Zhang tees up slice of history

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China Daily, December 10, 2020
Adjust font size:
Clockwise from top: Youngsters Zhang Jienalin, Dou Zecheng and veterans Cheng Jun and Zhang Lianwei are among the main attractions at this week's Volvo China Open at Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen. Provided to China Daily

History will be made at the Volvo China Open in Shenzhen this week when Zhang Jienalin becomes the first female player to ever compete in the tournament.

Henan-born Zhang, who turned pro in 2015, surprised herself by claiming her maiden title at the Hangzhou International Championship in October, not least because it was a co-sanctioned event with the men's China Tour.

The victory was worth 180,000 yuan ($28,000) for the 24-year-old. The top six places at the mixed event all went to China LPGA players, with Benny Ye Jianfeng the best of the men in seventh.

"I thought I would have a surreal feeling winning my first professional tournament, but I just thought, 'That's it'," Zhang said of her victory. "I wasn't very excited, I did a great job, no heart racing, nothing more."

The CLPGA players were competing from advanced tees in Hangzhou, but this week Zhang will tee it up on the same length course as the men at China's oldest continuously held professional golf tournament.

Zhang expects to struggle over the 7,145-yard (6,533-meter) Genzon course, and said that finding the greens in regulation will be her biggest challenge.

"For me this week it's all about driving distance. I failed to hit the green in two shots on many of the par-4s in practice today," said Zhang.

"The greens here are also very difficult and are playing quite fast. My main aim is obviously to make the cut."

The tournament is in its 26th year and under normal circumstances is part of the European Tour. However, COVID-19 has put paid to its international status and it is being sanctioned as a China Tour event.

Veteran former winners Zhang Lianwei and Cheng Jun are in the field this week, although neither expects to finish too high up the leaderboard.

Cheng, 51, became the pride of China when he won the third staging of the event in 1997 at Beijing Country Club. Cheng played superb golf that week to claim the title by five strokes and become the first home winner of the event.

"Winning the Volvo China Open was certainly the highlight of my golfing career," said Beijing native Cheng. "I rarely play in tournaments these days but I'm still proud to be a professional golfer.

"Being one of the first generations of Chinese professional golfers, I very much appreciate Volvo's consistent support for Chinese golf for so many years."

Zhang Lianwei, 55, tees off on Thursday as the only player to have competed in all 26 China Opens.

The Zhuhai-born former javelin thrower enjoyed a stellar amateur career, winning the China Amateur Open three times before turning pro in 1994. A year later, he finished third in his first appearance in the China Open, and in 2003 in Shanghai went on to realize his long-held ambition of winning the title.

He has collected an impressive 21 titles in countries as far afield as Thailand, Malaysia, Canada and Wales. He was also a regular on the Japan Tour.

One of Zhang's most memorable wins was his final-hole victory over South Africa's four-time major champion Ernie Els at the 2003 Caltex Masters in Singapore.

That victory saw Zhang claim three historic milestones: He became the first Chinese golfer to win a European Tour event, the first to break into the world's top 100, and the first to earn an invitation to the Masters, in 2004.

"Finishing third in my first Volvo China Open gave me a lot of confidence to step onto the world stage," said father-of-two Zhang.

"After many years of constant hard work I finally made it with victory in 2003.

"I still work hard today. I practice regularly like I always have. Age is not a problem. In the US and in Europe there are many senior players who can still play well and compete well into their 60s.

"Today's young professionals should understand that it's their job to play in a tournament-their career is all about training and practicing well to win the top prize."

Dou Zecheng is among a legion of young players in the field this week and is making no secret of his high hopes for the event. As a former PGA Tour player, Dou has good reason to be confident.

"I just want to hit every shot well this week," said the 23-year-old, who now competes on the Korn Ferry Tour in the US.

"I've been working hard with my coach for the past two years and my swing is now much more solid and reliable. Hopefully I will get the job done. I came to win!

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter
主站蜘蛛池模板: 久久久精品久久久久久96| 亚洲网址在线观看| 91影院在线观看| 国产综合无码一区二区色蜜蜜| 一区二区三区在线看| 视频一区二区三区欧美日韩| 国产超碰人人模人人爽人人添| 亚洲s色大片在线观看| 潘多拉铂金刊33刊无圣光| 午夜精品在线免费观看| 西西人体44rt大胆高清日韩| 国产欧美精品区一区二区三区| 一级黄色a级片| 日本不卡在线观看免费v| 亚洲色偷偷综合亚洲av伊人| 精品国产香港三级| 国产乱子伦真实china| 国产在线播放你懂的| 国产精品无码久久久久久| 中国大白屁股ass| 日韩大片在线永久免费观看网站| 亚洲另类自拍丝袜第五页| 毛片大全免费看| 人人妻人人玩人人澡人人爽| 精品久久久久久久中文字幕| 国产精品人成在线播放新网站| 三级视频中文字幕| 日本19禁啪啪无遮挡免费动图| 久久精品久久久久观看99水蜜桃| 校园性教k8版在线观看| 亚洲免费二区三区| 欧美性另类高清极品| 嗨动漫在线观看| 蜜桃成熟时1997在线观看在线观看| 久久人人爽人人爽大片aw| 波多野结衣33| 人人妻人人狠人人爽| 男人j进入女人p狂躁免费观看 | 国产视频一区在线| 99riav视频国产在线看| 天堂а√中文最新版地址|