2007 Sofitel Golf Championship - Round 2: Amateur teenager Ye grabs halfway lead

Boy wonder Ye Jianfeng sensationally took the halfway lead in the US$100,000 Sofitel Golf Championship on Friday following a four-under-par 68 over the Gary Player-designed championship course at Zhongshan International Golf Club, near Nanjing.

Aged just 15 and still an amateur, Ye had confidently predicted he would improve on his first round 72 and impressively did so by nailing six birdies to lead by two from the Omega China Tour’s power hitter Yuan Hao.

Yuan returned a 67 following a stunning finish which saw him eagle holes 15 and 18, both par fours. He finished tied with Fan Zhipeng, who shot a 70, in the opening event of the season.

Overnight leader Li Chao slipped back with a 73 and is three off the lead, while last year’s Omega Order of Merit winner Zhang Lianwei returned the same score to lie five behind the surprise leader.

The laidback, likeable and lightweight Ye, who is just 173 cms tall, weighs 58 kgs and plays off a plus four handicap, stole the show with a performance befitting a seasoned Tour professional.

“I am not nervous at all, I feel very relaxed. I am hitting my irons really well and played just how I wanted to today. I had aimed to shoot two under so I am really happy with a 68,” said Ye, a member of the national team.

The star in the making comes from Shenzhen and plays his golf at Sand River Golf Club, where his father coaches him.

“I spoke to my dad on the phone last night and he just told me to focus on my tempo. My practicing went really well this week so that gave me a lot of confidence,” added Ye, whose English name is Benny and has a brother a year older called Kevin who is also a top amateur.

The only real blemish to his round came on the 16th where he drove into water and carded a bogey. He played all the events on the Omega China Tour last year aged 14 making him the circuit’s youngest ever player. Comfortable speaking English, he attends the Overseas Chinese Town High School.

Yuan, who is looking for his first win on Tour after finishing fifth on last year’s Merit list, produced a spectacular finish. He fired a rapier like driver 345 yards onto the green on the 15th to 35 feet, and on the last hit another massive drive followed by a nine iron approach shot that landed past the hole and spun back into the cup. Sandwiched in between the eagles was a costly double bogey on the par-three 17th, where he three putted.

“The course definitely suits big hitters as it’s wide open. I shot a 64 in the practice round. I just use every muscle in my body to hit the ball,” said Yuan, whose wife gave birth to a baby girl just two weeks ago.

“I hope to win once this year. I have been very nervous in joint sanctioned events over the past few weeks but feel more relaxed on the Omega China Tour because I feel like I am playing with my buddies,” added Yuan.

Li, a four-time winner on Tour, matched Yuan’s effort by making two eagles, although both were on par fives. They came on the front nine, on holes two and seven, but he struggled home with a back nine of three-over-par 39.

“I got tired on the back nine and was confused by the wind which effected my club selection. I am still confident for the weekend, there is a lot of golf to be played and a lot of birdies, as well as bogeys to be made,” said Li.

Leading Second Round Scores (click here for full leaderboard):

Par 72

140 - Ye Jianfeng (A) 72-68
142 - Yuan Hao 75-67, Fan Zhipeng 72-70
143 - Gu Cuilin 73-70, Li Chao 70-73, Liu Anda 73-70, Wu Kangchun 73-70
144 - Huang Mingjie 72-72
145 - Shang Lei 75-70, Zhang Meng 74-71, Zhang Lianwei 72-73, Gao Hui 74-71, Ye Xionghui 75-70
146 - Liu Xin 75-71, Liao Guiming 77-69, Shi Ningjie 75-71, Deng Yonghong 72-74, Chen Dinggen 80-66, Zhou Jun 71-75

May 11, 2007

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