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Lu Liang-Huan

{{Short description|Taiwanese professional golfer (1936–2022)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Lu Liang-Huan
呂良煥

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| fullname =

| nickname = Mister Lu

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1936|12|10}}

| birth_place = Taipei, Taiwan, Japan

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|3|15|1936|12|10|df=y}}

| death_place = Taipei, Taiwan

| height = 1.72 m

| weight = {{convert|65|kg|lb st|abbr=on}}

| nationality = {{TWN}}

| residence =

| spouse =

| partner =

| children =

| college =

| status = Professional

| yearpro = 1956

| retired =

| tour =

| extour = Japan Golf Tour
Asia Golf Circuit

| prowins = 29

| japwins = 8

| otherwins = 21

| majorwins =

| masters = 37th: 1972

| usopen = DNP

| open = 2nd: 1971

| pga = DNP

| wghofid =

| wghofyear =

| award1 = Far East Circuit
Order of Merit winner

| year1 = 1966, 1967

| award2 =

| year2 =

| awardssection =

}}

{{family name hatnote|Lu|lang=Chinese}}

{{Infobox Chinese|t=呂良煥|s=吕良焕|p=Lǚ Liánghuàn|mi={{IPAc-cmn|l|ü|3|-|l|iang|2|.|h|uan|4}}|poj=Lū Liông-hoàn}}

Lu Liang-Huan ({{zh|t=呂良煥}}, 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

Lu was born in Taipei.

Professional career

Lu 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.{{cite news |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19660411-1.2.103.9 |title=Boyle triumphs in the Yomiuri |newspaper=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |date=11 April 1966 |page=19 |via=National Library Board |accessdate=19 February 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44516638/ |title=Thompson equal third |newspaper=The Age |location=Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |date=10 April 1967 |page=25 |agency=AAP–Reuters |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=19 February 2020}} 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/07/19/archives/lu-wins-french-open-by-2-shots-with-262.html |title=Lu Wins French Open By 2 Shots With 262 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=19 July 1971}}{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/story?id=1339914 |title=Atwal first Indian to win European Tour event |work=ESPN |agency=Reuters |date=24 February 2002}} 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.{{cite book |title=The Who's Who of Golf |first=Peter |last=Alliss |authorlink=Peter Alliss |publisher=Orbis Publishing |year=1983 |isbn=0-85613-520-8 |page=361}}

Personal life

Lu's nephew, Lu Hsi-chuen, also had a successful career as a professional golfer.{{cite news |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19790425-1.1.32 |title=Taiwan's Lu first rookie to win three golf titles |page=32 |newspaper=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |date=25 April 1979 |accessdate=19 February 2020 |via=National Library Board}}

Death

Lu died at Taipei Veterans General Hospital on 15 March 2022, at the age of 85.{{cite web |url=https://www.ettoday.net/news/20220315/2208874.htm |title=快訊／台灣高爾夫球傳奇「呂良煥病逝」！享壽86歲 |trans-title=Taiwan golf legend Lu Liang-Huan passed away; 86 years old |website=ETtoday |language=Chinese |date=15 March 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/03/18/taiwan-golf-lu-liang-huan-mr-lu-obit/ |title=The one story you've got to know about Taiwanese great 'Mr. Lu,' who died at 85 |website=Golfweek |date=18 March 2022}}

Professional wins (29)

=PGA of Japan Tour wins (8)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|3 Jun 1973

|World Friendship

|−12 (69-73-65-69=276)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Isao Aoki, {{flagicon|AUS}} Graham Marsh

align=center|2

|align=right|21 Apr 1974

|Sobu International Open1

|−8 (71-71-68-70=280)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Masashi Ozaki, {{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Fumio Tanaka

align=center|3

|align=right|1 Sep 1974

|Hiroshima Open

|−16 (68-68-67-69=272)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Takashi Murakami

align=center|4

|align=right|11 May 1975

|Fujisankei Classic

|−8 (71-71-68-70=280)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Graham Marsh

align=center|5

|align=right|31 Aug 1975

|Hiroshima Open (2)

|−13 (66-65-72-72=275)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Tōru Nakamura, {{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Kosaku Shimada

align=center|6

|align=right|26 Jun 1977

|Shizuoka Open

|−5 (68-71-72-70=283)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Yasuhiro Miyamoto

align=center|7

|align=right|21 Aug 1983

|Acom Doubles
(with {{flagicon|TWN}} Lu Hsi-chuen)

|−27 (64-66-66-65=261)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Hajime Meshiai and {{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Masashi Ozaki

align=center|8

|align=right|22 Mar 1987

|Shizuoka Open (2)

|−8 (71-74-69-66=280)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Nobumitsu Yuhara

1Co-sanctioned by the Asia Golf Circuit

PGA of Japan Tour playoff record (4–1)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|1

|1973

|World Friendship

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Isao Aoki, {{flagicon|AUS}} Graham Marsh

|Won with birdie on first extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|2

|1975

|Hiroshima Open

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Tōru Nakamura, {{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Kosaku Shimada

|Won two-hole aggregate playoff;
Lu: E (3-4=7),
Nakamura: +2 (5-4=9),
Shimada: +2 (4-5=9)

