006-09-04 08:45
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Huang's weekend charge up the leader board ultimately ended in disappointed, when he fluffed a chip from thick rough at the back of the Grand Shanghai Golf & Holiday Resort's dramatic closing hole.
The first time up the par five 18th, Huang had a narrow escape when Zhang's birdie putt brushed the edge of the hole. On the second visit, both players reached the island green with their second shots. Zhang chipped to four feet and, when Huang missed his par putt from around seven feet, he had the luxury of two putts for the victory.
"I feel really honoured to win this tournament in the play-off, because Huang Mingjie is an excellent young player," said the 41-year-old godfather of mainland golf.
"These young guys are playing better golf than we've ever had in China before!"
Huang, who hails from Sichuan province, has never come closer to a fully-fledged professional victory. His best results have been on the Omega China Tour-a fourth place in Shandong this year and a third place in Kunming in 2005-but on those occasions silverware was never likely to reach his mantelpiece.
This time he made a Tiger-esque charge. Following his career-best course record 66 on Saturday he recovered from a slow start to his final round, making birdies on the par four 16 th and 17th holes to force the play-off.
"I learned a lot from this," he said, still smiling.
"I've never played a play-off before. There was no-one that I could ask what to do while I was waiting. By losing to Zhang this time, I think I've learned how to win in one now. That's one thing that I'm really happy about, even though I lost. I feel I'm on the right track especially after my 66 in the third round. I'm full of confidence."
In third place was perennial bridesmaid Jimmy Qi Zengfa, who looked like he might finally win when he held a two-shot lead as the leading groups approached the turn. That quickly evaporated and a bogey on the 17 th hole left him one shot behind, once again watching the bride's back and waiting to catch the flowers.
"I started looking at the leader board on the back nine and I thought I had a chance. I really hate it when I do that! I'm sorry I disappointed everybody again! " the former junior international rower said, making the room dissolve into laughter.
"I know I'm close, I mean really close!" he added enthusiastically to cause more laughter.
"Of course I'm still happy. It's my best finish in the Omega China Tour. I was trying to get ahead on the front nine, because I know I tend to make a mess of the closing holes. Jesus! Is it God's will to always let the trophy slip away from me? I guess I'm going to have to win the Kunming Leg!"
At least Jimmy Qi could still laugh. Li Chao was quickly put out of contention, falling foul of rule 13-4a and picking up a two shot penalty when his caddy dipped his towel into the water and was deemed to have 'tested the conditions of a water hazard'. Like Qi, Li finished with a final round 73 which earned him sole possession of fourth place.
Wu Weihuang, who together with Zhang and Qi had shared the overnight lead, found the blazing hot putter that propelled him there was as cold as a Mongolian winter and slumped to a 78.
This left Fan Zhipeng, the 28-year-old amateur from China's Doha Asian Games squad, in fifth place. The joint-leader from the first two days shot his second successive one-over-par round, but his performance, and that of his team-mates, did not go unnoticed by the winner.
"I'm really impressed that four out of six of them made the cut," declared Zhang.
"It's been good for the national team players to come out to this tournament. I think it would be good to let them play all the China Tour events. It's great to have training camps, but they'll also benefit from playing in real tournaments."