Zhang Jienalin To Create History, All Set To Become First Female Golfer To Compete In China Open

Zhang Jienalin is all set to create history this week as she will become the first female golfer to compete in the 26-year history of the Volvo China Open. The tournament in Shenzhen usually has European Tour status and is for men only but due to unforeseen circumstances, the tournament has been tweaked this year into a domestic event.

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What You Should Know

• Zhang Jienalin will make history this week by becoming the first female golfer to compete in the 26-year history of the Volvo China Open.
• The tournament has been changed this year into a domestic event.
• Zhang is ranked 484th in the world.

Zhang, 24, is ranked 484th in the world. She won her first title in the recent mixed-field Hangzhou International Championships.

In a Wednesday press release, Zhang said, "For me this week it's all about driving distance. I failed to hit the green in two shots on many of the par fours in practice today."  She further said, "The greens here are also very difficult and are playing quite fast." Moreover, Zhang expressed her aim and current focus, she said, "My main aim is obviously to make the cut."

Unlike past tournaments, this year's China Open is being sanctioned as a China Tour event. Furthermore, the event has a total purse of two million yuan ($300,000).

Volvo China Open is a men's only golf tournament that has been held annually in China since 1995.

Sanskriti Tiwari is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.