Zhang aims for winning return to Chengdu at Luxehills

Zhang Lianwei is hoping to make a winning return to Chengdu when he competes in the RMB1 million Luxehills Golf Championship from June 11-14, his third successive event on this year's Omega China Tour.

After winning the Chengdu Classic in the Sichuan capital in 1999 and 2001, the 43-year-old is now aiming for a victorious debut at the Luxehills International Country Club, which will host its second Omega China Tour event since opening last year.

"Chengdu should be hot in June, but I hope to play well at Luxehills as hot weather suits me. Confidence is very important for a tournament player," said Zhang, who turns 44 on June 1.

"My last visit to Chengdu was many years ago, but I've heard from other players that the Luxehills course is beautiful and I look forward to playing there."

Zhang is among a host of top Chinese pros confirmed for the Luxehills event, along with eight-time Tour champion Li Chao, Dell Championship winner Wu Weihuang, Omega Championship winner Zhou Jun, big-hitting Yuan Hao and local star Huang Mingjie.

Zhang, the first mainland Chinese to win a European Tour event and compete in a Major, has won six times in 17 appearances on his domestic circuit, while also finishing runner-up four times and third five times.

However, the father-of-two has not won since his commanding victory in the Guangzhou Championship last March and will be especially motivated after sacrificing a final-day lead at last month's Sofitel Golf Championship in Nanjing, won by big-hitting Australian Kurt Barnes.

"The competition on the Omega China Tour has become stronger and there will be a lot of top foreign players coming to Chengdu, which will be another tough test for the Chinese players," said Zhang, who finished third in Nanjing behind Barnes and Thailand's Wisut Arjanawat.

The Luxehills field is expected to feature 10 pros from the PGA Tour of Australasia and five from the Mercedes-Benz Tour in Southeast Asia, as well as 10 foreigners from Qualifying School and up to two invites from each of Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau.

Zhang won the 2006 Omega Order of Merit and finished second in 2007 and last year, when he followed up his win in Guangzhou with runner-up finishes at the Dell Championship in Xiamen and the Sofitel Golf Championship in Nanjing.

Chinese Taipei's Tsai Chi-huang, 40, will also be among the favourites in Chengdu after winning last year's inaugural Luxehills event with a Tour-record 18-under total of 270.

(China.org.cn May 21, 2009)