Zhang meets Kang at Asian Matchplay
JAKARTA (JP): Zhang Lian-wei of China is to meet Kang Wook- soon of South Korea in the Volvo Asian Matchplay final at the Emeralda Golf and Country Club after overcoming their semifinals contenders yesterday.
Zhang defeated Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand four and three, while Kang beat another Thai golfer, Prayad Marksaeng, by one hole.
Zhang's victory in the semifinals came after he thought at one stage he had lost his match. Not realizing that the semifinals were played over 36 holes, Zhang went to shake Thaworn's hand after the Thai finished one up after 18 holes.
"On the 18th green, Thaworn told me we had another 18 holes to play, and that we were only at the half-way point," Zhang said.
The 31-year-old Chinese made full use of his second chance, getting the lead back on the eighth with a birdie two before finishing off Thaworn on the back nine.
"Playing a tough match with Thaworn over 36 holes in very hot weather has left me exhausted," Zhang said.
Kang's match with the big-hitting Marksaeng went to the 36th hole. The Korean trailed his opponent for much of the game and was two down with seven to play.
A birdie four on the 12th following a brilliant bunker shot to four feet put Kang one down before a birdie three on the 15th, where he holed from 15 feet, put the match all square with three to play.
On the 17th, Kang got ahead for the first time in 27 holes after playing a brilliant sand wedge from heavy rough to three feet for a birdie four.
On the 18th, he holed a testing five footer for a par to win by the narrowest of margins.
"I nearly pulled out early on in the match because I had an upset stomach and a headache," Kang said. "After the first 18 holes, I took some medication and felt much better. I need to get some rest if I am to play well tomorrow."
Marksaeng and Thaworn are to team up today for the Hugo Boss Foursomes. The pair go straight into the semifinals of that tournament and will play against Indonesia's Maan Nasim and Australian Robert Stephens.
Nasim and Stephens made it through in the alternate shot event yesterday by beating India's Jeev Milkha Singh and Scotland's John Wither two and one.
"We are a new partnership, but we often meet in golf courses," Stephens said.
"I played very good today and my failure to go through to the matchplay semifinals is not because of my foot cramp. I didn't have any burdens," Maan said.
In other semifinals, Paul Foley of Australia and John Kernohan of the USA play against South African Craig Kamps and Choi Kyung- ju of South Korea.
Foley and Kernohan beat Boonchu Ruangkit and Thammanoon Sriroj (both of Thailand) by one hole, while Kamps and Choi defeated Glenn Joyner and Jeff Wagner of Australia by two holes. (yan)