TIANJIN : Australian Brett Rumford romped to his second title in as many weeks yesterday with a final round four-under-par 68 that gave him a four-shot victory at the 20 million yuan (US $3.2 million) Volvo China Open at Tianjin Binhai Lake Golf Club.
Rumford added the OneAsia and European Tour co-sanctioned title to the Ballantine's Championship he won in Korea last week, capping a remarkable fortnight that has seen him bank over a million dollars and soar up the world rankings from No.253 to the mid-80s.
The 37-year-old Australian finished at 16-under-par, with Finland's Mikko Ilonen (71) alone in second place and hard-charging Frenchman Victor Dubuisson (68) third.
"It's surreal," said Rumford. "I'm more than pleased, but it's not my doing completely _ I have a great team around me."
Rumford started the day a shot ahead of playing partner Ilonen, and they went at it hammer and tongs until the tournament was effectively settled in a three-hole stretch starting at the 12th.
Rumford made three birdies on-the-trot while Ilonen _ perhaps pushing too hard _ had a pair of bogeys that left him resigned to second place.
"The one on the 12th, well that was one of the best shots of my career," said Rumford of the tricky up-and-down he had to pull off from the edge of a bunker.
The margin of victory could not have contrasted more with his effort in Korea, when he broke a near six-year victory drought only after enduring a nail-biting three-way play-off that he forced his way into after a birdie on the last following a 17th hole double bogey.
"Mikko certainly put the pressure on me through the turn there, and obviously he was driving well... but it's amazing this game, how quickly it can turn," Rumford said.
"Last week on 17 it turned for the worst and here, in the space of just three or four holes, all I had to do was finish it off."
Chinese teenager Dou Zecheng put in another credible effort with a 73 that saw him finish the tournament in the middle of the field at one-under-par _ the same as defending champion Branden Grace.
The 16-year-old amateur qualifier, the youngest player ever to make the cut in the tournament's 19-year-history, immediately set his sights on even greater glory.
"I want more... I want to play in majors," he said, three weeks after 14-year-old compatriot Guan Tianlang stunned the golf world by making the cut at the US masters.
On Thursday another qualifier, 12-year-old Ye Wocheng, became the youngest player ever to start a European Tour or OneAsia event _ shattering Guan's record set last year when he was 13. Ye missed the cut by 14 after shooting a pair of 79s.
OneAsia moves to Korea next week for a two-week swing starting with the GS Caltex Maekyung Open at Namseoul Country Club from May 9-12 and followed by the SK Telecom Open at Pinx Golf Club from 16-19.
Local hero Kim Bi-o, winner of the OneAsia Order of Merit title last year, is defending champion at both.
FINAL ROUND SCORES
272 _ Brett Rumford (AUS) 68-67-69-68.
276 _ Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 69-63-73-71.
277 _ Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 71-72-66-68.
278 _ Robert-Jan Derksen (NED) 66-70-73-69.
279 _ Ricardo Santos (POR) 70-72-68-69, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 71-66-69-73.
280 _ Andreas Harto (DEN) 72-71-70-67.
281 _ Felipe Aguilar (CHI) 71-73-68-69, Paul Casey (ENG) 71-68-72-70, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 70-73-68-70, Joost Luiten (NED) 73-67-68-73.
282 _ Ricardo Gonzalez (ARG) 73-71-67-71, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 68-67-72-75.
SELECTED:
290 _ Prom Meesawat (THA) 76-68-76-70