Brier too strong at Volvo China Open

BY Bruce Young | Asian Tour | 2007 Volvo China Open | Wrap | 15 Apr 2007

38-year-old Austrian, Markus Brier, made a one horse race of the Volvo China Open in Shanghai today, winning his second European Tour event and his first outside of his native country by a convincing five shots.

Last June, Brier secured his third Austrian Open title, now a European Tour event, with a victory over Soren Hansen but today he took a one shot lead into the final round at the Shanghai Silport course and never really gave the others a look in as he cruised to a final round of 67 and the victory over Australian Scott Hend, South African Andrew McLardy and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell.

Brier converted a five shot deficit on second round leader, Raphael Jacquelin, to his eventual five shot victory with weekend rounds of 67 and 67 to leave his rivals in his wake.

Australian Scott Hend, who now has Asian Tour status after three years in the US on the PGA and Nationwide Tours, was in line to challenge Brier after making the turn in 33 to be within two but three quick bogeys early in his back nine left him with too much to do. For Hend, however, it was a welcome return to the sort of form that saw him finish in third place at the 2004 Bell South Classic behind the winner, Zach Johnson. We all know where Johnson is now.

Hend also finished runner up at the Pakistan Open earlier this year in his first Asian Tour event this season but has lost his way over the past few weeks. Hend had played well in this event in 2002 finishing inside the top ten behind David Gleeson that year and at this venue.

Peter O’Malley who finished 6th, Brett Rumford 11th, Unho Park 14th, Scott Strange 19th, Terry Pilkadaris and Tony Carolan 23rd, Adam Blyth 39th and Marcus Fraser 44th were amongst the leading Australasians.

The European and Asian Tours stay in Shanghai this week for the BMW Asian Open at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club where a field that includes Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Colin Montgomerie and Paul Casey are likely to make their presence felt.