Volvo China Open 2016: Final Leaderboard Scores, Prize Money Payouts
Li Haotong produced a magnificent eight-under par round of 64 on Sunday to win the 2016 Volvo China Open by three shots.
He finished on 22 under par ahead of Felipe Aguilar, whom he’d been in a gripping tussle with during the back nine. The Chinese player was able to hold his nerve in the final stages, though, while a double-bogey at the par-three 16th saw his rival lose momentum late on.
This is the moment Li clinched the championship:
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Here’s a look back at Li’s first-ever win on the European Tour, which delighted the Beijing crowd, and how the upper reaches of the leaderboard shaped up after a captivating Sunday.
| 1. | Li Haotong | -22 | 64 | £352,432 |
| 2. | Felipe Aguilar | -19 | 69 | £234,954 |
| T3. | Richard Bland | -18 | 66 | £132,373 |
| T3. | Marcel Siem | -18 | 66 | £132,373 |
| T3. | Lucas Bjerregaard | -18 | 70 | £132,373 |
| T6. | Scott Hend | -17 | 64 | £74,010 |
| T6. | Richie Ramsey | -17 | 66 | £74,010 |
| T6. | Peter Hanson | -17 | 67 | £74,010 |
For the full leaderboard check out the European Tour website.
Li Surges to Sunday Glory
After picking up a shot at the last on Saturday to move into the lead alongside Lucas Bjerregaard, the impetus was with Aguilar as he took to the tee in the final group on Day 4.
The Chilean’s round got off to a wonderful start too, as he birdied the opening hole. It was an effort that seemed to buoy the leader, who then followed that up by picking up a shot each at the third, the fifth and the seventh. Suddenly he was looking like a difficult man to catch.
On the final day of a tournament, there is always a player who puts a run together, though, and following a steady beginning to his round, it was evident that man was going to be Li on Sunday.
After a birdie at the third, this approach at the fifth set up another and was a sign of things to come:
Playing a little further ahead of Aguilar, Li knew he could heap pressure on the leader with some low scoring. And he continued to do so in spectacular fashion, with four birdies coming in five holes between the seventh and the 11th. As the Chilean approached the turn himself, the race for the title was very much on again.
Aguilar continued to chip away, and as we can see here, he was playing with a lot of consistency:
More blows were traded by the two leaders on the back nine until the very late stages of the round, with Li on the 17th and Aguilar on the 16th deadlocked on 21 under par. It was here that the destination of the China Open was ultimately decided.
Aguilar, who had been so composed and consistent throughout the day, dumped his tee shot into the water at the 16th, meaning he had to settle for a double bogey. To compound matters, up ahead Li was making light work of the 17th. This excellent approach and putt confirmed the three-shot swing:
It meant a par at the last would be enough for Li to take the title and the 20-year-old duly obliged, with the galleries, having cheered his every shot throughout the day, delighted.
Afterwards, Li revealed he didn't realise he was quite so far ahead at the 18th, per the European Tour website: "When I had my tee-shot, I walked to my second shot there and I was thinking I need to go hybrid to get to the front edge to give me an easy chip to there, but my caddy said, 'Haotong, you're already three shots in the lead, you've just got to lay up and make par to win.' So thanks to him!"
For a young man who has never won on the European Tour to show such steel late on is remarkable, especially up against an experienced competitor like Aguilar. Li played some blinding shots on the final day, and regardless of the circumstances, a 64 in the final round is always something to cherish.
Aguilar will be very disappointed with his effort at the 16th, having played so well throughout his final round. Such is the standard of play in these events—one miscue is all it takes to separate a potential champion from a despondent runner-up.
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