Qualifiers ready for Volvo China Open glory

Yang Yinong and Chen Guxin booked their spots for next month's Volvo China Open on Wednesday as the duo finished tied atop the leaderboard at the 36-hole qualifying tournament, the only players to break par at Enhance Anting Golf Club in Shanghai.

With conditions sunny, calmer and warmer than Tuesday's blustery opening round, Yang closed with a five-under 66 for the low round in qualifying, while Chen carded a one-under 70. Both players finished on one-under 141. Chai Bowen (67) was third at two shots back.

Other Chinese mainland players to qualify for the 30th national championship, a $2.5 million tournament on the DP World Tour set for April 17-20 at Enhance Anting, included Peng Bo (68), Pang Ming (69) and Zhang Jin (73), the 2021 Volvo China Open winner, who qualified for the second straight year, in equal fourth on 145.

Four players tied at 146 participated in a playoff for three spots. Zhang Zihong (71) hit into the water on his third shot. When Wu Di (71) made a bogey putt, Zhang admitted defeat. Amateur Li Zhengqian (72) and first-round leader Fang Yu (76) also advanced. Li joins his younger brother, Li Zhengda, winner of the Volvo China Junior Match Play Championship, in the field for the Volvo China Open.

The three spots available to non-Chinese mainland players were claimed by Japanese Kento Nakai, who shot his second straight round of 72, while Hong Kong amateur Shen Wang-ngai (72) finished one shot further back. Hong Kong pro Michael Wong (78) got in on 151, the highest score to qualify.