2008 China Tour Dell Championship - Round 4: Li holds off Zhang for eigth title

Li Chao had fist-pumping episodes on and off the course as he closed with a four-under-par 66 to hold off Zhang Lianwei and win the US$100,000 Dell Championship, his eighth title in 20 events on the Omega China Tour.

After shooting into the lead with three birdies in the first four holes on the back nine, Li finished with a six-under-par total of 274, three clear of Zhang, who bogeyed the last two holes at the Orient (Xiamen) Golf and Country Club in Xiamen.

Playing ahead of Zhang in the penultimate flight, Li was on six-under and just one stroke ahead of the Chinese legend as he played the 17th, but looked in danger of losing his lead when he left a long putt about 10 feet short.

A football goalkeeper in his schooldays, the 27-year-old saved the situation by holing a crucial par putt, prompting a series of fist pumps in front of a cheering crowd.

However, the Beijing-based star truly bared his emotions soon after he walked off the 18th green, punching the air and shouting 'Yeah' when the scoreboard changed to show that Zhang had dropped to four-under to give Li a clear two-shot lead.

"My putt on 17 was the winning shot, as I was in real danger of a bogey. After that, I was confident I could win, then I knew I'd won when I saw Zhang had bogeyed 17," said a beaming Li, who won RMB150,000 and a new Dell Latitude XT tablet PC.

"It wasn't easy to win today. I'm delighted, especially as this is my first victory this year. I'm also happy because I have a new sponsor, Mizuno, which adds a bit of pressure. Now, I also have my first laptop computer!"

Li's final-day heroics replicated his achievement in last September's Xiamen Championship over the same layout, where he also shot a 66 to come from behind to win and seal his second Omega Order of Merit title in three seasons.

This time, Li started two strokes behind overnight leader Yuan Hao, who collapsed with a 76, and focused on his own game as the largest galleries followed the final flight of Yuan, Zhang and teenage amateur Hu Mu.

"Today, I just focused on my own game and didn't think about other players. This week, there have been some great scores, with Zhang and Hu shooting 65s, and Liu Guojie shooting 64, but my round today was all about the mental game," added Li, who courteously bowed to the 42-year-old Zhang during the prizegiving ceremony.

Zhang, who in 2004 became the first Chinese to play in the US Masters, was the top performer in the day's final flight, which represented three generations of Chinese golf.

However, he was unable to win his third successive tournament on the Omega China Tour, following victories in last October's season-ending Omega Championship and the Guangzhou Championship two weeks ago.

"Today, Li Chao played very well. I'm really happy to see him perform like this, as it's great for Chinese golf. I tried my best every day, but it wasn't enough," said Zhang, who after his round was immediately embraced by his three-year-old son Tianjia, nicknamed 'Tiger'.

Chinese Taipei's Chan Yihshin shot a 70 to finish third on 279 and follow-up his impressive Tour debut in Guangzhou, where he finished joint runner-up with compatriot Hsu Mongnan, who finished tied for fifth on 281.

"I've finished second and third in two tournaments in China, so I'm very happy," said the ever-smiling Chan, whose rollercoaster opening 70 included an eagle, six birdies, one bogey, a double-bogey and a quintuple-bogey nine. "However, I think I'm more famous for making a nine on the par-four 15th in the first round!"

Local favourite Wu Weihuang shot a 72 to finish fourth on 280, while 18-year-old Florida-based amateur Hu Mu shot 74, following four bogeys on the back nine, to finish joint-fifth with Hsu and Kong Weihai, who closed with a 69.

Click here for full final leaderboard and prize money

March 30, 2008