Ireland’s Damien McGrane battled through torrential rains at the Beijing CBD International Golf Course to claim his much-awaited maiden title at the Volvo China Open on Sunday.
 
McGrane closed with a one-over-par 73 for a 10-under-par 278 total to take a nine-stroke victory over Oliver Wilson and Simon Griffiths from England as well as French rookie, Michael Lorenzo-vera who are all tied for second on 287.
 
Current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, Mark Brown of New Zealand is a further shot back on 288 with defending champion, Markus Brier of Austria …

 
 Michael Lorenzo-vera of France is enjoying one of the best starts to his rookie year when he produced another battling performance to move a single shot ahead of his closest rivals at the Volvo China Open on Friday.
 
Lorenzo-vera carded a three-under-par 69 to take his two-day total to eight-under-par 136, ahead of England’s Richard Finch and Ireland’s Damien McGrane who both finished on matching 137s.
 
England’s Oliver Wilson, who posted the day’s best score of 66 is a further shot back in fourth place while defending champion, Markus Brier of Austria …

Unheralded Michael Lorenzo-vera of France set the early pace at the Volvo China Open when he fired a five-under-par 67 to take the first round lead on Thursday.
 
Asian Tour regulars, Simon Griffiths of England and Jason Knutzon of the United States are a further shot back in tied-second, after they both posted matching 68s with Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, Ireland’s Damien McGrane, England’s Zane Scotland and Li Chao of China.
 
Despite playing in his rookie year on the European Tour, Lorenzo-vera is already showing signs of maturity on tour and …

The Volvo China Open enters its 14th edition this year and promises to deliver yet another week of world-class golfing action by some of the best golfers in the world.
 
Asiantour.com takes a look at the top contenders, who are likely to vie for top honours at the Beijing International CBD Golf Club this week.
 
Zhang Lian-wei
Long regarded as the flag bearer of golf for China, Zhang will be seeking to end his five-year title drought on the same event where he last won his title. The five-time Asian Tour winner, whose …

Unheralded American Todd Vernon kept a cool head and shot a second round four-under-par 68 to win the Volvo China Open International Qualifying in Hong Kong on Thursday.
His six-under-par 138 total allowed him to leapfrog the early leaders and be first player to claim a coveted spot for the US$2.2 million joint European and Asian Tour event.
Former Taiwan Open champion, Tsai Chi-huang also showed his class by powering his way through the field with a 67 and four-way tie for second. His 140 was matched by Daniel Im of USA, …

The ever growing importance of the Volvo China Open will see its total prize fund increase to US$2.2 million this year, organisers announced today.
 
The 14th staging of the Open Championship of China will be played at the Beijing CBD International Golf Club from April 17 to 20 and sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and China Golf Association.
 
The US$200,000 boost from last year’s purse of US$2 million is a testament of Volvo’s strong commitment towards golf in China, said Volvo Event Management acting head Klas Magnusson.    

The race for 13 tickets into this year’s Volvo China Open will begin in earnest with the staging of the International Qualifying tournament at Discovery Bay Golf Club in Hong Kong from February 27-28.
 
More than 70 hopefuls, including regulars from the Asian Tour, who will shoot for one of four available spots in Hong Kong to play in the Open Championship of China.
 
Amongst those tipped to sparkle include upcoming youngsters Ben Leong of Malaysia, winner of the Qualifying School, and Filipino talent Jay Bayron, Mahal Pearce, a former New Zealand …