Only a matter of time before Liang is China's number one, says Zhang
Liang Wenchong upstaged China number one Zhang Lianwei on the Japanese Tour this year and again at the Volvo China Open yesterday. A day after Zhang nominated Liang as his most likely successor, the 26-year-old outscored his 39-year-old mentor in the third round at Silport Golf Club, but said it would be a long time before he took over from the pioneering Zhang.
'I heard what Zhang said, but I don't feel under any more pressure than normal,' Liang said after shooting a one-over 73 for a three-round total of 219, 11 shots behind leader Stephen Dodd. Zhang returned a 74 and is also at three over.
'Zhang has won many events, which I haven't yet,' Liang said. 'It's going to take a long time to achieve what he has.'
Liang has yet to win on the Asian Tour, where Zhang has won five times. The defending VCO champion has also won a European-Asian Tour co-sanctioned event and a tournament on the Canadian Tour. Zhang also gained fame as the first Chinese golfer to play in the Masters at Augusta.
But surprisingly, Liang succeeded where Zhang failed by keeping his playing card in Japan this year. Liang made the cut in nine of 12 events, had six top-10 finishes with a best place of fourth. His earnings of more than US$200,000 gave him another year's playing rights. Liang, a native of Zhongshan, said he would miss Zhang's company in Japan next year. 'My priority is Japan,' Liang said. 'I feel very comfortable there, although I don't speak the language.'
Liang said he had trouble with his iron-play yesterday and would be more aggressive and go for the flags in the final round today.
Zhang's hopes of defending his title disappeared when he went into the water on the 12th hole and finished with a double bogey. He also became impatient with slow play. 'I will do my best to finish as high as I can tomorrow,' he said.
