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 Event Preview

Chinese stalwarts Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-chong will spearhead the local challenge at this week's Crowne Plaza Open at Grand Epoch City Golf Club.

The US$200,000 event, which was inaugurated in Shanghai last year, has attracted a top field from the Asian Tour, including Order of Merit leader Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, India's Rahil Gangjee, Australian Marcus Both and Visa Dynasty Cup victorious team members Mardan Mamat of Singapore and Thai duo Prayad Marksaeng and Boonchu Ruangkit.

With the growth of professional golf in China developing rapidly as witnessed by the emergence of new events on the Asian Tour, the Chinese players are also keen to get onto the winner's podium more regularly.

The last Chinese player to taste victory was Zhang, who triumphed in the 2003 Volvo China Open. Since then, the likes of Liang has come close but with his game maturing thanks to a combination of factors including stints in Japan, he will be aiming to break through on the Asian Tour this week.

The 40-year-old Zhang, a five-time winner in Asia, challenged for the title at the Volkswagen Masters-China in Beijing earlier this month before finishing third behind Retief Goosen and Michael Campbell.

All eyes will also be on Thaworn, who will be looking to extend his lead on the Order of Merit with the continued absence of compatriot Thongchai Jaidee, who lies in second place.

Thaworn has shown some impressive form of late, winning the Taiwan Open thanks to a closing round 64 two weeks ago but at last week's Mercuries Taiwan Masters, he faded badly with a final round 81 to finish in the middle of the field.

With US$394,365 in earnings this season, which is already a new record for earnings in single season, Thaworn is raking in the air miles in his push to finish as the Asian Tour number one in December.

The Crowne Plaza Open will be his fifth straight Asian Tour event but Thaworn is determined to sustain his bid for glory.

Australian Kurt Barnes and Chinese Taipei duo Lu Wei-lan and veteran Lu Wen-teh, who shared third place at last week's Mercuries Taiwan Masters, are in this week's field hoping to ride on their recent good form while last week's winner Lu Wei-chih is taking the week off.

There will be added incentive for this week's winner as lifting the Crowne Plaza Open will also mean a ticket to the lucrative HSBC Champions Tournament, which will be staged in Shanghai in November. World number one Tiger Woods has already confirmed his entry for the US$5 million event, which is Asia's richest.

September 27, 2005