South Australia’s Peter Cooke has been the surprise early performer among the almost 30 Australians plying their trade on the PGA TOUR China this year.

The 30-year-old turned Professional in 2008
and has found the conditions in China to his liking after finishing runner-up
at the Qualifying School early in the year.

In his two starts since becoming a member
he has finished outright fourth and T3 to be the highest ranked Australian on
the Order of Merit at eighth, one spot ahead of Rohan Blizard.

Cooke is in the field again for this week’s
Lanhai Open and has the chance to move even further up the standings with
another good showing.

The top-five on the Order of Merit at the
end of the season earn status on the PGA TOUR’s secondary Web.com Tour, the
incentive for most playing in China.

Alex Hawley is 10^th on the Order
of Merit and David Lutterus 11^th while New Zealand’s Josh Geary
continues to lead after winning the first event of the year.

There will be 28 Australians and three New
Zealanders teeing up this week including Ray Beaufils, Scott Barr, Scott
Laycock, David Mckenzie and Aaron Townsend.