Zhang Xinjun Explained

Zhang Xinjun
Birth Date:10 June 1987
Birth Place:Shanxi, China
Weight:165lb
Residence:Jacksonville Beach, Florida, U.S.
Yearpro:2010
Tour:Korn Ferry Tour
Extour:PGA Tour
China Tour
Prowins:6
Nwidewins:2
Otherwins:4
Masters:DNP
Usopen:DNP
Open:DNP
Pga:CUT: 2020
Award1:Korn Ferry Tour
regular season points list winner
Year1:2019

Zhang Xinjun (; born 10 June 1987) is a Chinese professional golfer who currently plays on PGA Tour. He won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019 when he topped the regular season points list.[1] In 2017, along with Dou Zecheng, he was one of the first Chinese players to gain their card on the PGA Tour.

Amateur career

Zhang represented China at the 2010 Asian Games.[2]

Professional career

Zhang turned professional in 2010. Having won on the PGA Tour China in 2014 he qualified to join the second tier Web.com Tour in 2015 after finishing second on the Order of Merit. However, towards the end of the season he was banned for six months after having been found guilty of signing for incorrect scores on two occasions,[3] and ultimately stayed in China for another season.[4] The following year he won again and finished third on the Order of Merit to again earn his place on the Web.com Tour for 2016.[5]

Having found limited opportunities on the Web.com Tour in 2016, Zhang again returned to China. He finished 5th on the Order of Merit to earn a return to the Web.com Tour. He played in all regular season tournaments and finished 20th on the Web.com Tour points list in 2017 to graduate to the PGA Tour for 2018.[6] He did not manage to win enough points to retain his place on the PGA Tour during his rookie season and dropped back to the second tier for 2019.

Zhang claimed two victories on the now renamed Korn Ferry Tour in 2019, at the Dormie Network Classic and the Lincoln Land Championship, and finished the season on top of the regular season points list to regain his card on the PGA Tour for the 2019–20 season.[7] [8]

Professional wins (6)

Korn Ferry Tour wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
128 Apr 2019Dormie Network Classic−26 (63-64-65-70=262)5 strokes Lanto Griffin, Chase Seiffert
216 Jun 2019Lincoln Land Championship−15 (68-72-63-66=269)Playoff Dylan Wu

Korn Ferry Tour playoff record (1–0)

China Tour wins (3)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
115 Jun 2014Beijing Open−19 (66-66-70-67=269)2 strokes Mathew Perry
218 Oct 2015Chongqing Jiangnan NewTown KingRun Open−15 (69-74-65-65=273)4 strokes Bryden Macpherson
325 Nov 2018Chongqing Kingrun Open (2)−16 (68-71-67-66=272)8 strokes Zhang Jia

Other wins (1)

Results in major championships

Results not in chronological order in 2020.

Tournament2020
Masters Tournament
PGA ChampionshipCUT
U.S. Open
The Open ChampionshipNT
CUT = missed the halfway cut
NT = No tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic

Results in The Players Championship

CUT = missed the halfway cut

Results in World Golf Championships

Results not in chronological order before 2015.

Tournament2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Championship
Match Play
Invitational
ChampionsT13T56T46T21T44T50T38
"T" = tied

Team appearances

Professional

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Xinjun Zhang – Profile . . 16 August 2019.
  2. China to showcase its golf progress at Asian Games . Golfweek . 10 November 2010 . 16 August 2019.
  3. News: Banned Zhang Xinjun can still earn Web.com Tour card . South China Morning Post . 10 November 2014 . 16 August 2019.
  4. Web site: Chinese players Dou, Zhang earn PGA Tour cards . PGA Tour . Laury . Livesy . 28 August 2017 . 16 August 2019.
  5. News: Former China bad boy Zhang Xinjun seeks to turn good at Clearwater Bay Open with a little help from his friends . South China Morning Post . Andrew . Mullen . 2 November 2016 . 16 August 2019.
  6. News: Double delight as China's former bad boy Zhang Xinjun joins compatriot Dou Zecheng in securing 2018 PGA Tour card . South China Morning Post . Andrew . Mullen . 28 August 2017 . 16 August 2019.
  7. News: Zhang pumped for return to PGA Tour . China Daily . 13 August 2019 . 16 August 2019.
  8. News: Full list of the 25 Korn Ferry Tour players who earned PGA Tour cards Sunday . Golf Channel . Bentley . Romine . 12 August 2019 . 16 August 2019.