THE unheralded Zhang Jin hoped to make the cut but ended the week an Open Champion after a closing 71 (-1) saw him clinch the 27th Volvo China Open at Genzon Golf Club in Longgang District.

The 26-year-old China Tour pro held his nerve to clinch the biggest win of his career by one shot, despite a gritty but ultimately unsuccessful final day charge from 2016 winner Li Haotong.

Needing a birdie on the 311-yard 18th to win, Zhang confidently drove the green and left himself with a tap-in birdie putt to finish on 8-under par and win by one from Li (-7) with Chen Guxin and 17-year-old amateur Ding Wenyi tied for third on 5-under.

“I’m so happy to be able to hold this heavy trophy,” said Zhang who stood on the 18th tee having made only two birdies all day but who saved the best for last to claim the famous Volvo China Open trophy and his first win on the China Tour.

“I couldn’t watch Li play on 18 and I thought he had made birdie. But someone told me he hadn’t so I knew I had a great chance. I didn’t really believe I could drive the green but I went for it so that’s the highlight of the round. It wasn’t my best day on the course and I didn’t make enough putts so I think luck was on my side today. I’m just so happy to be able to say to my father on TV ‘I’ve finally won!’”

Zhang, whose season’s best had been a tie for sixth place at last month’s Hengdian Championship, ended his China Tour title drought with the biggest title of them all. And with his wide brim sun hat and beaming smile, he was a hugely popular winner with players and officials alike.

For runner-up Li Haotong, the dream of becoming the first two-time Chinese winner of the Volvo China Open will have to wait another year. The 26-year-old former world number 32 got off to a flying start. Two birdies on the opening two holes quickly reduced the gap and by the turn he had overhauled Zhang thanks to two more birdies in a superb front nine of 32.

The Volvo China Open was the season finale of the 2021 China Tour and the longest-running professional golf tournament on the Chinese mainland. The Volvo China Open, hosted by the China Golf Association and Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau, was promoted and operated by Teamfirst Management Ltd., and certified by the China Tour. (SD News)