For his first tournament among the pros, the Chinese Wenyi Ding puts on a show

Recent winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Wenyi Ding (photo) immediately refused the invitation to play the Masters and The Open in 2025, preferring to turn professional straight away. Having won his exemption on the DP World Tour thanks to his first place in the Global Amateur Pathway, he is this week at the start of the Hangzhou Open, on the Challenge Tour. After two rounds, he shares the lead of the tournament with the Englishman Ben Schmidt. Robin Sciot-Siegrist, the best Frenchman, is 13th at -7. Four shots behind the leaders.

L.V.

Wenyi Ding19 years old, does not want to waste time. Number 1 in the first Global Amateur Pathway ranking allowing him to obtain an exemption on the DP World Tour in 2025, the Chinese, recent winner of theAsia-Pacific Amateur Championshipis quite simply at the top of the Hangzhou Open ($500,000 endowment).

Find the complete ranking and tee times for the 3rd round

The one who refused, in the wake of his victory at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, the invitations for the Masters et The Open next year is clearly causing a sensation on the West Lake International Golf & Country Club from Hangzhou. Author of two cards of 66 (-5) and 65 (-6), he shares with the English Ben Schmidt orders at -11 of the last appointment of Challenge Tour 2025 before the final in Mallorca in two weeks.

Fourth last week Hainan OpenSchmidt currently occupies 46th place in the Road to Mallorca. His position after two rounds projects him to 14th place, currently synonymous with a playing right on the European Tour in 2025. He will share his Moving Day with the Chinese prodigy from 10:30 a.m. local (4:30 a.m. in France) but also with the leader from the day before, the Irishman Conor Purcell (69 today), third at -10 in the company of the Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan.

Oihan Guillamoundeguy, very close to the final in Mallorca…

With a solid card of 66, Robin Sciot Siegrist settles in 13th place on the leaderboard, at -7. He is the best Habs after two rounds. The left-hander from St-Nom-la-Bretèche (78) is one step ahead Felix Mory et Martin Couvrera. The latter loses a place in the Road projection (20th) while the Northerner moves back a notch (35th).

25th after 36 holes, Jungle Guillamoundeguy is on the crest line of this famous Road where only the first 45 will be invited to the Balearic Islands from October 31 to November 3 for the grand finale. The Landais is thus projected 47th (+5). Also 25th at -5, Alexander Levy et Benjamin Hebert will, whatever happens, be in Majorca. Just like Pierre Pineau33rd at -4. He is projected 19th for the moment at the Road…

This does not, however, pass for Maxence Giboudot and for Sébastien Grosrespectively 79th and 84th in the Hangzhou Open. Guaranteed to benefit from full playing rights in 2025 in the second European division, we will see them again at the end of the month in Spain at PQ2 of European Cards.

Le leaderboard

The French leaderboard

Photo : Getty Images