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**truebluefan** · 04-19-2008, 10:46 AM

Michael Lorenzo-Vera maintained his lead in the Volvo China Open after a second round littered with birdies kept the young Frenchman ahead of the field in China’s capital city.

Lorenzo-Vera mixed seven birdies with two bogeys and a double bogey in a round of 69 to move to eight under par 136 and a stroke clear of England’s Richard Finch and Ireland’s Damien McGrane. Another Englishman, Oliver Wilson, finished a further stroke adrift after birdieing the tough final four holes at Beijing CBD International Golf Club for the low round of the week, a six under par 66.

Overnight leader Lorenzo-Vera admitted to being full of nerves when he set out after a restless night thinking about leading a European Tour event for the first time. Those nerves looked to have been settled when he birdied two of his first four holes although he double bogeyed on the tough 14th, his fifth, when he found trees off the tee.

However he remained focused and a birdie on the 17th certainly had a calming influence as he hit back with four more birdies on the front nine. He stood two clear playing the last but three putted his final hole to finish one stroke clear.

“I’m super happy,” he beamed. “Yesterday it was quite hard for me to get to sleep as I was thinking too much about what might happen.

“I might always look super relaxed but the hands are always shaking. It took nine holes to get relaxed. Normally it takes three holes but not today. I suppose the weekend will be harder.”

Asked how he would cope with leading going into the weekend, Lorenzo-Vera replied: “I will trust my caddie. He knows when to make me laugh or not. I am putting a lot of pressure on him so hope he is going to be good. And turn through the ball. Things will happen but it is just golf and just try and make good decisions and play 100%.”

He also thought a couple of beers might help him sleep.

McGrane has been regularly knocking on the door this season and came close to making his winning breakthrough when he finished second in the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters. His confidence remains high after a second round 69, highlighted by an eagle three on the 13th where he chipped in from short of the green.

“I have played well now for 36 holes,” said McGrane. “The course is difficult and the conditions this afternoon were much more difficult than we experienced yesterday morning so seven under par is a good score. I made the most of my opportunities and kept as many bogeys off my card as possible. That’s what you have to do out there as it is a difficult course.

“I have played a lot of good golf this season and it is a long year. I hope to continue and I am still waiting for an opportunity to win my first tournament. I am playing well and am not losing heart. There are swings and roundabouts on the golf course from week to week but I haven’t lost my confidence from the start of the year and that is key for me. Regardless of what happens I believe I am playing well.”

Finch had set the early target after a second round 69 took him to seven under par. The Englishman, who claimed his maiden title with victory in the Michael Hill New Zealand Open at the start of the season after surviving a nail-biting end to his 2007 campaign when he only secured his card in his final event, benefitted from benign morning conditions.

“I’m delighted,” said Finch. “Yesterday’s round was a very important one with the wind in the afternoon and to shoot in the 60’s again is pleasing and has put me in a good position going into the weekend.

“First thing this morning it was benign and lovely out there. The greens had just been cut and we were second group out so it was perfect. The wind did pick up as we played the back nine but nothing compared to yesterday.

“There’s still a long way to go. It is halftime if you like. A lot of things can happen, such as with the weather which could be a big factor. In mornings it is not as windy but it picks up in the afternoon so I think there could be a lot of catching up from the early starters and anything is possible. We will have to see what the weather deals us.”

Wilson seemed genuinely shocked by his grandstand finish over the challenging finishing stretch. After a bogey at the 14th, he felt as he if had nothing left in the tank but with the pressure off he hit a series of stunning shots to close with four birdies.

“To birdie the last four holes around here, I would take that for the weekend,” he said. “It is a tough finish here so that was very nice. It just happened really. I didn’t expect it. After the 14th I was looking forward to coming in without any disasters on my card but turned it into a great round.”

Wilson also benefitted from a few tips from fellow pro John Bickerton on the range, and if he can maintain his relaxed attitude will be well placed to challenge in the event sanctioned by The European Tour, Asian Tour and the China Golf Association.

Markus Brier has mounted a strong defence of his title after he too shot a 69 to lie in a four way tie at four under par 140.

“I am a step further than my last defence and made the cut at least and I am really up there at the moment,” said the Austrian. “It is looking good and no-one is running away with it so far. I am up there and that is where I said I wanted to be, so a good round tomorrow and hopefully I’ll be up there in contention on Sunday.”

**truebluefan** · 04-19-2008, 10:47 AM

Damien McGrane birdied the last two holes at Beijing CBD International Golf Club to open up a three stroke lead over Michael Lorenzo-Vera and Oliver Wilson going into the final round of the Volvo China Open.

A maiden European Tour title is now within the Irishman’s grasp after a third round 68 took him to 11 under par 205 and three clear of the leader for the first two days, Lorenzo-Vera of France, and England’s Wilson with Australian Scott Strange moving up to fourth on six under par with a best of the day 66.

McGrane has come close to that maiden breakthrough on a number of occasions, notably in finishing runner-up in the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters in February. Since being paired with Tiger Woods, and outscoring the World Number One, in the third round of the Dubai Desert Classic McGrane also appears to have grown in stature.

With a three stroke cushion over two more players seeking their first European Tour titles, McGrane has his best chance yet to finally cross the finish line.

“It is nice to go out as leader and a little cushion is good,” said McGrane. “But it is a tough course and I must play my own game, focus on what I am doing. I will need to hole a few putts and a few chip and putts I am sure will come into play. It will be a good day and I expect to continue the good golf I am playing.

