Huang looking to make his mark at Sofitel

While China celebrated Liang Wen-chong breaking the US$1 million mark in career earnings on the Asian Tour last Sunday, this week attention turns to the opening event on the Omega China Tour to see who has the potential to follow in his footsteps.

The US$100,000 Sofitel Golf Championship tees-off on Thursday (May 10) at Zhongshan International Golf Club in Nanjiing and one player who is starting to make a name for himself is Huang Ming-jie.

The 26 year old hit the headlines at the Volvo China Open in April when he shared the lead after the first round. It was an outstanding performance by the unheralded golfer in an event joint sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours and boasting a number of star players.

He slipped down the field over the weekend but it was an encouraging week that demonstrated players are starting to come through and close the gap between Liang and the country's most famous golfing son Zhang Lian-wei, who is also competing this week.

"It was very good experience playing in the Volvo China Open. I didn't feel nervous at all and I had a little but of luck on the first day. I just had a couple of bad holes over the next few days which were costly. "said Huang.

Huang took up the game very late on at the age of 18 in Sichuan and has been coached since then by Yau Siu-ming, the well-known Hong Kong professional.

"I see him as much as I can and we talk a lot. We worked on some swing changes at the start of the year. In particular we worked on better rhythm and staying more relaxed," added Huang, who was runner up in the China Amateur Open in 2001.

The Chinese golfer turned professional in 2003 and first made his mark on the Omega China Tour last year when he lost in a sudden-death play-off against Zhang in Shanghai. Huang also came second in Kunming and ended the year in fourth position on the Omega Order of Merit.

"I hope to win at least once this year. My swing is a little unstable due to the changes I have made but the main thing at this level is confidence." said Huang.

Liang, who is not competing this week, was runner-up at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in Korea at the weekend meaning he became the first Chinese player to surpass the US$1 million.

After earning US$80,645 on Sunday, he raised his career tally to US$1.02 million in a professional career which started in 2000.

"Liang is doing so much to promote the game of golf in our country at the moment, just as Zhang has done over the past 10 years. They are both an inspiration to us all and their efforts will definitely result in better players coming through over the coming seasons," said Huang.

May 8, 2007

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