Liao beats Zhang to win first OCT title(2)

　　“I’ve wanted so badly to win in the five years since turning pro in 2003. Yuan Hao and Wu Kangchun, my two teammates in the 2002 Asian Games, have both won since turning pro, so I’m just happy to finally do the same,” said Liao, only the second person to win the Sofitel title after Wu won the inaugural event last May.

　　“I’ve been working so hard and it has been a long time coming. The pressure has been building up all these years,” added Liao, the fifth different champion in the first five events on this year’s Omega China Tour.

　　Zhang, who turned pro in 1994, was gracious in defeat but carried on his exceptional record on the circuit, during which he has recorded six victories, four runner-ups, four thirds and a tied fourth.

　　“Liao is one of the most experienced players on the Tour and he deserved everything he got today,” said Zhang, whose chance of winning the play-off evaporated when his tee-shot went into the trees. “We played three of the four rounds together this week and he has been perfect from tee to green.”

　　Teenage amateur Su Dong was a bemused, forlorn figure after an eventful final few holes. The big-hitting 18-year-old led outright after birdieing the par-five 14th, but regretted using a driver on the 407-yard 16th when his tee-shot went into the water. After his approach also found the drink, he got up and down for a triple-bogey.