This could have been my last CT event of the year, or it could have been a stepping stone to a fantastic chance at the CT Grand Final in Oman in a week’s time!
But to make that possible a good week was needed at the Foshan Open to get back inside the top 45 of the OOM.
Another perk of getting into the top 45 is that you get a direct ticket to final stage of the European Tour School; you don’t have to grind it out at stage 2 where I had already been allocated Las Colinas!
My game felt good, and I was fighting fit, so I sure was going to give it everything!!!!
But first I had to get there…
‘Mum’s taxi’ was back to work AGAIN dropping me off at Huddersfield train station, where the first journey was to Manchester airport to catch the first of three flights.
First the short trip south to Heathrow, then a bit of a wait there before the long flight to Beijing! (9 hours)
I was lucky on this flight as I got three seats to myself, so I managed 6 hours sleep on the flight, which was perfect!
Once there, another wait before flying into Guangzhou and then a shuttle bus to the official hotel – an hour away!
In all, it was well over 30 hours of travel plus a lovely 7 hour Chinese time difference to add to the fun of it…
But it would be worth it, as last year I finished 6th so have fond memories of the event and couldn’t wait to get playing!
Also it’s a fantastic event; the hospitality is great, there are thousands of spectators (all camera mad), and as players we are spoilt!
It’s also a week where caddies are compulsory (at a charge) and I had a non-English speaking young girl called ‘Ping Ping’ – she was actually very good!
VISA problems…
Visas are a nightmare! I know I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes but it feels like it should be such an easy process … but not for China.
After getting back from Ireland, I sent my passport off on the Monday morning to the Chinese embassy, along with £220, praying that it would return Saturday with a VISA in it or I wouldn’t be travelling the following day … and that would have been a very expensive flight wasted, along with the opportunity!
It was a very tense Saturday morning waiting for the postman!!
But he arrived around 11am and I finished packing for the trip!! 
On arriving at the hotel, a quick pot noodle (to be safe) from home then time for sleep!
It was an interesting sleep waking up at 12.30 in the night thinking I had been asleep for a full night when actually it had only been 1 hour … but I managed to nod back off and get a good sleep before a long day’s practice on Tuesday!
Practice days…
I like the course, it’s easy on the eye, the greens are very good, and it’s great fun, compared to a course like Italy, where it’s just driver long iron every hole and feels like a slog!
This has a good mix through the bag and it keeps things interesting!
Wednesday was just a day of practice as you couldn’t get on the course (pro-am). I got out for my morning jog around the local park first, and then headed up to the club to go through my practice check list!
• Shaping the driver
• Improve iron swing feeling
• Aimpoint calibration
• Putting drills
• Short game prep
So all ticked off and I set off for my tee time Thursday!!
I was out midday in round 1, so had a peak at the scoring and saw there were birdies to be had! 
At the start of the week I felt a top 10 would guarantee me a place in the grand final (45), so I knew birdies were a priority!
I was paired with two Chinese players for the first 2 rounds and with all caddies Chinese too, our conversation was limited at best!
I played pretty solid and my putter continued to stay ‘HOT’ for the first two days. I holed some lovely putts and, bar only a few mistakes, I shot 2 rounds of 69 (-3) to get myself into a decent position T7th.
So I made the half way cut and with the added bonus of four guys just ahead of me in the OOM missing the cut, that gave me a huge boost!
My putter sure cooled down over the weekend, but that was only due to poor iron play; leaving myself too many putts from outside 50ft on grainy greens with big slopes, it was always going to lead to a few three putts!
But I battled through and in round 3 shot 71 (-1) to keep the under par trend going!
So, round 4, I needed to keep pressing as I had to shoot under par! Top ten I felt was a must to have a chance of keeping the season alive and massively improving my CT card for next year, and also guaranteeing a European Tour membership again!
Then out of nowhere the heavens opened! I’ve never seen rain like it whilst being so warm at the same time – wearing white trousers was not ideal either!
We played three holes before play was suspended, which was the right decision as the rain nearly moved balls on the greens!
I got through them in level par and then started a mini charge, birdie, birdie on 5/6, then I parred through to my ‘nemesis’ hole of the week!
The 12th, from being in position off the tee each day, I played in +4 for four rounds! Absolute rubbish and it could have cost me! A bogey in round 4 halted my charge! A good birdie back up 14 was cancelled straight out on 15 which meant I was -1 with three to play!
17 is one of the stronger holes and after a perfect drive I again left myself 50ft … A solid two putt and onto 18!
The 18th is a huge risk/reward hole and, with my driving being below par all week, I opted from the start to hit 3 wood off the tee each day playing it as a 3 shot hole.
I wedged it in to 5ft to a huge reception from the crowd to then see on the massive live score board that I had fallen down to T14th….
Knowing a birdie would shift me up to approx T7th, it was make or break!
5ft left to right down the hill… Smelly putt!
I missed it… Extremely gutted!
The emotions you go through on the course each round are incredible, ups and downs! As I said a while back, it’s a massive rollercoaster!
But luckily for me a few players further back were having tough days and I ended up T12th. 
Having left the club pretty much straight away at 4pm, it wasn’t until 7pm that I received confirmation that I’d made the top 45!! What a wait… I’ve never pressed the refresh button on my phone as much and I only did find out because one of the players had a photo of the OOM on his phone!
What an unbelievable feeling! I just sat on the floor in my hotel room replying to texts and didn’t move for an hour!
Another milestone in my golfing career, as always slow progression, but this category is a huge improvement and I’ve still 2 chances to improve it further with the European Tour still in sight!!!
So the repeat journey home, with a tight connection back to Manchester which I hoped I wouldn’t miss, and then 5 days with my wonderful family before heading to the GRAND FINAL in Oman!
Let’s do this!!!!
Hope you enjoyed the China blog this week, thanks again for all the support!!