新浪体育讯　March 22, 2009: Local hero Wu Weihuang made the transition from martial arts champion to golf champion when he won fended off fellow Fujian favourite Alex Wu Ashun and Zhou Jun to win the RMB1 million Dell Championship in Xiamen, the opening event of the Omega China Tour’s fifth season。

　　The lean, muscular 40-year-old, who stands just 1.68 metres tall, closed with a one-under-par 71 for a 14-under total of 274 and a four-stroke victory over Wu, the 23-year-old Asian Tour star who came home in 72, and reigning Omega Championship winner Zhou, 25, who finished with a 68。

　　Shang Lei, 27, birdied the last for a 70 and a share of fourth place on eight-under with 23-year-old American C.J. Gatto, who played with the two local stars in the final flight at the Orient (Xiamen) Golf and Country Club and carded a 72. Korean Eom Jae-woong, 18, closed with a 71 to finish sixth on seven-under。

　　Wu was mobbed by fans as he walked away with a cheque for RMB180,000 and a new Dell Latitude XT2 tablet, much to the delight of his sons Yifan and Jianlong, 13 and 17 respectively。

　　“My youngest son told me this morning that he really wanted me to win so he could get the new laptop,” Wu laughed. “It was also great as I had my eldest son, Jianlong, watching my every stroke. That gave me a lot of confidence and pride。”

　　Jianlong, a three-handicapper still at school, followed his father’s every shot as one of the course marshalls, having shot rounds of 78 and 75 in his first appearance in a pro event as an invite of the host venue。

　　Wu’s maiden victory was a hard-earned reward for one of the Omega China Tour’s most fascinating characters. The Xiamen-based businessman only took up the game in 1995, at the age of 27, having won six provincial titles in the art of Nanquan, a contemporary form of Wushu。

　　After studying the game and practising intensely, he turned professional in 1999 and developed into one of China’s most consistent players. He finished runner-up in Beijing in the Omega China Tour’s first event in 2005 and recorded 13 more top-10 finishes in the next 25 tournaments。

　　“When I holed the par-putt on 18, I just felt so relieved that I’d finally done it. I’ve waited 10 years for this moment and it’s a great feeling,” said Wu, who led the tournament for all four days with rounds of 66, 67, 70 and 71。

　　Wu’s three-stroke lead over Wu Ashun at the start of the day narrowed to one after a double-bogey on the par-five fifth。

　　However, the leader quickly regained his composure and a three-stroke advantage by birdieing the next two holes, including a great chip-in at the par-four sixth that produced a passionate roar from a large crowd, who turned out in force to follow the two local stars。

　　“At the start, I was watching Wu Ashun and C.J. too much and focusing on their games. After hole five, I realised I had to play my own game and it was much better after that,” Wu said。

　　“I started to believe I would win when I birdied the par-five 13th and I held my nerve on the way in. Wu Ashun is a really good player, but this week I’ve been really confident about my game. It was great to win in Xiamen because I’ve had a lot of support all week and the crowds were just great today。”

　　Wu’s increased length off the tee was also used to great effect through the tournament and rewarded his intense work on and off the golf course during the winter。

　　“I’m hitting the ball much longer now because I’ve been working on my woods and long irons for the past few months when there haven’t been any tournaments. I’ve been going to the gym four times a week and it’s all starting to pay off. For me, this victory is just the beginning。”

　　Wu Ashun and Zhou each won RMB90,000 and a Dell Latitude E4200 notebook。

　　Zhang Lianwei tied for seventh, Chinese Taipei stars Lu Wen-teh and Lin Keng-chi finished ninth and joint-10th respectively, while 2008 champion Li Chao shared 14th place with James Su Dong。