CHINA LEADS ASIA-PACITIC 7-5 IN NISSAN CUP

SHENZHEN, China - Team China stayed ahead of an Asia-Pacific select side in the second edition of their Ryder Cup-style Dongfeng Nissan Cup match on Saturday after sharing the honours in the foursomes round at the CTS Tycoon Club in Shenzhen.

China lead 7-5 going into Sunday's final round of 12 singles matches, having won Friday's four-ball round 4-2 and drawm Saturday's foursomes 3-3.

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

"It could have been much better," said Asia-Pacific team captain Peter Thomson, the legendary five-time Open Championship winner and the first Australian to be elected to world Golf's Hall of Fame.

"At least we didn't lose any ground, and there is a lot to play for tomorrow. It should be a great day."

All square at the turn against China's Jin Daxing and Ouyang Zheng, Wisut Artjanawat and Nicholas Fung won five of the next six holes -- including four birdies -- to win 5 and 3 and guarantee the Asia-Pacific's first point of the day.

The visitors led in all six matches at one point, but unforced errors rather than a Team China fightback allowed the home team to get some red on the scoreboard.

Rory Hie and Choo Tze Huang were the worst culprits. Three up at 12, they were beaten by one hole by China's Zhang Lianwei and Yuan Hao after scoring two double bogeys and a bogey in the home stretch.

Andre Stolz and Michael Long will also be looking to make amends in Sunday's singles. After leading by two at the eighth, they lost seven in-a-row to Zhang Xinjun and Wu Kangchun to go down 5 and 3. 

"I never thought our players could come back," said China vice-captain Cheng Jun. "After the first nine holes all the live scores were blue -- but they did it."

The members of Team China represent a modern history of the sport in the world's most populous country.

Evergreen Zhang Lianwei, 47, the oldest player in the tournament, is considered the father of professional golf in China and the inspiration for team-mate Liang Wenchong, a four-time winner on OneAsia, who was playing three groups behind him.

Liang partnered 14-year-old amateur sensation Guan Tianlang -- who next year will be the youngest ever player to take part in the Masters -- to a 4 and 2 victory over the Japanese pair of Yosuke Tsukade and Soushi Tajima.

"Langlang played very well today," said Liang, calling his teenage partner by his nickname. 

"Maybe he struggles with distance, but he is a mature player and his short game is so good. I just told him 'play your own game, don't care about anything'."

The South Korean pair of Jason Kang and Choi Jin-ho were never behind in their match against China's Yuan Tian and Han Ren before prevailing by one hole. 

Asia-Pacific vice-captain Scott Laycock, who partnered Mark Brown to a 3 and 2 victory against Wu Weihuang and Zhou Guowu, said he expected a close result.

"None of us like to lose -- I hate losing -- and this is the message we will be thinking about tonight," he said.

"It isn't over by a long shot."

 

  SCOREBOARD

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CHINA leads ASIA-PACIFIC 7-5

Foursomes 

China 3, Asia-Pacific 3

Team China names first 

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

Jin Daxing and Ouyang Zheng lost to Wisut Artjanawat and Nicholas Fung 5 and 3

Liang Wenchong and Guan Tianlang bt Soushi Tajima and Yosuke Tsukada 4 and 2

Yuan Tian and Han Ren lost to Jason Kang and Choi Jin-ho 1 hole.

Wu Weihuang and Zhou Guowu lost to Scott Laycock and Mark Brown 3 and 2

Zhang Xinjun and Wu Kangchun bt Michael Long and Andre Stolz 5 and 3