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Li's win keeps Omega OM race open until the end

Li Chao's runaway victory in Sunday's Omega China Tour - Kunming Leg means that the 26-year-old still has a chance of retaining his overall title when the season comes to an end at the Beijing Leg next month.

Li's RMB150,000 (USD18,855) pay cheque, compared to the RMB50,000 (USD6,285) that Zhang Lianwei picked up for third place, narrowed Zhang's lead in the Omega Order of Merit to RMB82,000 (USD10,307).

"I'm happy to be still in the hunt for the Omega Order of Merit," said Li, the 2005 winner. "I thought a lot about that before the final round, because I knew the difference was more than RMB180,000 (USD22,626). I knew if I could win this leg I'd be a lot closer. There's one leg to play and I'd love to get in a position to chase for that title again. It's still quite difficult because I'm still some way behind, but I'll be doing my best to catch up."

Li's best might not be enough. He'll need some help from one of his friends, because his best chance of winning the overall title and the RMB128,000 (US$16,089) Omega Constellation Double Eagle Chronometer, depends on him winning and someone other than Zhang occupying second place at the Tianan Golf Club at the end of October (26th to 29th).

Li does have one other possibility. He could finish second and still win the Omega Order of Merit, provided that Zhang finished outside the top 30. However, given that Zhang has finished on the podium in all six events he's played on the tour that would seem as likely as galoshes in the Gobi Desert.

Both Li and Zhang have won twice this season; the youngster at the cerebral Tiger Beach Golf Club and Kunming Country Golf Club courses, while Zhang claimed victories in the Zhuhai and Shanghai Legs. But Li has been less consistent, with only one third at the season-opening Hainan Leg.

Meanwhile, the remarkable form of Huang Mingjie has resulted in him leapfrogging Liang Wenchong and Yuan Hao into third place in the standings after consecutive second-place finishes.

September 25, 2006