Zhang Sets Sights on Sofitel Golf Championship

　　China’s pioneering professional golfer Zhang Lian-wei will compete in the Sofitel Golf Championship next week, which is the opening event of the season on the Omega China Tour.

　　Zhang claimed the Omega Order of Merit title last year following two victories and will be hoping for a winning start in this new event on the circuit, to be played at Zhongshan International Golf Club in Nanjing from May 10 to 13.

　　The Tour has been increased from six to eight tournaments this year, each event boasting prize money of US$100,000.

　　Zhang turned 42 today and is still hungry for success but as he enters the twilight of his career he is focusing more and more on helping the development of golf in his country.

　　“I am still playing Tour golf. I want to continue playing and play good. I want to help golf in China, so when I am not playing golf I will be promoting China golf. These are my two main goals for the coming years. I am 42 years old now, I can still play tournament golf - I think I am setting a good example for young players, letting them see that they can have a long career ahead of them. Of course, I know it is difficult but I still have the state of mind that I want to win - I know that if I putt better I can win again,” said Zhang.

　　He has been the heartbeat of Chinese golf for more than a decade. An historic appearance at the Masters in 2004, victory over Ernie Els in the European Tour sanctioned Singapore Masters in 2003 and multiple wins on the Asian Tour, he has trail blazed the fairways of the world.

　　“When I was 20 years old I was a caddy. It has not been an easy road. The Omega China Tour is very important as it provides a platform for young Chinese professionals. In the 22 years of China golf development this is the first real Tour in China and it is a very good chance for young players to have a start in the game. When I turned professional in 1994 there was no such Tour,” added Zhang.

　　The China Tour was inaugurated in 2005 through the efforts of the China Golf Association and promoter World Sport Group. It featured four events that first year.

　　“It is very important that I promote China golf. That is why I have the Zhang Lian-wei Trophy which I have organised for seven years. The Zhang Lian-wei Trophy is for youngsters aged four years old to 18 years old - there are six age groups. It is held at Shenzhen Noble Merchant Golf Course. By promoting golf with China Golf Association co-ordination, I hope that China golf will have a better future. I am always very supportive to China golf,” said the Chinese star.

　　Zhang’s young protégé, Liang Wen-chong, is not competing in the Sofitel Golf Championship but will feature in events later in the year. Liang, who shot to stardom recently by repeating Zhang’s feat by winning the Singapore Masters in March, also claimed two titles on the Omega China Tour last year.

　　While these two players are the recognized faces of golf in China, they will no doubt be aware of a new generation of mainland golfers who are starting to emerge. A total of 125 players will tee-off next week, among them Li Chao, who won the Merit list in 2005 and Huang Ming-jie, who showed that he is a player to look out for after he took a share of the first round lead in the Volvo China Open last month.