The Irish Golf Club Gazette: China Masters

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10/12/2013

Clarke Shares Nanshan Lead

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Darren Clarke, seeking his first win since lifting the Claret Jug at Royal St George's in 2011, fired a four-under-par 68 on Saturday to grab a share of the lead with home favourite and defending champion Liang Wenchong (70) after three rounds of OneAsia's U.S. $1 million Nanshan China Masters.

The pair are eight under around the 6,784-metre (7,419-yard) Montgomerie Course at Nanshan International Golf Club, two clear of Australian Scott Strange (69), Korean newcomer Kwon Sung-yeol (67) and up-and-coming China star Zhang Xinjun (72).

South African Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 U.S. Masters champion, is a shot further back after going four under on Saturday, alongside Australian Terry Pilkadaris (70) and New Zealander Gareth Paddison (73).

Clarke, 45, has not won since beating Americans Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson by a stroke to claim his first Major, but he remains as hungry as ever for titles.

"There is pressure in any event -- it doesn't matter whether it's the Open Championship or here at the Nanshan China Masters," he said after starting the day two shots behind overnight leaders Liang, Zhang and Paddison.

"I've practised really hard these last couple of years since I've won the Open and just not been able to get the scores. Obviously I'd be delighted to win tomorrow, but there's 18 holes of golf to go and a lot of talent there or thereabouts at the top of the leader board."

Liang ended a two-year-victory drought of his own in claiming last year's tournament -- beating Major winner Y.E. Yang in a thrilling sudden-death play-off that went to five holes -- and the four-time OneAsia champion will not give-up his title without a fight.

"He is a very respected player and as the local I'm ready to face his challenge and will try my best to play well," said Liang.

The surprise package of the third round came in the form of Kwon, playing in his first OneAsia event after finishing 20th at Q-School in January.

The 27-year-old, a close friend of his more illustrious countrymen Bae Sang-moon and Kim Kyung-tae, has not yet matched his amateur talent in the professional ranks, a journey interrupted by nearly two years of national service that only ended in December.

"It's my first time to visit China and also my first OneAsia event, but I am calm and stable," he said. "When I was doing my national service, I was really thirsty for golf. That is what has motivated me in Korea this year."

Schwartzel continues to be frustrated by his ball striking despite his best round of the tournament and says he will dig deep for inspiration.

"To have these sort of weeks frustrates me a lot because I know I can play a lot better -- especially on a golf course like this where you should be a lot more under par," he said.

"On the brighter side, at least I'm not far behind. We all know the game and sometimes it changes overnight so hopefully I can find something that will get me through tomorrow and let me hit the ball the way I know I can and at least give Darren a run."

Korean Kim Bi-o, winner of the inaugural Nanshan China Masters in 2011 and the reigning Order of Merit champion, is four over for the tournament after shooting a 74, while first-round leader Eric Mina, top of the class at OneAsia's Q-School in California in January, is two strokes better off.

10/11/2013

Clarke Contends in China

OneAsia

Darren Clarke was delighted to be in contention after a second round 68 at the OneAsia Nanshan China Masters on Friday, birdies each side of the turn, to head into the weekend two strokes off the lead.

The 2011 Open Champion was content with his round on Friday, but aware that some more work needs to be done in order to clinch his first win since Royal St George.

"I left a lot out there. My pace was off the greens. Same as yesterday, I left a lot of putts short. I had 33 putts yesterday and I think I had 33 today. I'm hitting good putts, but I just can't get the speed.

"Same as yesterday, I left a lot of putts short," Clarke said. "I had 33 putts yesterday and I think I had 33 today. I'm hitting good putts, but I just can't get the speed. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. Obviously I'm playing nicely and this is one of the times I need to be patient and wait for the putts to drop.

"You always feel pressure if you're in position on the back nine on Sunday, but I've got to get myself in that position first. There's a long way to go before we get there, but I feel as may game is getting back to where I want it."

Defending champion Liang Wenchong fired an extraordinary eight-under-par 64 on Friday to share the lead with countryman Zhang Xinjun (67) and New Zealander Gareth Paddison (69) after two rounds of the U.S. $1 million event.

The trio are six under around the 6,784-metre (7,419-yard) Montgomerie Course at Nanshan International Golf Club, two shots ahead of former Open champion Clarke and Indonesian Rory Hie (65).

Liang started with an eagle and added ten birdies to his scorecard, finishing with five-in-a-row after earlier bogeying four holes. Playing the course back-to-front, he needed just 22 putts for his round.

Alongside Liang, South African Charl Schwartzel -- the 2010 U.S. Masters champion -- shot 71 to stand at one under, tied for 12th.

"I was putting very well, but my driving was also really good today," said Liang, a four-time winner on OneAsia and also the tour's 2011 Order of Merit champion.

The only time Liang has scored more birdies was in the first round of the 2008 Indian Open when he made a dozen for a course-record 60. He went on to win the tournament by a stroke.

Liang ended a two-year winless streak with victory at last year's Nanshan China Masters, and five recent top-ten finishes suggest he is coming back into form at the right time.

"I will try my best this weekend, but there are still two days left and anything can happen."

After playing in perfect conditions in the afternoon, left-handed Paddison said he felt he left a few shots on the course, but was looking forward to playing in the final group on Saturday after a lean spell.

"It's funny, I've never been in this position in a OneAsia event before, tied for the lead after two days, and I sort of feel as if I left a few shots out there," he said.

"It was a bit of a sombre feeling walking off the course, but at the same time being tied for the lead is fantastic."

Zhang, 26, a former security guard who only took up the game in his late teens after being posted to work at a golf club, was also looking forward to playing with his hero Liang.

"Since the 2011 World Cup I haven't played a tournament with him, just a couple of practice rounds. I'm pleased to play with him again and hope to learn from the experience."

Schwartzel, fatigued by a hectic schedule that saw him jet in from last weekend's Presidents Cup in Ohio, was full of admiration for Liang's round.

"He one-putted just about every single green. He had a stretch from the fifth to the twelfth where he went nine under in eight holes. I haven't seen that before. Very impressive."

He was less than impressed with his own game, however, although he refused to rule himself out.

"My ball striking has been off for the last two days. I haven't hit it very good and on top of that I putted badly. That's the reason I haven't moved forward.

"The body has taken quite a hammering. I've been on the go since the British Open non-stop, so it's a lot of golf and a lot of traveling, but I don't want to make any excuses. I still fancy my chances. The game is there, but I've just got to click in."

Rookie American Eric Mina, who led by one overnight after opening with a 68, dropped three shots on Friday but was delighted with making his first cut since winning Q-School in California in January.

Korean Kim Bi-o, winner of the inaugural Nanshan China Masters in 2011 and the reigning Order of Merit champion, is two over for the tournament after shooting 71.

The cut was made at six over, meaning 16-year-old amateur Dou Zecheng will play the weekend in his second OneAsia tournament having also achieved the feat at the Volvo China Open in May.

For Clarke though the weekend offers hope:

"I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. Obviously I'm playing nicely and this is one of the times I need to be patient and wait for the putts to drop."