2008 China Tour Shanghai Championship - Round 2: Chen leads as Yang makes the cut and history

Chengdu-born Yang Taoli overcame the stress of her family’s suffering in the Sichuan earthquake to become the first woman to make the cut on the Omega China Tour, shooting an even-par 72 at the Shanghai Championship to lie joint 24th on five-over-par.

First-round leader Chen Xiaoma shot a 71 to stay in the lead on seven-under-par, two ahead of in-form Fan Zhipeng, who shot a best-of-the-day 66 at the Orient (Shanghai) Golf and Country Club.

Deng Yuchao, Yang’s playing partner, was third after a 70 put him two-under, one ahead of defending champion Li Chao and Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Mong-man, who shot 73 and 71 respectively. Alex Wu Ashun and Liao Guiming shot 70 and Ryan Huang Yonghuan a 71 to go even-par.

However, the leading men were overshadowed by the event’s leading lady, whose composed performance under the stress of the tragedy in her native province was beyond her own expectations and drew a barrage of media attention.

Yang’s family in Du Jiang Yan, northwest of Chengdu, have been living in a tent since their home was damaged in Monday’s earthquake.

“I miss being with my family a lot at this time, but I’ve turned these feelings into motivation to play well and make them proud,’ the 24-year-old said.

“Mum, Dad, I’m playing in Shanghai, but when I finish, I’m coming straight home,” she added as she spoke directly to television cameras.

Playing at the invitation of the Orient Golf Group, who she signed with last October, Yang started her second round with a bogey, but responded with three birdies on the front nine, including a 35-foot putt on the 170-yard eighth.

Dropped strokes on 11 and 14 saw her fall back to even-par, but she then snared a 40-foot putt on the par-five 15th after coming out short from a greenside bunker. Hopes of a sub-par round were dashed by a missed four-foot putt for par on the par-three 17th, which resulted in a slap of her shoe with her putter, although little could dampen her spirits.

“On both of the long putts I holed, I just wanted to get the ball near the pin, so it was a great feeling when they went in.”

Yang, who took up the game as a 17-year-old while working at the driving range at Sichuan Qingcheng Golf Club, is the first female pro to play on the Tour and only the second woman after amateur Dong Caihong, who missed the cut in last year’s Qingdao Championship.

“After my 77 in the first round, I was hoping to shoot a 75 or 76 and hopefully make the cut, so I’m delighted with this score,” said Yang, who plays with Huang Mingjie and Yuan Tian on Saturday.

Deng admitted he didn’t talk much with Yang over the first two days, but was impressed with her steady approach to the game.

“Yang Taoli was great today. When she plays, she’s very careful and methodical,” said Deng, who finished the day with two long birdie putts to go two-under. “I’m also happy for myself, as this was my best round on the Omega China Tour and my first time on the leaderboard.”

Topping the leaderboard for the second successive day is Chen, the Tour’s ‘Most Improved Player’ last year after a season in which he finished second in Qingdao, third in Kunming, fourth in Yanji and eighth on the Omega Order of Merit.

“I offer my congratulations to Yang Taoli,” said the 29-year-old Chen, who finished his round with a birdie at the par-four 18th to go two ahead of Fan.

“I’m not thinking about winning or other players. I just want to improve my game in the next two days. Obviously, every player wants to win, and if I have the chance, I’ll take it.”

Fan birdied three of his last five holes, including a 25-foot putt on the seventh, to match Chen’s opening 66 and join his fellow 29-year-old in Saturday’s final flight.

“I hit my irons well today, even though I feel quite tired,” said Fan, who was the highest-ranked Chinese player on the second and third days of last week’s US$1 million Pine Valley Beijing Open. “I’m happy to be where I am because I definitely want to win once on the Tour this year.”

Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wen-teh, one of the pre-tournament favourites along with Li, shot a 72, which left the 45-year-old Asian Tour star tied 15th on three-over.

Shanghai Championship, Omega China Tour

Leading second-round scores - Chinese unless stated (click here for full leaderboard):

137 – Chen Xiaoma 66-71
139 – Fan Zhipeng 73-66
142 – Deng Yuchao 72-70
143 – Li Chao 70-73, Hsu Mong-nan (TPE) 72-71
144 – Liao Guiming 74-70, Alex Wu Ashun 74-70, Ryan Huang Yonghuan 73-71
145 – Yuan Hao 69-76, Wu Kangchun 75-70
146 – Shang Lei 71-75, Zheng Wengen 75-71, Sha Ke 73-73
147 – Zhou Jun 74-73, Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 75-72, Garth Cusick (AUS) 71-76, Wong Woon-man (HKG) 74-73
148 – Cai Nan 75-73, James Yang Wenzhang 69-79, Fu Xin 75-73, James Su Dong (A) 74-74, Yuan Tian 77-71
149 – Yang Taoli 77-72, Liu Anda 76-73, Jim Johnson 77-72, Huang Mingjie 77-72, Gu Shutao 73-76

Selected scores:

153 – Yau Sui-ming (HKG) 76-77
154 – Nick Redfern (ENG) 84-70
158 – Jason Robertson (RSA) 82-76

May 16, 2008