Shenzhen Golfers Win Chinese TournamentDespite a double on the 17th hole, Zhang Lianwei, China's top men's professional golfer, won comfortably the first stop of the Ericsson China PGA Challenge Tuesday at the Nansha Golf Club.A misleading tip from his caddie prompted Zhang to hit five strokes on the par-3 17th hole. But with Monday's four-under 68, Zhang, from the Shenzhen Golf Club, won the first of the four-stop Ericsson series. He also hit a one-under 71 yesterday for a two-day total of 139 strokes. "I'm happy with the victory," said Zhang, who pocketed 50,000 yuan (US$6,250). "But I was poor in putting. I need to work harder on the putting if I want to play better." Zhang, whose main focus was international competition for the past year, said he will play more national tournaments this year. He said other young promising golfers in China should also play more tournaments to enrich their experience and improve skills. Second was Zheng Wengen with 143 strokes, followed by Qi Zengfa at 145 strokes. The women's title went to top Chinese female pro Ling Shaoru, also from the Shenzhen Golf Club. She stroke a two-day total of one under-par 143 shots. Ling, who hit 73 on Monday and 70 yesterday, won 20,000 yuan (US$2,500) for the victory. Second was Yang Hongmei at 147 shots and the third place went to Zhang Lichun at 149 strokes. Next stop of the Ericsson challenge will be in Macao on June 30 and July 1, followed by the Shanghai Challenge on August 4 and 5 and the Beijing Challenge on October 10 and 11. This is the nation's first women's gold series tournament. The Panyu stop of the Ericsson Golf challenge attracted 49 top Chinese professional men's and women's golfers for the 36-hole tournament. |
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