Scott Strange wins Volvo China Open

Australia’s Scott Strange has won the Volvo China Open by a single shot from Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain. The victory earned Strange an automatic spot in the Volvo World Matchplay later this season.

Scott Strange
Fergus Bisset
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Australia’s Scott Strange has won the Volvo China Open at the Beijing CBD International GC by a single shot from Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain. The victory earned Strange an automatic spot in the Volvo World Matchplay later this season.

Four shots adrift of Richard Finch at the start of the final round, Strange made progress with two birdies on the front nine, but appeared to have put himself out of contention with a bogey at the par-3 12th. The 32-year-old hit straight back, however, with consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th then another at the 17th. That gave him the advantage and a solid par on the closing hole sealed his victory.

“I didn't tear the golf course apart but I played the golf course the best way I could and produced a score which ended up winning,” he said. “I had a peek on the board on 12 and I knew there was a log jam there. I didn't really know if I'd won when I holed that putt at the last.”

England’s Richard Finch had a poor front nine of 38 and he couldn’t reclaim the lost shots on the way home, finishing two shots behind Strange in a tie for third.

“I'm a little disappointed, obviously 74 is not the final round I was looking for,” he said. “That's the way it goes, you've just got to take it on the chin so that's that.”

Strange has moved to 20th in the Race to Dubai and will receive an automatic spot in the 16-man field for September’s Volvo World Matchplay at Finca Cortesin in Spain. That means a guaranteed cheque for $155,000, even if he loses in the first round.

Volvo China Open Beijing CBD International GC, China Apr 16-19, purse €1,275,000, par 72

1    Scott Strange (Aus)    70    73    69    68    280    €275,814 2    Gonzalo Fdz-Castano (Esp) 71  70    68    72    281    €183,875     T3    Mark Brown (NZL)    71    77    65    69    282    €85,504 T3    Richard Finch (Eng)    71    71    66    74    282    €85,504 T3    Ashley Hall (Aus)        75    71    65    71    282    €85,504 T6    David Dixon (Eng)    72    73    67    71    283    €53,785 T6    Stephen Dodd (Wal)    74    71    70    68    283    €53,785 T8    Markus Brier (Aut)    67    73    71    73    284    €37,180 T8    Paul McGinley (Ire)    74    67    75    68    284    €37,180 T8    Chapchai Nirat (Tha)    69    71    72    72    284    €37,180

Note: Players in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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