Lu Liang-Huan Explained

Lu Liang-Huan
呂良煥
Nickname:Mister Lu
Birth Date:1936 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Taipei, Taiwan, Japan
Death Place:Taipei, Taiwan
Height:1.72 m
Weight:65kg (143lb)
Status:Professional
Yearpro:1956
Extour:Japan Golf Tour
Asia Golf Circuit
Prowins:29
Japwins:8
Otherwins:21
Masters:37th: 1972
Usopen:DNP
Open:2nd: 1971
Pga:DNP
Award1:Far East Circuit
Order of Merit winner
Year1:1966, 1967
T:呂良煥
S:吕良焕
P:Lǚ Liánghuàn
Poj:Lū Liông-hoàn

Lu Liang-Huan (10 December 1936 – 15 March 2022), also known as Mister Lu (Mr Lu) to British golf fans, was a successful Taiwanese golfer who won several important tournaments on the Asian and European circuits between 1959 and 1987.

Early life and professional career

Lu was born in Taipei. He became the first winner of the Hong Kong Open in 1959, the tournament devised by former Australian Open champion Eric Cremin and featuring, among others, Bob Charles and Kel Nagle. He would become a regular winner on the Far East Circuit, later known as the Asia Golf Circuit, winning his own country's national Open on four occasions and the overall circuit title in 1966 and 1967.[1] [2] He also played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning nine times between 1971 and 1987.

His finest year was 1971, when he finished runner-up to Lee Trevino in The Open at Royal Birkdale, then the following week won the Open de France at Biarritz, becoming the first Taiwanese and Asian golfer to win on the European Tour.[3] [4] He also won in Thailand and Japan that season. In 1972, he and countryman Hsieh Min-Nan teamed up to win the World Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Taiwan's sole victory in the event.[5]

Personal life

Lu's nephew, Lu Hsi-chuen, also had a successful career as a professional golfer.[6]

Death

Lu died at Taipei Veterans General Hospital on 15 March 2022, at the age of 85.[7] [8]

Professional wins (29)

PGA of Japan Tour wins (8)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
13 Jun 1973World Friendship−12 (69-73-65-69=276)Playoff Isao Aoki, Graham Marsh
221 Apr 1974Sobu International Open1−8 (71-71-68-70=280)4 strokes Masashi Ozaki, Fumio Tanaka
31 Sep 1974Hiroshima Open−16 (68-68-67-69=272)1 stroke Takashi Murakami
411 May 1975Fujisankei Classic−8 (71-71-68-70=280)4 strokes Graham Marsh
531 Aug 1975Hiroshima Open (2)−13 (66-65-72-72=275)Playoff Tōru Nakamura, Kosaku Shimada
626 Jun 1977Shizuoka Open−5 (68-71-72-70=283)Playoff Yasuhiro Miyamoto
721 Aug 1983Acom Doubles
(with Lu Hsi-chuen)
−27 (64-66-66-65=261)Playoff Hajime Meshiai and Masashi Ozaki
822 Mar 1987Shizuoka Open (2)−8 (71-74-69-66=280)2 strokes Nobumitsu Yuhara
1Co-sanctioned by the Asia Golf Circuit

PGA of Japan Tour playoff record (4–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
11973World Friendship Isao Aoki, Graham MarshWon with birdie on first extra hole
21975Hiroshima Open Tōru Nakamura, Kosaku ShimadaWon two-hole aggregate playoff;
Lu: E (3-4=7),
Nakamura: +2 (5-4=9),
Shimada: +2 (4-5=9)
31976Fujisankei Classic Norio SuzukiLost to par on fifth extra hole
41977Shizuoka Open Yasuhiro Miyamoto
51983Acom Doubles
(with Lu Hsi-chuen)
Hajime Meshiai and Masashi OzakiWon with birdie on third extra hole

Asia Golf Circuit wins (10)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
128 Feb 1965Philippine OpenE (69-73-75-71=288)2 strokes Hsieh Yung-yo
23 Apr 1966Taiwan Open−7 (71-71-69-70=281)2 strokes Chen Chien-chung, Hsu Chi-san,
Kuo Chie-Hsiung
328 Mar 1971Thailand Open−10 (70-69-70-69=278)1 stroke David Oakley
417 Feb 1974Philippine Open (2)−11 (73-70-71-67=281)Playoff Hsu Sheng-san
524 Feb 1974Hong Kong OpenE (70-70-70-70=280)Playoff Graham Marsh
621 Apr 1974Sobu International Open1−8 (71-71-68-70=280)4 strokes Masashi Ozaki, Fumio Tanaka
719 Feb 1978Philippine Open (3)−9 (68-71-73-66=278)7 strokes Kuo Chie-Hsiung
88 Apr 1979Taiwan Open (2)−1 (70-72-71-74=287)2 strokes Chen Tze-ming
910 Apr 1983Taiwan Open (3)+7 (75-73-75-72=295)Playoff Bill Israelson
1014 Apr 1985Taiwan Open (4)−6 (73-71-67-71=282)Playoff Rafael Alarcón, Hsieh Yu-shu
1Co-sanctioned by the PGA of Japan Tour

Asia Golf Circuit playoff record (4–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
11966Singapore Open Ross Newdick, George WillNewdick won with birdie on second extra hole
21967Taiwan Open Hsieh Yung-yoLost to birdie on first extra hole
31974Philippine Open Hsu Sheng-sanWon with par on first extra hole
41974Hong Kong Open Graham MarshWon with birdie on third extra hole
51983Taiwan Open Bill IsraelsonWon three-hole aggregate playoff;
Lu: E (4-3-5=12),
Israelson: +3 (5-3-7=15)
61985Taiwan Open Rafael Alarcón, Hsieh Yu-shuWon with par on sixth extra hole
Hsieh eliminated by par on first hole

Other Japan wins (4)

Other Taiwan wins (6)

Other wins (4)

Playoff record

New Zealand Golf Circuit playoff record (0–1)

Results in major championships

Tournament196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975
Masters TournamentCUT37T43T43
The Open ChampionshipT242T40T5T53
Note: Lu only played in the Masters Tournament and The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Boyle triumphs in the Yomiuri . The Straits Times . Singapore . 11 April 1966 . 19 . National Library Board . 19 February 2020.
  2. News: Thompson equal third . The Age . Melbourne, Victoria, Australia . 10 April 1967 . 25 . AAP - Reuters . Newspapers.com . 19 February 2020.
  3. News: Lu Wins French Open By 2 Shots With 262 . The New York Times . 19 July 1971.
  4. News: Atwal first Indian to win European Tour event . ESPN . Reuters . 24 February 2002.
  5. Book: Alliss, Peter . Peter Alliss

    . The Who's Who of Golf . Peter Alliss . . 1983 . 0-85613-520-8 . 361.

  6. News: Taiwan's Lu first rookie to win three golf titles . 32 . The Straits Times . Singapore . 25 April 1979 . 19 February 2020 . National Library Board.
  7. Web site: 快訊/台灣高爾夫球傳奇「呂良煥病逝」!享壽86歲 . Taiwan golf legend Lu Liang-Huan passed away; 86 years old . ETtoday . Chinese . 15 March 2022.
  8. Web site: The one story you've got to know about Taiwanese great 'Mr. Lu,' who died at 85 . Golfweek . 18 March 2022.
  9. Book: McCormack . Mark H. . Mark McCormack . The World of Professional Golf . 1974 . Collins . 0002119544 . 324, 542–543.
  10. Book: McCormack . Mark H. . The World of Professional Golf 1977 . 1977 . Collins . 0002168790 . 294, 521.