(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-21 09:45

Ireland's Damien McGrane battled through torrential rain at the Beijing CBD International Golf Course to claim his much-awaited maiden title at the Volvo China Open yesterday.

McGrane closed with a 1-over-par 73 for a 10-under-par 278 total to take a 9-stroke victory over Oliver Wilson and Simon Griffiths from England, as well as French rookie, Michael Lorenzo-Vera, who were all tied for second on 287.

Current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, Mark Brown of New Zealand, was a further shot back on 288, with defending champion Markus Brier of Austria and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell.

Ireland's Damien McGrane holds aloft the trophy after winning the China Open golf tournament in Beijing April 20, 2008. [Agencies]

The torrential rain on the final day did not provide ideal scoring conditions and the event will go down in the history books as one of the few tournaments that did not see even see a single player breaking par on the final day.

Only four players achieved a four-day total of under-par rounds at the $2.2 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and China Golf Association. Naturally, McGrane was one of them.

"Anyone with any sense wouldn't have gone out in that. It was one of those days when everyone had to knuckle down and do they best they could," said McGrane, who earned the $366,660 prize purse.

"It came my way today, the weather if not on my side, helped stop other players making a charge at my lead. Once I made as many pars as possible, the Volvo China Open was mine," the jubilant Irishman said.

Asian Tour regular, Griffiths, began the day tied for ninth and made a spirited charge by posting two important birdies, making up for the four bogeys that he made throughout his round.

"I knew it was going to be bad when I woke up this morning and saw the gray skies. I just went in with a positive attitude as I knew it was going to be very difficult for everyone," Griffiths said. "You just have to try your best. Luckily, I hit the ball well off the tee and I got half decent scores."

2007 Asian Tour No 1, Liang Wenchong of China, struggled on his opening front-nine with four bogeys to make it to the halfway mark at 4-over par. Two consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th brought back that much needed confidence. However, the home favorite could not make further birdies after that to close in on the leaders.

"I was actually very worried whether I'd eventually get a final round score of about 80 after my bogey-bogey-bogey start on the first three holes," Liang said. "Luckily I saved myself on the back nine with two birdies."

"I'm so touched to see so many of my fans carrying their umbrellas and supporting me out there in the pouring rain. I hope to put in a stronger performance for my fans in Shanghai next week," added Liang, who finished as the top Chinese player, tied-eight.