Adam Fraser shares second at Volvo China Open
BY iseekgolf.com | Asian Tour | 2003 Volvo China Open | Round One | 13 Nov 2003
Chinese ace Zhang Lian-wei launched his bid for a first Volvo China Open title with a five-under-par 67 for a share of the first round lead at Shanghai Silport Golf Club today.
The home hero shrugged off the effects of a cold and produced some superb golf to lead the US$500,000 event with Philippine duo Angelo Que and Danny Zarate, who enjoyed four closing birdies.
Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, Chinese Taipei’s Hong Chia-yuh and Australian Adam Fraser finished a stroke back on 68 in the Asian PGA Tour event.
“This is the first time that I’m in the lead after the first round of the Volvo China Open and it feels good,” said Zhang, who famously defeated Ernie Els in January to win the European Tour-sanctioned Caltex Masters Presented by Carlsberg.
“I missed a few fairways with wayward driving but I struck my irons really well. I started strongly with birdies on the first two holes and that got my round going.”
It has one of Zhang’s greatest desire to lift the Volvo China Open title since the event was inaugurated in 1995 but the closest he has come was a third place outing in the first year. Last season, he was fifth.
“It’s a good start, so I’m aiming to maintain my run. The course here is in good shape but the key would be to stay out of the rough,” said the 38-year-old Zhang, who is currently second on the Order of Merit.
Zarate and Que wielded hot putters to be the surprise names at the top of the leaderboard. The 24-year-Que, playing in his rookie year on Tour, spent his warm-up session entirely on the practice green before his round and it paid off handsomely with five birdies.
“My putting hasn’t really been good and I’ve missed the last four cuts. I didn’t hit any balls at the range this morning and worked on squaring up my shoulders with my putting stroke. I stroked the ball great,” said Que, who was third in the World Amateur Golf Championships individual event last year in Malaysia.
Zarate enjoyed a superb finish to his round, shooting five birdies in his last six holes. After making the turn in 36 following a bogey on two and a birdie on the ninth, the Filipino started rolling home the putts.
Angelo Que blasts out from the bunker during the first round of the Volvo China Open. [picture Paul Lakatos/Volvo Event Management]
“It just clicked on the 13th hole,” said Zarate, who is a lowly 110th on the money list. “The key today was my putter – it got quite hot coming home. I’ve not played well all year so it is a surprise to be in the joint lead.”
Thaworn’s recent run of good form continued with a fine 68 which left him a shot back of the co-leaders. The Thai, who finished runner-up in the Korean Open last month, rolled in six birdies but dropped two shots. He lamented the chilly conditions and needed to wear three layers of clothes in his round.
“I’m not too fond of playing in the cold weather, it so much different than Thailand,” said Thaworn. “It’s a surprise to find myself one off the pace and I’m going to take it one day at a time,” said the Thai.
China’s Liang Wen-chong looked poised to make it a four-way tie for the lead but bogeyed two of his last three holes to fall back to tied seventh place on 69. Former European Tour regular Dennis Edlund of Sweden and American Scott Taylor matched Liang’s effort to lie two off the leading pack. Defending champion David Gleeson carded a 70.
Source – Asian PGA
