Shanghai, China: Rising amateur force Jeffrey Wang Shen Ngai has secured a starting spot alongside the professionals in next month’s Volvo China Open.
The Hong Kong standout captured one of three spots available to non-mainland Chinese players at the 36-hole qualifying tournament.
In difficult conditions, Shen continued his good run of form by firing rounds of 73 and 72 at the par-71 Enhance Anting Golf Club layout. His consistency was illustrated on day two when he carded 16 pars and one birdie. The only blemish on his card was a double-bogey at the 14th.
“Although I missed quite a few opportunities, my overall performance was solid,” said the 21-year-old, currently 117th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
In January, Shen was a member of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation’s Bonallack Trophy team that defeated their European Golf Association rivals in the Ryder Cup-style match play event in the United Arab Emirates.
He followed that up by winning the Hong Kong Close and Mid-Amateur Championship. Now he can look forward to returning to Enhance Anting from April 17-20 to take on the professionals from the DP World Tour.
Among non-mainland Chinese, Shen finished second in the qualifier, one stroke behind Japanese Kento Nakai and six strokes ahead of third-placed Michael Wong, a Hong Kong professional.
Meanwhile, Yang Yinong and Chen Guxin led the mainland Chinese players, for whom there nine spots available for what will be the 30th edition of the national championship.
Yang followed an opening 75 with a five-under 66 for the low round in qualifying, while Chen posted scores of 71 and 70. Bowen Chai (76-67) was two shots back in third.
Other Chinese mainland players to qualify for the US$2.5 million tournament were Bo Peng (77-68), Pang Ming (76-69) and Zhang Jin (72-73), the 2021 Volvo China Open winner who passed through qualifying for the second straight year, in equal fourth on 145.
Four players on 146 took part in a play-off for three spots. Zhang Zihong (75-71) was the unfortunate player to miss out, finding water with his third shot. When Wu Di (75-71) made a bogey putt, Zhang admitted defeat.
Amateur Li Zhengqian (74-72) and first-round leader Fang Yu (70-76) also got in. At the Volvo China Open, Li will join his younger brother, Li Zhengda, winner of the Volvo China Junior Match Play Championship.
