TEAM CHINA LED ASIA-PACIFIC 4-2 IN NISSAN CUP

SHENZHEN, China - Team China raced to a 4-2 lead at the Ryder Cup-style Dongfeng Nissan Cup today, dominating an Asia-Pacific select side that struggled in the rain at the CTS Tycoon Club in Shenzhen.

Winners of the OneAsia team tournament by just one point last year, the Asia-Pacific side were behind in every match at one stage on Friday before clawing their way back into the contest during a topsy-turvy afternoon of fourball golf.

With about half an hour of play remaining it looked as if honours would be even, but veteran Zhang Lianwei drained a 16 foot birdie putt on the 17th to claim a 2 and 1 win with Yuan Hao over Wisut Artjanawat and Nicholas Fung.

To the despair of playing partner Rory Hie, Singaporean Choo Tze Huang then misread a birdie putt on the 18th that he would normally hole in his sleep, gifting Ouyang Zheng and Jin Daxing a one-up victory.

"There isn't much to separate us again," said Peter Thomson, the legendary Australian Hall of Famer and five-time Open Championship winner who is captaining the visiting team for a second time.

"There are still lots of points up for grabs, but we have our work cut out and we will have to improve in the foursomes matches."

 

Team China vice-captain Cheng Jun said he was very pleased with the first day's results.

 

"The younger players played very well -- they cooperated and we need that in matchplay pairs," he said.

 

"Today's result is better than the same stage last year."

 

The Asia-Pacific triumphed 12 1/2 to 11 1/2 on a gripping final day of singles last year after the teams were level 3 - 3 following the fourball matches and 6 - 6 following the foursomes.

 

Thomson sent out his big guns early on Friday in the shape of Australians Andre Stolz and Scott Laycock in a bid to get some Pacific blue on the scoreboard, but the pairing of Chinese number one Liang Wenchong and 14-year-old amateur Guan Tianlang proved no pushover.

 

Although handicapped by his distance off the tee, Guan peppered the flags with his irons and birdied the par-three fifth to put Team China in front for a lead they never relinquished until the 13th, when the Asia-Pacific pair grabbed three of the next four holes to win 2 & 1.

 

Behind them, Zhang Xinjun and Wu Kangchun were making short work of New Zealanders Michael Long and Mark Brown.

 

Despite hitting both his opening tee shot and a provisional into thick rough off the first tee, Zhang bounced back with seven birdies to help his side to a 3 & 2 victory.

 

The Japanese pairing of Soushi Tajima and Yosuke Tsukade grabbed a point for the Asia-Pacific with a one-up victory over Han Ren and Yuan Tian, but behind them Korean teammates Jason Kang and Choi Jin-ho struggled against Wu Weihuang and Zhou Guowu.

 

Zhou started with an eagle on the par-five first that set the tone for a 3 & 2 victory.

 

The Asia-Pacific's Laycock, who is also vice-captain, said he would have a word with one or two of his team mates to see what positives they can take even in defeat.

 

"The trick is finding out what is going through your head when you make a mistake," he said. "If you have a positive thought and miss, it isn't as bad as being negative and missing.

 

"I want us all to have positive thoughts tomorrow".

 

FIRST-DAY SCOREBOARD

 

China 4, Asia-Pacific 2

 (Team China names first)

Liang Wenchong and Guan Tianlang lost to Scott Laycock and Andre Stolz 2 and 1.

Zhang Xinjun and Wu Kangchun beat Michael Long and Mark Brown 2 and 1.

Yuan Tian and Han Ren lost to Soushi Tajima and Yosuke Tsukada 1 hole.

Wu Weihuang and Zhou Guowu beat Jason Kang and Choi Jin-ho 3 and 2.

Jin Daxing and Ouyang Zheng beat Wisut Artjanawat and Nicholas Fung 2 and 1

Zhang Lianwei and Yuan Hao beat Rory Hie and  Choo Tze Huang  1 hole.