Majestic Liu Yu Xiang takes the crown in the 5th Volvo China Junior Championship

Dalian based Liu Yuxiang sank a nerve tingling eight foot putt on the 18th green at Bohing Golf Club in Beijing to snatch victory in the final of the Volvo China Junior Championship from local player, Wang Zi Hao.

The win earned the talented 15 year old a coveted spot in next year's prestigious Volvo China Open. In addition to Liu, who won the senior boys championship here today, three other players became champions in their categories. They are Xiao Yi who is senior girl champion, Li Yuan, champion in the 11 to 14 boys' age group and Fan Shiyang, champion in the 11 to 14 girls' age group.

But it was the impressive Liu who attracted the biggest following. The smooth swinging youngster soon showed why he is already in China's national squad with successive birdies at the third and fourth holes to go two up. Thereafter Liu looked well in control even though Wang doggedly held on matching his more celebrated opponent par for par. This seemed to rattle Liu as he uncharacteristically ran up two successive bogeys at the 11th and 12th to hand Wang a lifeline and bring the match back to all square. But Wang couldn't take advantage and mistakes at the 13th and 14th saw him fall two holes behind once more. 

Just when the match looked like a foregone conclusion Wang rolled in a very tricky fast breaking twenty foot putt for birdie on the 16th and a clearly unsettled Liu putted well wide from the same distance to see his lead fall back to one hole. Wang then played the short par four 17th majestically pitching to within two feet of the hole and holing out for a winning birdie to make it all square with one to play. Clearly fired up from his birdie blitz, Wang went for a big drive on the 568 yards, par five final hole only to mistime his shot and finish about 230 yards away in the left semi rough. This seemed to take the weight off Liu's shoulders and he hit two magnificent shots to just short of the green. Wang recovered well to lie on the fringe of the green in three shots and with a good chance of making par. Liu then pitched up over aggressively finishing well past the hole and the return putt was similar leaving him an uphill eight foot putt. When Wang failed make par, Liu made no mistake with his eight footer to take the title. 

Xiao Yi had a much easier match in the senior girls' final beating Huang Zhi Yin 4 and 3. Although Huang represents China, she was up against an in form opponent and never managed to apply any pressure. The battle in the boy’s 11 to 14 group was similar with the burly Li Yuan considerably outhitting the diminutive Wang Shou Qian and ending up an easy 6 and 5 winner.  Fan Shiyang took the title in girl’s 11 to 14 group with a well earned victory over Ji Rong by 2 and 1.      

The Volvo China Junior Championship started in 2005 and, since then, many of the junior golfers who have taken part have gone on, in later years, to shine in both amateur and professional tournaments around China. As a top junior tournament, the Volvo China Junior Championship offers every junior golfer the chance to fight face to face in the special format of match play.

“I've learned a lot from this tournament. I'm getting more experienced and not only maturing physically but also psychologically.” said Zhang Jin, who finished  in third place in the senior boys' group.  

Per Ericsson, President and CEO of Volvo Event Management said, “This is the second time I have been here and I always tell people about this fantastic championship. I predict these young golfers will not only be able to play in the Olympics but also good enough to play the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Europe in the future.”

Huang Li Hong, CEO of Bohing Golf Club also congratulated  the winners saying, “ The 5^th Volvo China Junior Championship has been a great success. Congratulations to the junior champions and Bohing welcomes them all any time.”        

While the senior boy champion will play in the 2010 Volvo China Open, the senior girl champion will get to partner a top international pro in the Open's pro-am. In addition, both champions from the 11 to 14 age group are specially invited to be Volvo's guests at the 2010 Volvo China Open.

The Volvo China Junior Championship is organized by China Golf Association, with Volvo as title sponsor and operated by China Prosperity Culture Media Company. Co-sponsors, the Volvo China Open and world leading watch brand Rolex and Bohing Golf Club, have also committed their significant support to the Championship. 

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