June, 2007:

Zhou Xun Shu shot an even-par 72 on Saturday — the third best score of the day — and climbed in to the top 20 after three rounds at the Qingdao Leg of the China Tour at Qingdao Huashan Golf Club. Zhou currently sits at 10-over for the tournament, tied for 17th, and is just two strokes out of the top 10. Zhou’s previous best finish on the China Tour was 21st at the 2006 Omega Championship in Beijing last October.

“I felt much better today than I did Thursday and Friday,” said Zhou, who was 2-under after the front nine, but then bogeyed No. 10 and No. 11. “I think I found my rhythm. If I don’t make any big mistakes tomorrow, I could crack the top 10.”

Zhang Lianwei, despite consuming large amounts of alcohol at his 42nd birthday bash Friday night, shot a 1-over 73 and extended his tournament lead to four strokes.

View the leaderboard here.

Photo by Zhang Jian.

On his 42nd birthday, Chinese golf pioneer Zhang Lianwei shot an even par 72 on Friday to remain at 1-under for the tournament heading in to the weekend at the China Tour’s stop at Qingdao Huashan Golf Club. Zhang is the only golfer in the 99 person field to have emerged from the first two days of competition under par — the course’s long rough seems to be giving the players problems. Li Chao and Yang Wenzhang are in second place at 2-over.

Zhou Xun Shu, the man you are here to read about, finished Friday with a 4-over 76, putting him at 10-over for the tournament, and tied for 36th place. Were it not for a double bogey on 16 — it took him two attempts to get out of the rough — Zhou could have found himself nipping at the top 20.

Female golfer Dong Caihong shot a disappointing 11-over 83 on Friday and failed to advance to weekend play.

See all the scores here.