Saxon holds off Zhang's charge in Guilin

Charlie Saxon is really on a roll.

The American won his fourth career PGA Tour Series-China title on Sunday with a one-shot victory over Chinese youngster Zhang Jin at the 1.5 million yuan ($234,000) Guilin Championship, the fifth event of this year's PGA Tour Series-China.

Saxon has now equaled current PGA Tour player "Marty" Dou Zecheng, who won four times in 2016, for the most victories on the PGA Tour Series-China, which started in 2014.

Saxon, 25, holed a pressure-packed seven-foot par putt on the final hole for a 3-under 69 and an 18-under total of 270 at Guilin Landscape Golf Club to claim his second Tour title in his last three events, after a victory in Changsha and a tie for second in Haikou last month.

The 22-year-old Zhang, who led Saxon by one after round three and was co-leader after the second, struggled on the opening holes and then clawed his way back to within one after No 17, but couldn't birdie the par-4 closing hole.

Canada's Justin Shin, who shared second with Saxon at last month's Haikou Championship, fired a 67 to secure third at 16-under, while Sweden's Oskar Arvidsson (71) and Malaysia's Arie Irawan (69) shared fourth at 13-under.

"The crowds were fantastic and it was a lot of fun to play in front of so many people," said Saxon, who carded 23 birdies and one eagle over the 72 holes.

"It's definitely one of the better crowds I've experienced in China. The course was in great condition and I'm just really happy about the week.

"My mindset through the whole day was just to go out there and make birdies. I wanted to keep the pedal down and make it hard for anyone to catch me."

Second on the order of merit in 2016 when he won twice, Saxon has extended his lead on this year's money list and heads to next week's Kunming Championship at Yulongwan Golf Club as a firm favorite.

"I feel great about my game right now and I'm very confident," Saxon said.

"I really enjoy the course we are playing next week. I can't wait to get out there and hopefully get in contention again."

Zhang established himself as one to watch after a sensational tournament, recording his best finish on the Tour after ties for 10th in 2015 and 2016 and a share of 11th in last month's Changsha Championship.

Although he admitted the pressure of leading and the large crowds fazed him in the early going, he responded well.

After losing the lead with a bogey on the third, Zhang bogeyed Nos 6 and 7, then birdied No 8 and three of the last six holes to close within one.

"Today was my first time playing in the final group on this Tour and if I played the first seven holes better, I think I might have had a chance to win," said Zhang, who turned pro in October 2014.

"On the first seven holes, I rushed. I played too fast and was conscious of there being such big crowds. Only when I made the birdie on eight did I feel much better and I think I played well on the final few holes."

Zhang enjoyed his two successive rounds in the last group and said he learned a lot from watching Saxon, a four-time winner on the Tour and also a winner on PGA Tour Latinoamerica last year.

"Charlie played very well in the two rounds we played together. After this week, I learned a lot," Zhang said.

"I hope I can have more chances to play the leading group and hope I will play much better."

The PGA Tour established PGA Tour Series-China in 2014 as its third international developmental tour, following in the footsteps of PGA Tour Latinoamerica and the Mackenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada.