Breakthrough victory for new Chinese star Li Haotong on home soil

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

IT HAS been a great weekend for Chinese sport. First of all, 30m people tuned in to watch Ding Junhui reach the final of the world snooker championship at the Crucible in Sheffield - a figure that was dwarfed when the final against Mark Selby got under way - and then a huge crowd rejoiced as Li Haotong gave sponsors a dream finish to the Volvo China Open by winning on home soil.

Li did so in style, finishing with an eight-under-par final round of 64 to become the second successive home winner of this event after a thrilling climax at Topwin Golf and Country Club.

Felipe Aguilar seemed to be cruising towards the title after moving into a three-shot lead early in the round until Li defied his 20 years by reaching the turn in four under and then heading for home with birdies on the 10th and 11th holes. The crowd could hardly contain their excitement as it began to dawn on them that their man could actually go ahead and win.

While Li drove the ball well, it was his iron play that made the difference, superb approach shots at the 15th and 17th setting up two further birdies. The pressure eventually got not to the youngster but to Aguilar, when the Chilean golfer dumped his tee shot at the par-three 16th hole into the water and walked off the green with a card-shattering double-bogey five.

Li – who played his first professional tournament as an amateur at this tournament in 2011 – kept his composure and parred the final hole for a 22-under-par winning total of 266. His final margin of victory was three shots, with Aguilar shooting a last round of 69 to secure second place, one ahead of Lucas Bjerregaard, Richard Bland and Marcel Siem who ended in a tie for third on 18 under par.

The victory left an emotional Li struggling to fight back the tears, knowing that he now has a two-year exemption on the European Tour.

“It means so much to me, I cannot even describe," he said. "It’s especially special because I love the Volvo China Open – it was my first professional event too. For me it means a lot. Last year I played great in this event but I didn’t play well in the last round so I’m really happy to be holding this trophy right now.

“Last week in Sheznen I didn’t play very well – didn’t hit the ball well and didn’t hole many putts but I just relaxed myself this week. I didn’t even think I would make the cut this week, seriously, so it’s just amazing. After 14 holes I didn’t look at the scoreboard, but I just played within myself and just wanted to hang in there – keeping it on the fairways and the greens.

“At the 18th when I played my third shot it was the most nervous I’ve been in my whole life. Last year I was leading by two in Shenzhen but Kiradech Aphibarnrat made eagle so I just thought, I can’t lose a shot on the last hole. This opens up so many doors for me and I will be sitting down with my family and my agent now speaking about these things.”

Aguilar chose to focus on the positives. “It's a good week," he said. "Before you even start playing, if someone tells you you're going to finish second, you take it. It was a good overall week except for one hole, one swing, and unfortunately that was on the 16th hole today. Besides that I'm quite happy with the way I played this week.

“I haven't been playing very and I played well this week. This was a turning point. I'm into the Olympics now representing my country. There are too many positive things just to worry about one bad shot.”

Bjerregard had been struggling with his form before this event, and believes his performance will set him up for the rest of the season.  “I haven't been playing great coming here so it's nice to be in contention and feel that pressure again and I thought I handled myself pretty well. I was hoping to be a little more in contention coming down the last few holes but all in all it's a good week. I'll go home and take a lot of positives from this. I'm looking forward to the Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship and all those events. It will be a good stretch, a busy summer.”

Challenge Tour

Meanwhile on the Challenge Tour, Duncan Stewart recorded his maiden victory after a fantastic final round at the Challenge de Madrid. The Scotsman had five birdies on the way to a 66 to beat England’s Ben Stow who was the clubhouse leader on seven under par.

Stewart was overjoyed with his achievement at Real Club de Golf La Herrería. “I don’t think it will sink in for a couple of days but it was a massive relief,” said Stewart who finished the tournament on eight under par. “I was hoping the weather would be the same as yesterday as David Law [his fellow Scot] and I know how to play in the wind so it was right up our street. I just wanted to get off to a good start and I made a birdie on the first both days so that set me up well.

“Then I just played absolutely fantastic – up there with the best I have ever played."

Overnight leader Pep Angles finished two behind Stewart after carding a one under par 69.