Zhang Lianwei
| Zhang Lian-wei | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Zhang Lian-wei |
| Born | 2 May 1965 Zhuhai, Guangdong, China |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Weight | 73 kg (160 lb; 11.5 st) |
| Nationality |  China |
| Residence | Shenzhen, Guangdong, China |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1994 |
| Current tour(s) | Asian Tour |
| Former tour(s) | European Tour Japan Golf Tour |
| Professional wins | 18 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| European Tour | 1 |
| Asian Tour | 5 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
|
| Masters Tournament | CUT: 2004 |
| U.S. Open | DNP |
| The Open Championship | DNP |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
| Achievements and awards | |
| Omega China Tour Order of Merit winner |
2006 |
Zhang Lian-wei (born 2 May 1965) is a Chinese professional golfer.
Zhang was the first golfer from the People's Republic of China to achieve substantial success on the international professional circuit. In January 2003 he became the first Chinese golfer to win on the European Tour,[1] and the following year was the first to compete in the Masters Tournament, one of the four major championships.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Career
Zhang was born in Zhuhai in Guangdong Province. The People's Republic of China's first golf course opened in 1984, and Zhang took up the game soon afterwards. He worked as a caddie and won the China Amateur Open Championship three times before turning professional in 1994.
Early in his career, Zhang won a number of smaller tournaments around Asia, in China, Malaysia and Thailand. He has competed predominantly on the Asian Tour since 1997, but has also played extensively on the Japan Golf Tour. He has also played outside Asia with limited success. However he did win a tournament in Canada in 2000.
Zhang came to global attention at the 2003 Caltex Singapore Masters, where he edged out Ernie Els with a birdie on the final hole to become the first Chinese golfer to win on the European Tour.[1] With this victory he also became the first Chinese golfer to make the top 100 in the Official World Golf Rankings. As a result, in 2004 he received a special invitation to play in the Masters Tournament, becoming the first player from mainland China to compete in the tournament. His invite drew significant criticism, with many players believing that there were other Asian golfers more deserving of a place in the Augusta field.[2]
Zhang has won a total of five tournaments on the Asian Tour, and has a best end of season ranking of 2nd on the Order of Merit, achieved in 2003. He has also won six times on the China Tour, where he topped the Order of Merit in 2006.
In 2009, while being invited to compete in the Omega European Masters in Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland he meet Stéphane Barras, the local club pro, who later became his coach.[3] Together they opened the first golf training center at Haigeng in the province of Yunnan, (the Olympic training center of China). In 2010, Zhang regained his title at the PGA of China and in 2011 he finishing -13 and best Chinese at the China Open co-sanctioned with European Tour, OneAsia tour and Asian Tour. Today Zhang is a regular player in Japan.
[edit] Amateur wins
- 1989 China Amateur Open Championship
- 1991 China Amateur Open Championship
- 1994 China Amateur Open Championship
[edit] Professional wins (18)
[edit] European Tour wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 Jan 2003 | Caltex Masters | -10 (68-71-69-70=278) | 1 stroke |  Ernie Els |
[edit] Asian Tour wins (5)
- 1996 (1) Volvo Asian Matchplay
- 2001 (1) Macau Open
- 2002 (1) Macau Open
- 2003 (2) Volvo China Open, Caltex Masters (co-sanctioned by the European Tour)
[edit] Canadian Tour wins (1)
- 2000 (1) Ontario Open Heritage Classic
[edit] China Tour wins (7)
- 1995 (1) Volvo Open
- 1997 (1) Hugo Boss Open
- 2006 (2) Omega China Tour – Zhuhai, Omega China Tour – Shanghai
- 2007 (2) Omega China Tour – Qingdao, Omega China Tour – Guangzhou
- 2010 (1) China Tour – PGA Championship
[edit] Other wins (5)
- 1995 (2) Volvo Masters of Malaysia, Volvo Masters of Thailand
- 1996 (2) Volvo Masters of Malaysia, Volvo Masters of Thailand
- 1998 (1) Hong Kong PGA Championship
[edit] Results in major championships
| Tournament | 2004 |
|---|---|
| The Masters | CUT |
| U.S. Open | DNP |
| The Open Championship | DNP |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
[edit] Team appearances
- World Cup (representing China): 1995, 1996, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009
- Dunhill Cup (representing China): 1998, 1999, 2000
- Dynasty Cup: 2003 (winners), 2005 (winners)
- Royal Trophy (representing Asia): 2006
[edit] References
- ^ a b Casey, Phil (27 January 2003). "Zhang makes history as Els' quest wilts in heat". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/zhang-makes-history-as-els-quest-wilts-in-heat-604446.html. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Zhang invite causes upset". BBC Sport. 23 March 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/3562699.stm. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
- ^ Stephane Barras in China
[edit] External links
- Zhang Lianwei at the Asian Tour official site
- Zhang Lianwei at the European Tour official site
- Zhang Lianwei at the Japan Golf Tour official site
