Feng Shanshan Hails 'Great Potential for Chinese Golf'

Beijing, China: Former world number one Feng Shanshan hailed ‘the great potential for Chinese golf’ following the inaugural staging of the Ryder Cup-style Sina Cup.

Conducting proceedings from the sidelines at (Beijing) Shadow Creek Golf Club, Feng saw her ‘Red’ team race to a 17-7 success against Liang Wenchong’s ‘Blue’ team thanks to a dominating performance in the final-day singles.

Leading 8-4 overnight following the opening-day foursomes and fourball contests, Feng’s team won the singles by a 9-3 margin to complete an emphatic triumph.

More than the result, Feng was delighted at the quality of play in the unique event that featured a combination of mainland Chinese male and female amateurs and professionals.

“I’m really proud of my players who played incredibly from day one,” said non-playing captain Feng, the current world number 26 whose team included six pros from the China LPGA Tour and seven male amateurs.

“As a captain I did nothing important except logistics. I want to thank the Blue team for giving us such a great show. This fantastic event showed the great potential for Chinese golf.”

Feng’s sentiments were echoed by Liang, a three-time Asian Tour champion and former European Tour winner.

“We appreciated that Sina.com organised such a great event and provided a platform for professional and amateur players,” said the Guangdong golfing pioneer, who captained a team made up of six Chinese male pros and seven female amateurs.

“I believe everyone enjoyed this week and went home with fruitful results. I also made friends with many talented young players. Hopefully they will get better and better and come back next year and win this.”

In sunny and warm condition at the Beijing venue, Peng Bo, a University of Washington sophomore, got the Red team its first point when the Nanjing native beat pro Zhuang Zhu 7&6. Peng won all three of his matches in the event.

Yin Ruoning made an eagle at the 13th hole to beat Lu Jingwen five-up for the Red team’s second point. It was the first full point of the week for the Shanghai teenager who has been victorious in her first three starts as a professional this year on the China LPGA Tour

“Maybe I’m best suitable for the singles. I lacked for a little bit of chemistry yesterday,” said 18-year-old Yin. “Shanshan told me to forget that and to focus on today.”

Zhang Yunjie thrashed amateur Cao Yijing, a freshman at Yale University, 7&5 to earn the 11th point for the Red Team. Beijing amateur Ding Wenyi added to the tally for the Reds when he made consecutive birdies to beat pro Xiao Bowen 2&1.

The winning point for the Red team came from Beijing teenager Chen Peicheng, the amateur posting a 5&4 decision over pro Fan Shiyu. “I lost twice yesterday and I thought I could be on the bench and wouldn’t play singles,” said Chen. “But Shanshan gave me this chance. I needed to win this point for her.”

Other matches saw Li Jieni take a half-point for the Blues in impressive fashion when the amateur won the last three holes against China LPGA Tour regular Liu Yan. 

Liu Yanwei secured a full point for the Blues, beating amateur Yu Yanhao 3&1.

Red team amateur Tang Junyi surprised Chao Haimeng by taking down the pro 2&1, while Blue team pro Zhang Huilin beat amateur Zhou Ziqin 4&3.

The Red team got two more points when Zhang Jienalin beat amateur Fan Shuangshuang 3&2, and Du Mohan got by amateur Deng Jingfan 2&1. Amateur Yin Xiaowen won the last two holes to halve her match with Zhang Weiwei, last year’s China LPGA Tour Order of Merit champion.