“I have led tournaments before and it is all part and parcel of the golf business. I am expecting to play well again tomorrow and use my experiences in the past. I finished third last time I was leading going into the final round. I need to use that experience and push on and do better this time around.

“It is all about coping with situations and I need to go out tomorrow and deal with the situation, play my own game and play well.

“I have been close for a number of years now and I am looking for my first win. I have to start somewhere and you start with one. The sooner it comes the better.”

Wilson has also been knocking on the door for some time and has been runner-up three times in the last 12 months. He also had victory snatched from his grasp by Paul Casey in the Volvo China Open in November 2005 just when he appeared certain to win for the first time.

A third round of 70, with five birdies and three dropped shots, took the 27 year old to eight under par 208.

“It was just a little unfortunate that I didn’t take advantage of a few of the shots that I missed,” rued Wilson. “Three shorts ones today which you should not missed. But I recovered well and it’s good to know that I still not too far away.

“I probably have to shoot a good score, make some birdies and go low. We’ll see what happens. Hopefully, I can hole a few putts if I hit the ball like I hit today. I’ve got a chance and I’ll try to keep the pressure on.”

Lorenzo-Vera is also looking for his European Tour breakthrough having won the Challenge Tour Rankings and posted a level par 72 to lie alongside Wilson on eight under par.

“I didn’t play my best golf today but I finish on level par,” said the Frenchman. “And for that, I’m happy. I’m still in and to play poorly but make even-par today on this type of course, I’m very happy.

“Damien played well today so he has a three shot lead and it’s going to be quite hard if he continues playing the way he has been doing. We’ve to play really well to catch him.”

Strange picked up six birdies in a flawless round to finish one ahead of Johnnie Walker Classic Champion Mark Brown on New Zealand in the event sanctioned by The European Tour, Asian Tour and China Golf Association, while defending champion Markus Brier lies in a three way tie for sixth place on four under par, seven shots off the lead.

**truebluefan** · 04-19-2008, 08:39 PM

Damien McGrane of Ireland shot a 4-under 68 to take a three-stroke lead after the third round of the Volvo China Open on Saturday. The $2.2 million tournament is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the Asian Tour.

McGrane had birdies on the final two holes for a 205 total, three strokes ahead of rookie Michael Lorenzo-Vera (72) and Oliver Wilson (70). Lorenzo-Vera led after each of the first two rounds on the CBD International Course.

Scott Strange had the best round of the day, shooting a 6-under 66 to put him five shots behind McGrane. Defending champion Markus Brier had a 72, seven shots off the pace.

McGrane had seven birdies and three bogeys. He was seeking his first victory after a runner-up finish at the Indian Masters in February.

"I have been close for a number of years now and I am looking for my first win," McGrane said. "I have to start somewhere and you start with one. The sooner it comes the better."

Wilson had five birdies and three bogeys.

Lorenzo-Vera, whose two birdies were canceled by two bogeys, was seeking his first title in his first year on Tour.

McGrane's putting was impressive throughout and he picked up his first birdie of the round on the par-3 third when he hit a 5-iron to the green before chipping in. He then added two more at the fourth and fifth before following that up with two successive bogeys.

He hit two more birdies and a bogey after the turn and then finished the round strongly with birdie putts on the 17th and 18th.

"It is nice to go out as leader and a little cushion is good," added McGrane. "However, it is a tough course and I must play my own game and focus on what I am doing. It will be a good day tomorrow and I expect to continue the good golf I am playing."

Wilson made the ideal start with a birdie on the par-4 first and then picked up another shot on the third. He bogeyed the par-4 fourth but recovered with a birdie at the following hole and the 27-year-old then shot two birdies against two bogeys coming home to go 8 under overall.

"I was just a little unfortunate that I didn't take advantage of a few of the shots I missed," said Wilson. "There were three short ones today which I should not have missed, but I recovered well and it is good to know that I am still not too far away."

Lorenzo-Vera was unable to take the clubhouse lead for the third successive day after his worst round of the week. The Frenchman bogeyed the par-4 second and though he birdied on the 12th and 13th he again carded another bogey on the par-4 14th.

David Howell finished 1 under par after carding double bogeys on the 17th and 18th and was even par overall.

**truebluefan** · 04-20-2008, 11:50 PM

Gaurav Ghei finished tied 28th, the best by an Indian, as the Volvo China Open golf went down the history books as one of the few tournaments that did not see even a single player breaking par on the final day.

Among other Indians in the fray, Gaganjeet Bhullar (298) signed off with a disastrous nine-over 81 to finish tied 44th, while S.S.P. Chowrasia (304) brought home an identical card that had him tied 63rd.

Torrential rain lashed the Beijing CBD International Golf Course and Ireland’s Damien McGrane (278) claimed his maiden title after closing with a one-over 73.

He was nine shots ahead of Oliver Wilson, Simon Griffiths and Michael Lorenzo-vera trio, who were all tied for second on 287.

**truebluefan** · 04-20-2008, 11:51 PM

Ireland's Damien McGrane battled through torrential rain at the Beijing CBD International Golf Course to claim his much-awaited maiden title at the Volvo China Open yesterday.

McGrane closed with a 1-over-par 73 for a 10-under-par 278 total to take a 9-stroke victory over Oliver Wilson and Simon Griffiths from England, as well as French rookie, Michael Lorenzo-Vera, who were all tied for second on 287.

Current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, Mark Brown of New Zealand, was a further shot back on 288, with defending champion Markus Brier of Austria and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell.

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