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October 19, 2009

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Liang savors Classic glory, Zhang second

LIANG Wenchong became the first Chinese champion on the OneAsia Tour after a three-under 68 gave him a 14-under total of 270 and a four-stroke victory at the US$500,000 China Classic.

Zhang Lianwei, the 2006 winner, birdied the par-five 18th to finish at 10-under and deliver a Chinese one-two to the delight of the large galleries at the Royal Orchid International Golf Club in Shunde near Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province.

Australian Peter Wilson birdied the last three holes for a 64 to share third place on nine-under with European Tour player Matthew Millar of Australia (65) and former New Zealand Open winner Michael Long (68).

Liang, Asia's No. 1 in 2007, stretched his overnight lead with birdies at holes one, three, eight and 10, while a bogey on the par-five ninth was only his second dropped shot all week.

Australian Andrew Martin started the day a stroke behind, but fell away when a bogey on three was followed by a double and another bogey.

"I'm really excited as it's my first win in OneAsia and I had a lot of fans supporting me today," said Liang, whose supporters included his parents, wife and four-year-old son.

Liang, 31, took home the US$90,000 winner's check after becoming the third Chinese champion in five editions of the tournament following wins by fellow Guangdong pros Yuan Hao in 2005 and Zhang in 2006.

Three strokes behind

The 44-year-old Zhang, who shot into contention with a third-round 63, was unable to challenge his younger compatriot after starting three strokes behind, but nailed a birdie putt at the last to ensure he kept the runner-up check of US$51,000 all to himself.

"When I arrived at the 18th, I saw all these other names on the leaderboard also at nine-under, so the birdie putt became so important as I really wanted to finish second outright," Zhang said.

China's Kong Weihai shot a 67 to share sixth place on eight-under with Martin (73), who shared the halfway lead with Liang, and Australian Brad Andrews (66).

First-round leader Craig Scott shot a 73 to finish ninth on six-under, one ahead of fellow Australian Anthony Brown (69).

In Las Vegas, Scott Piercy shot a six-under 65 to share the third round lead with fellow American Chad Campbell at the Las Vegas Open on Saturday.

Piercy carded seven birdies and a bogey at the TPC Summerlin course as he and Campbell ended on 17-under 196.

Campbell, who had been tied with Troy Matteson for the overnight lead, shot 67 despite a double bogey seven on the 16th hole. He birdied the final hole to pull level with Piercy.

Briton Martin Laird also shot a 67 to move into third on 197, one stroke behind Piercy and Campbell. Matteson dropped into a tie for eighth on 199 after posting a one-under 70.





 

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