Godfather of China golf Zhang Lianwei proud to be part of Hong Kong Open heritage
- The 54-year-old blazed a trail for other mainland golfers, with the likes of Li Haotong and Feng Shanshan emerging as world-class players
- The five-time Asian Tour winner is the first China golfer to play at the US Masters and enter the world’s top 100
When Zhang Lianwei started work as a caddie in Zhuhai in the late 1980s, little did he know he would one day become the godfather of Chinese golf.
Zhang’s story is that of many firsts for China golf as he blazed a trail that would eventually see the likes of Feng Shanshan, the former women’s No 1, and 32nd-ranked men’s player Li Haotong become world-class golfers.
The 54-year-old, who holds the course record of 10-under-par 61 for the Old Course at Hong Kong Golf Club, said he was delighted to see golf flourish in the mainland.
“I’m so pleased to see Li Haotong become one of the world’s top 50 players and Feng Shanshan reach number one,” said the Shenzhen-based Zhang. “It’s because of the development programmes taken up by the China Golf Association, which has helped to create an environment that aids the growth of golf in China.
“It was not like that when I was getting started. There is a huge different because back then there were only a handful of players, but now we have hundreds of professional players so we are building a development pyramid and establishing a much stronger foundation.
“We want to rise even higher so that more of our golfers are among the best in the world,” said Zhang, who hit two-under-par 68 in the final round on Sunday to finish four under for the tournament.
Zhang, the son of a Zhuhai rice farmer, turned pro in 1994 and enjoyed success on the Asian Tour, winning five times, as well as making a name for himself overseas.
His most famous win was at the 2003 Singapore Masters when he birdied the final hole to beat South Africa’s Ernie Els and become the first Chinese player to win on the European Tour and the first to enter the world’s top 100.
He was also the first golfer from China to play in the US Masters, in 2004, when he failed to make the cut after rounds of 77 and 72.
Though he never truly set the golf world on fire, he did enough to light a spark under China golf.
“When I was starting out, there was no pioneer as such to create any path for professional players,” said Zhang. “Yes, there was a golf association and they were helpful but there was no professional set-up as there is now.
“The organisation is more structured and developed, so the young players now have more opportunities and are under better management.
Zhang first played in Hong Kong as an amateur and still holds the Old Course record during his Hong Kong PGA Championship victory in 1998.
“I remember my approach to the 18th landed one metre from the hole. I needed a birdie to shoot 60 but I was very nervous and missed the putt,” said Zhang, who is also happy to see the blossoming of Hong Kong players.
“I’m pleased to see the growth of golf in Hong Kong players and also I’m pleased to be part of the heritage of the Hong Kong Open, which is now celebrating its 61st edition,” he said.
“There is a spectrum of players in Hong Kong, at different ages and different levels in their career and it is good for the future of Hong Kong golf.”
