Wu Ashun [ World Sport Group]

Fast-rising Asian Tour star Alex Wu Ashun will return to the Omega China Tour to compete in next week's RMB1 million Luxehills Golf Championship in Chengdu.

The Shanghai-based 23-year-old is still searching for his first professional victory after coming close in the Omega China Tour's season-opening Dell Championship in Xiamen, where he finished joint runner-up behind fellow Fujian favourite Wu Weihuang.

"I really want to win, but many others want to and also have the ability. It all depends on how I play at Luxehills, as there are now so many players at a similar level," said Wu, one of only three Chinese competing on the Asian Tour.

Chinese Taipei's Tsai Chi-huang will be among the favourites in Chengdu after winning last year's inaugural Luxehills event with a Tour-record 18-under total of 270, although Wu doesn't believe that target will be matched next week.

"I practised at Luxehills for three days last week and the course is not easy. I don't know how Tsai Chi-huang made 18-under last year!" Wu said. "It's a beautiful layout with a good design and a lot of bunkers. The greens are big, so there will be a lot of choice for the pin positions."

Wu has finished in the top-20 in nine of his 10 total appearances on his domestic circuit, bagging five top-10 placings.

However, he was playing an Asian Tour event during April's Sofitel Zhongshan IGC Open in Nanjing, where eventual champion Kurt Barnes was among 10 PGA Tour of Australasia pros making their debut on the Tour.

"The Australian players have made the Omega China Tour more competitive, more challenging," Wu said. "It looks more like the Asian Tour with so many foreign faces. I'm looking forward to the Luxehills tournament."

On course to follow Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong into the international golfing arena, Wu is blossoming in his second season on the Asian Tour.

He currently lies 24th on the Order of Merit after winning US$58,366 in five events, having finished joint-fourth in the Singh Thailand Open and tied for seventh in the Asian Tour International.

Last year the rookie pro failed to retain his card after finishing 78th on the Order of Merit with US$55,883, but regained it by coming joint-fifth in January's Qualifying School.

"I'm in good condition this year and becoming a steadier player during tournaments. I've become mentally stronger and more mature. I can feel that I'm growing up," said Wu, who turned pro after qualifying for last year's Asian Tour, having spent most of 2007 working on his game in California.

Wu, Barnes and Zhang Lianwei, a six-time winner on the Omega China Tour, are among the big names making their Luxehills debut next week.

Liao Guiming and big-hitting Yuan Hao were second and third last year, while eight-time champion Li Chao, Omega Championship winner Zhou Jun and local star Huang Mingjie are among other leading Chinese pros returning to Luxehills.

The field will again include 10 pros from the PGA Tour of Australasia, 10 China-based foreigners from Qualifying School and up to two invites from each of Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau.

www.omegachinatour.com

(Omega China Tour June 3, 2009)