QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand; March 3, 2013 (HK Golfer News Wire) – Vietnam’s rising star Michael Tran, whose group included three-time US Open champion Hale Irwin, also shared fifth place after a 68.
Toshinori Muto, Japan’s fourth-highest ranked golfer, signed for a 70 to tie for eighth at 12-under as Asian players completed an impressive week in the PGA Tour of Australasia event.
Hong Soon-sang, third on the 2011 Korean Tour money list, shot a 68 to tie for 21st at nine-under. Angelo Que of the Philippines, a three-time Asian Tour winner, carded a 75 to finish two-under.
New Zealand number one Michael Hendry (67) lifted the trophy for a second year after beating Australian Scott Strange (66) on the first playoff hole, both finishing 19-under.
Li, 17, made headlines with his career-low 65 on Friday and a 66 on Saturday that put him in contention going into the final round of his New Zealand debut.
The Beijing-born national team player started Sunday with birdies on one and three, and after suffering a bogey at five, bounced back with birdies at six and nine. A bogey at 12 was followed by a fourth birdie at 14.
"This week has given me confidence and is a really good start for the season," said Li, who finished 18th in his previous PGA Tour of Australasia event, January’s Lexus of Blackburn Heritage Classic.
"When I shot 65, I was very excited, as I’d never hit seven-under before. It’s my best score in either tournaments or practice rounds. My best round before was 67, five under."
Li relished playing with New Zealand rugby great Jeff Wilson for the second straight day, with the event adopting a pro-am format over the weekend.
"I really enjoyed playing with Jeff Wilson. He’s so kind and we had a lot of fun," said Li, the only one of four Chinese pros to make the cut this week.
"The NZ PGA Championship is a very interesting format and it was my second time playing in a pro-am, after one in China. I really liked playing at The Hills. The course is beautiful, the views are stunning, so I hope I can come again."
Li, who turns 18 in August, has been one to watch since winning the Volvo China Junior Championship in 2010, four years after picking up the game.
In June 2011, the then 15-year-old amateur became the youngest player to make the cut on the OneAsia tour, finishing 25th in the Nanshan China Masters. He turned pro in September 2011, a month after turning 16, and still competes regularly on the regional circuit.
The six-foot one-inch teenager says he now needs to develop both physically and mentally to take the next step in what looks set to be a promising career.
"I need to become stronger, as I’m too slim right now, just 66kg. I need to improve my mental game also, and try to be more mature and calm. I’ll play on OneAsia again this year and try for Japan again," said Li, who reached the final stage of the Japan Tour qualifying school last year.
Li also draws inspiration from 14-year-old compatriot Guan Tianlang, who will compete in the Masters Tournament next month after winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship last November.
"I really congratulate him," Li said. "We’ve played a practice round together and although he’s just 14 years old, he plays so well and is now going to compete at the Masters! It's really amazing. I believe I’ll have the chance to play in the majors in the coming three or four years."
Tran, who played in the same group as three-time US Open champion Hale Irwin, also enjoyed one of the best results of his professional career, which has included three years on the Asian Tour.
"My game was going well today, three-under on the front nine, but then I couldn't get my putter going," said Tran, who finished third in last year’s Selangor Masters.
"For the final two rounds, I was lucky enough to play in the same flight as Hale Irwin, as he was the pro-am partner of Jake Higginbottom. Hale was a true gentleman. I’ve really enjoyed myself here and hope to come back again."
Muto, whose weekend pro-am partner was former Australia rugby captain Nick Farr-Jones, enjoyed a solid debut in New Zealand, where he was one of the pre-tournament favourites.
"Nick was very nice. It was very enjoyable playing with amateurs, as they’re very relaxed. I didn’t play too bad, but my putting needs to improve because I missed some good birdie chances," said Muto, who won his fifth Japan Tour title at last year’s Kansai Open.
"This is a big tournament and I enjoyed the week a lot, so I’m glad Brendan Jones (who plays on the Japan Tour) advised me to come down. It’s my first time down to Queenstown and the scenery is incredible, so I’d be keen to return next year."
Hong was a happy man after his second 68 of the week, following his bogey-free round on Friday. The 31-year-old Korean was also set to fly north to cooler climes, after spending the winter practising in the USA.
"I played better today, as my putting was better than yesterday," Hong said. "I like the course very much. I’ve been practising in Los Angeles, but I’ll now head back to Seoul to prepare for the new Korean Tour season."
Lydia Ko, the 15-year-old top-ranked women’s amateur, and 76-year-old Sir Bob Charles, the 1963 Open Championship winner, were among sporting celebrities paired up with the pros at The Hills over the weekend.
Other big names include cricket legend Sir Ian Botham, Australian George Gregan, rugby union’s most-capped international, and his long-time rugby rival and good friend Justin Marshall, New Zealand’s most-capped scrumhalf.
The event is building on the success of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on the US PGA Tour and The European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.