Shanghai: September 16th, 2002; Shanghai Silport Golf Club staged the Volvo China Open for the fourth consecutive year, September 12-15. During the tournament, the inclement weather greatly added to the difficulty for the competitors. However, all offered a great show. Australian David Glesson played particularly well and grabbed the glory with a one-shot victory over Mexico’s Pablo Del Olmo for the biggest win of his career.

Big prize money, enthusiastic players
The prize purse -US$500,000 - was the biggest ever in mainland China at the time and attracted many professionals from the Asian Tour to participate in the Volvo China Open. With the money on offer, there were many nervous players at this Open.

First round
Glesson moves ahead, Liang Wenchong in the hunt
In 1997, mainland player Cheng Jun won the tournament. The moment that he raised his winner cup was not easily forgotten and it was hoped that the same thing could happen once again.

There was a good chance it could as the field featured 23 Chinese professionals, including Zha- ng Lianwei, Liang Wenchong, Qiu Zhifeng and Zheng Wengen, four Asian amateurs and over 20 players from Hong Kong and Taiwan. In the first round under hot conditions and bright sunshine, Glesson shot a seven-under 65 to take the lead. Liang trailed by three strokes with Zhang one stroke further back.

As it was the fourth year for the Open at Silport, most of the players were familiar with the layout and did a good job. Cui Zhiqiang, China PGA general secretary, said he was very confident about Zhang’s chances to win his national Open.

Second round
Del Olmo Starring accidentally Zhang Lianwei Chasing closely
Under the bright sun, the swirling winds confused and disturbed a lot of players. Kevin Na, a teenager from South Korea, finished 6-under par in the first round, but carded a one-over 73 in the second. Inexplicably, Mexico’s Del Olmo finished with a round 65 to end up with a score of seven-under 133 at the halfway mark.

Accompanied by his wife, China hope Zhang sat five-under-139 par entering the weekend. Other
hopefuls did not fair so well as Charlie Wi, the 2001 Open winner, failed to get anything going while all the Chinese players, outside of Zhang, Liang and Qiu Zhifeng, were eliminated.
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Third round
Kingston on the move, Ling Jianbing Asian hope
On the third day, the weather changed to wet and windy conditions with the temperature dropping five degrees Celsius from a day earlier. General-secretary Cui’s prediction proved true as South African James Kingston made his move with birdies on eight holes. He finished his round at eight-under 64 to lead the tournament tied with Glesson at 15 under.

Zhang gave the gallery something to cheer about when the China number one birdied three holes. Lin Jianbin started to play like he could win the tournament as the Taiwanese carded 11 birdied until a ball in the water and a double bogey proved to be his undoing.

Fianl round Fierce fighting breaks out
Facing great difficulties under windy and wet conditions, there was a fierce fight among the three contenders vying for China’s top professional golf title. Kingston had a chance to win it in the late goings, however, the par-five 18th proved to be his undoing as he needed three putts to finish the hole. It all boiled down to a battle between Del Olmo and Glesson as the young Australian would pip the Mexican by a stroke for a aggregate score of 16-under 272 and his first career win.

Zhang played stable golf and finished fifth with an aggregate 271, nine under for the tournament. Lin Jianbin could do no better as he finished the final round in 13th, four under for the event.

By Golf Digest HK
Appeared: October 2002