Lian-Wei Zhang created golfing history when he became the first Chinese player to win an event on The European Tour International Schedule, after a thrilling victory in the Caltex Masters, presented by Carlsberg, Singapore 2003.
The 37 year old Asian Tour member did what no-one else has been able to in 2003, namely beat Ernie Els, to triumph after a day of high drama in the sweltering heat of the Laguna National Golf and Country Club.
Zhang started the final day two shots adrift of the World Number Two, with most people believing Els would go on to record his fourth consecutive stroke play victory after the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the end of 2002 and the first two events of 2003 on the US PGA Tour, the Mercedes Championships and the Sony Open.
But nobody informed Zhang of the script and the former Volvo Asian Match Play Champion showed dogged determination allied to an abundance of talent, posting a final round 70 for a ten under par total of 278 to finish one ahead of Els who closed with a 73.
“I’m very excited and very, very happy,” said Zhang, who became the fourth consecutive first-time winner on The 2003 European Tour International Schedule, following Fredrik Jacobson, Trevor Immelman and Mark Foster, and he picked up a first prize of €140,713 (£92,747).
The bare statistics, however, do not do justice to an enthralling final day which, like all good thrillers, featured a wicked twist in the tail.
Despite struggling to find his range on the greens and seeing his two shot lead at the start of the day evaporate before the turn, Els reached the 72nd hole one in front after Zhang pulled his tee shot left of the green on the demanding 202 yard 17th hole and made bogey four.
It was match point to the South African but on the 18th he pushed his tee shot, the ball bouncing off a cart path and a tree before coming to rest in the rough. From there, Els’s sand wedge approach came up short of the green before he pitched to five feet in three.
Across the other side of the fairway, Zhang’s bold tee shot flirted with the water hazard before his majestic nine iron approach shot from 136 yards out came to rest a mere four feet from the hole.
Els putted first, and to gasps of disbelief from the galleries, saw his putt spin round the hole and stay above ground. Zhang knew then if he holed for birdie three he would win, and the Chinese golfer made no mistake.
“Ernie Els is a great golfer and it was a great pleasure to play with him,” said Zhang. “We had a great day and I just kept trying my best, to be honest it wasn’t until the 18th green that I thought I had a chance to win.”
Els, who will travel to Australia this week to defend his Heineken Classic title admitted he will take a couple of days break with his family before heading on to Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
“I have to say that the heat eventually got to me a little bit,” he said. “I felt a little bit tired towards the end and it was tough. But I take my hat off to Zhang. He stuck in well and didn’t make any mistakes. But the way I putted, I let them all in a bit.”
On a good day for the Asian PGA Tour, Thailand golfer Prayad Marksaeng took third place on 280 after a closing 71 while The European Tour standard was flown by England’s Simon Khan and Maarten Lafeber of the Netherlands, who shared fourth on seven under par 281, after matching final round 70s.
