Sweden’s Johan Edfors fulfilled his childhood dream by winning his maiden European Tour title after a birdie on the final hole gave him a one stroke victory in the TCL Classic at Yalong Bay Golf Club on the Chinese island of Hainan. Edfors holed from eight feet on the last for a final round of 68 and a 25 under par total of 263 to finish a shot ahead of Australian Andrew Buckle with Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng a shot further back.
England’s David Howell equalled the low 54 hole record score on The European Tour after a third round 66 took the European Number One to 23 under par 193 and one clear of Australian Andrew Buckle going into the final round of the TCL Classic. Howell, the World Number 14, staged a grandstand finish at Yalong Bay Golf Club on the Chinese island resort of Hainan to edge one ahead of Buckle and two clear of Swede Johan Edfors.
England’s David Howell shot the lowest round of his career, a nine under par 63, to move into the halfway lead of the TCL Classic at Yalong Bay Golf Club, Sanya, China. The European Number One, hoping to maintain his 100 per cent record in China following his win in the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai on his only previous visit to the country last November, is now the man to catch with Australian Andrew Buckle leading the chase.
China’s Liang Wen-Chong thrilled the galleries in the opening round of the TCL Classic with a stunning ten under par 62 to equal the course record set earlier in the day by American Edward Loar. On a day of incredible low scoring at Yalong Bay Golf Club, Swede Joakim Haeggman posted a nine under par 63 to lie alongside fellow European Tour Member Warren Abery of South Africa and Australian Andrew Buckle with tournament favourite David Howell of England a shot further back.
England’s Nick Dougherty has an outside chance to qualify for the Masters Tournament, but only victory in this week’s TCL Classic at Yalong Bay Golf Club, China, will be good enough. The 23 year old Englishman, 63rd in the Official World Golf Rankings, needs to win in the Chinese holiday resort of Hainan Island to have any chance of moving into World’s top 50 and secure a place in the Masters Tournament field for the first time.
World Number 14 David Howell is back in China for the first time since his victory over World Number One Tiger Woods looking to maintain his 100 per cent record with victory in the TCL Classic at Yalong Bay Golf Club, Sanya.
Defending champion Paul Casey, current European Number One David Howell and last year’s runner-up Paul McGinley form an impressive Ryder Cup trio headlining the field for this week’s TCL Classic at Yalong Bay Golf Club in China. Asian Tour Number One Charlie Wi of Korea and China’s golfing superstar Zhang Lian-Wei further enhance an impressive field gathered on the stunning southern island of Hainan, known as the ‘Jewel of the South China Sea’, for the event jointly sanctioned by The European Tour and the Asian Tour.
Paul McGinley will return to the scene of one of his best-ever rounds when he takes part in next week's TCL Classic in China. The Irish ace thrilled the galleries with a closing 63 at the 2005 event before losing a dramatic play-off with England's Paul Casey. McGinley has confirmed he is heading back to Yalong Bay Golf Club in Sanya, on the southern island of Hainan, for another crack at the title.
European Numnber One David Howell has been unveiled as the biggest drawcard in what is already a world-class field for next week's TCL Classic in China. The Englishman is looking forward to returning to the country where he enjoyed his finest moment - last November's HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai when he went head to head with Tiger Woods and won.
China's first-ever Major Champion may well be teeing off at next week's TCL Classic. The tournament offers an unprecedented number of exemption slots - 23 to be exact - to up-and-coming players from the host country.
Englishman Nick Dougherty will make his debut at the TCL Classic next week - and says he is relishing the challenge. Dougherty, 23, will be part of a world-class field at the TCL Classic, now firmly established as one of China's premier sporting events.
Defending champion Paul Casey will feel right at home when he attempts to retain his TCL Classic title in China next week. The talented Englishman enjoys playing at the Yalong Bay Golf Club in Sanya on the tropical southern island of Hainan and has fond memories of his dramatic victory 12 months ago.
England’s Paul Casey has confirmed he will return to defend the TCL Classic at Yalong Bay Golf Club, Sanya, Hainan Island, from March 16-19, 2006. Casey will headline an expected world-class field at the US$1 million tournament - one of the biggest annual sporting events in China which is again jointly sanctioned by The European Tour and the Asian Tour.
Zhang Lian Wei will aim to enter the record books at next month's TCL Classic - by becoming the first Chinese player to win a European Tour title on home turf. China's Number One - who will face a stiff challenge from a star-studded field that will include compatriot Liang Wen Chong - is relishing the chance to make history.
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Johan Edfors©2006 Getty Images
David Howell©2006 Getty Images
David Howell©2006 Getty Images
Liang Wen-Chong©2006 Getty Images
Nick Dougherty©2006 Getty Images
Paul Casey©2006 Getty Images
Paul McGinley©Getty Images
David Howell©2006 Getty Images
Zhang Lian-Wei©Getty Images
Nick Dougherty©2006 Getty Images
TCL Classic Press Conference©Ringo Ho, Parallel Media Asia
