Registration Date Set for Volvo China Open Qualifier

Shanghai, China: National championship titles are arguably the most prestigious in sport, something all athletes seek to win. The 2026 Volvo China Open is offering top golfers the chance to realise such an aspiration with 12 spots up for grabs at its upcoming Qualifying Tournament.

The 36-hole qualifier at Shanghai’s Enhance Anting Golf Club on March 31-April 1, provides nine spots into the field for the main tournament for mainland Chinese players and three spots for non-Chinese mainland players.

The Volvo China Open, a US$2.75 million tournament, organised by the China Golf Association and co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the China Tour, will take place at Enhance Anting from April 23-26.

Xiamen native Wu Ashun is the defending champion having posted a thrilling one-stroke victory last year for his second national championship title win.

Operated and promoted by Volvo Cars, the championship is now in its 31st year, making it the longest-running international professional golf event in the Chinese mainland.

Interested players, professional or amateur, can register for the qualifier through the Volvo China Open website (www.volvoingolf.com). Registration opens on March 1 at 9 am (Beijing time) and closes at 5 pm on March 5. During this period, players must log in to the qualifying tournament registration system on the website to fill out and submit their entry.

Male professionals, including coaches, who have not secured a spot in the main tournament field through other channels (such as the DP World Tour, China Tour, or tournament invitations), and male amateurs with a handicap index of 3.0 or below are eligible to register.

If the number of registrations exceeds the limit set by the organising committee, playing spots will be determined based on authoritative rankings such as the Official World Golf Ranking, China Golf Association Men’s Professional Ranking, World Amateur Golf Ranking, and National Junior Ranking (Boys Group A).

The field for the qualifying tournament is 126 players, with a maximum 93 mainland Chinese players and no more than 33 non-Chinese mainland players. There are 102 available spots through the open registration and 24 spots for invitees. The final player list will be announced on March 10.

The qualifying tournament will be contested via two rounds of stroke play, with spots for the main tournament determined by the total score over the 36 holes. After 18 holes, the top 45 players and ties from Chinese Mainland, and the top 15 players and ties from outside the Chinese Mainland, will advance to the final round. After 36 holes, the top 12 players based on total score (nine from Chinese Mainland, three from outside the Chinese Mainland) will earn places in the main tournament.

In the event of ties for the final qualifying spots, a hole-by-hole play-off will be held to determine the final qualifiers.

Since 2005, the Volvo China Open has followed the example of Major championships such as The Open and the US Open by establishing its own qualifying tournament. After 20 years of development, the qualifier has become a unique feature of the national championship, fully reflecting its ‘open’ nature and providing a unique pathway to the top tier for aspiring professional and amateur players alike.

Last year, Yang Yinong and Chen Guxin finished the qualifier as co-winners. In 2024, Jin Zihao was the qualifying tournament medallist, marking the start of a remarkable year. The Beijing native went on to win four times on the China Tour, claim the Order of Merit title, and earn a full-time playing card on the DP World Tour in the process.