Guan, Zou tied going into final day of China Amateur Golf Championhip
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Xinhua, October 15, 2011
China's teen hope Guan Tianlang and Zou Yunlin shared the lead at four-over-par going into the final day of the 2011 Fangshan Changyang China Amateur Golf Championship on Sunday.
A steady performance betrayed his age as Guan, nine days short of 13 years old, hit his second two-over 74 in as many days on Saturday, while Zou hit an even-par 72 at the Beijing California County Golf Club.
Though still a junior, Guan, who says Phil Mickelson is his idol, is by no means a stranger on the China amateur circuit. He was the champion of the Chongqing stop of 2010 China Amateur Futures Tour, winner of both Zhuhai and Haining stops of the 2011 China Amateur Futures Tour and champion of the 11-12 year-old division of the 2011 World Junior Championship.
But Guan did not set any target for this championship saying he just wants to play to his best. The junior player, who made reporters scratch their heads for quotable quotes after the post-match interview, did give a high praise for the inaugural championship, saying the event's organization and atmosphere are more like a professional tournament.
Eleven years Guan's senior, Zou, a former caddie, on Saturday hit four birdies but a double bogey at Hole 5.
Tied for third with one stroke behind were Japanese Shuhei Ozaki and China's Dou Zecheng.
In the women's play, 16-year-old Ma Andrea Victoria from the Philippines went a step further to clinching the championship title after becoming the sole leader with an even-par performance on Saturday.
Friday's co-leader Wang Ziyi of China, who beat Victoria to the second place at January's HSBC junior tournament, was one-over 73 on Saturday and 144 overall, one shot behind the leader.
At third place with three shots behind was Ji Rong of China, who had 2 over par 74 on Saturday.
The inaugural Fangshan Changyang 2011 China Amateur Golf Championship is being promoted as China's highest level and most open international amateur golf competition. It has attracted 85 amateur golfers from home and abroad.
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