Volvo China Open
Sunisland International Club
Shanghia, China
16th - 19th April 1998

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Englishman Fryatt wins by two-shots

Shanghai, China 19th April 1998 -  Americanised Englishman Ed Fryatt underlined his position as one of the world's leading twenty-something golfers with an accomplished victory in the $400,000 (U.S. dollars) Volvo China Open at Sunisland International Club in Shanghai.

Fryatt, who holds a British passport but has lived in the United States since the age of four, fired a six-under-par 66 to win by two strokes on 19-under-par 269 from Japan's Takeshi Ohyama, who also carded a 66.

In what is the fourth event of the year on the Omega Tour, American Aaron Meeks finished in third place on 16 under for the tournament after returning a 70 while his compatriot Robin Byrd fired a 67 and was a shot further back.

The win for Fryatt, aged 27, comes quickly after his success in last month's Malaysian Open, where he beat England's Lee Westwood in a playoff, and goes alongside his 1997 Indian Open and 1996 Indonesian Open triumphs.

"I am fortunate enough to be playing out here in Asia. It has been very good to me -- I have become a much more mature player," said Fryatt.

"I first came to Asia in 1995 to play and I remember making a putt to qualify for a tournament. The putt gave me a lot of confidence and I have been playing well since," added Fryatt, who uses a British passport for ease of travel in Asia.

Fryatt had started the day one behind Meeks but by the turn he was sharing the lead on 15 under with Ohyama. With one eye on the $72,000 first-place cheque, Fryatt raised his game and reeled off four straight birdies from the 10th.

The Englishman, who lives in Las Vegas, led by three from Meeks -- who also birdied 10, 11 and 12 -- with five to play.

A bogey on 17 by Fryatt meant Meeks, lying two behind with one to play, had an outside chance to catch the Englishman on the 530-yard par-5 last.

"I was going for it in two on 18," said Meeks. "I was trying to hit big but came off my tee shot and had no shot with my second."

Meeks bogeyed the last, while little-known Ohyama, playing the tournament of his life, birdied 18 to steal the second place cheque of $44,520.