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|3

|1976

|Fujisankei Classic

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Norio Suzuki

|Lost to par on fifth extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|4

|1977

|Shizuoka Open

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Yasuhiro Miyamoto

|

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|5

|1983

|Acom Doubles
(with {{flagicon|TWN}} Lu Hsi-chuen)

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Hajime Meshiai and {{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Masashi Ozaki

|Won with birdie on third extra hole

=Asia Golf Circuit wins (10)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|28 Feb 1965

|Philippine Open

|E (69-73-75-71=288)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|TWN}} Hsieh Yung-yo

align=center|2

|align=right|3 Apr 1966

|Taiwan Open

|−7 (71-71-69-70=281)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|TWN}} Chen Chien-chung, {{flagicon|TWN}} Hsu Chi-san,
{{flagicon|TWN}} Kuo Chie-Hsiung

align=center|3

|align=right|28 Mar 1971

|Thailand Open

|−10 (70-69-70-69=278)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} David Oakley

align=center|4

|align=right|17 Feb 1974

|Philippine Open (2)

|−11 (73-70-71-67=281)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|TWN}} Hsu Sheng-san

align=center|5

|align=right|24 Feb 1974

|Hong Kong Open

|E (70-70-70-70=280)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Graham Marsh

align=center|6

|align=right|21 Apr 1974

|Sobu International Open1

|−8 (71-71-68-70=280)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Masashi Ozaki, {{flagicon|JPN|1870}} Fumio Tanaka

align=center|7

|align=right|19 Feb 1978

|Philippine Open (3)

|−9 (68-71-73-66=278)

|7 strokes

|{{flagicon|TWN}} Kuo Chie-Hsiung

align=center|8

|align=right|8 Apr 1979

|Taiwan Open (2)

|−1 (70-72-71-74=287)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|TWN}} Chen Tze-ming

align=center|9

|align=right|10 Apr 1983

|Taiwan Open (3)

| +7 (75-73-75-72=295)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bill Israelson

align=center|10

|align=right|14 Apr 1985

|Taiwan Open (4)

|−6 (73-71-67-71=282)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|MEX}} Rafael Alarcón, {{flagicon|TWN}} Hsieh Yu-shu

1Co-sanctioned by the PGA of Japan Tour

Asia Golf Circuit playoff record (4–2)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|1

|1966

|Singapore Open

|{{flagicon|NZL}} Ross Newdick, {{flagicon|SCO}} George Will

|Newdick won with birdie on second extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|2

|1967

|Taiwan Open

|{{flagicon|TWN}} Hsieh Yung-yo

|Lost to birdie on first extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|3

|1974

|Philippine Open

|{{flagicon|TWN}} Hsu Sheng-san

|Won with par on first extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|4

|1974

|Hong Kong Open

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Graham Marsh

|Won with birdie on third extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|5

|1983

|Taiwan Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bill Israelson

|Won three-hole aggregate playoff;
Lu: E (4-3-5=12),
Israelson: +3 (5-3-7=15)

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|6

|1985

|Taiwan Open

|{{flagicon|MEX}} Rafael Alarcón, {{flagicon|TWN}} Hsieh Yu-shu

|Won with par on sixth extra hole
Hsieh eliminated by par on first hole

=Other Japan wins (4)=

  • 1971 The Crowns Tournament
  • 1972 Kuzuha International
  • 1973 Hokuriku Classic{{cite book |last1=McCormack |first1=Mark H. |author-link=Mark McCormack |title=The World of Professional Golf |date=1974 |publisher=Collins |isbn=0002119544 |pages=324, 542–543}}
  • 1976 Sanpo Champions Tournament{{cite book |last1=McCormack |first1=Mark H. |title=The World of Professional Golf 1977 |date=1977 |publisher=Collins |isbn=0002168790 |pages=294, 521}}

=Other Taiwan wins (6)=

  • 1970 Republic of China PGA Championship
  • 1975 Republic of China PGA Championship
  • 1977 Republic of China PGA Championship
  • 1979 Republic of China PGA Championship, Kaohsiung Open
  • 1987 Xinfeng Open

=Other wins (4)=

Playoff record

New Zealand Golf Circuit playoff record (0–1)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent!!Result

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|1

|1972

|Otago Charity Classic

|{{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Miller

|Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Results in major championships

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1964

!1965

!1966

!1967

!1968

!1969

!1970

!1971

!1972

!1973

!1974

!1975

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|37

|T43

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T43

align=left|The Open Championship

|T24

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|2

|T40

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|T5

|T53

Note: Lu only played in the Masters Tournament and The Open Championship.

{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}

{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}

CUT = missed the half-way cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{JapanTour player|10004}}
  • [https://www.tpga.org.tw/index.php/Home/Player/index/pid/23289/nat/TWN/pwt/6.html Lu Liang-Huan] at the Taiwan PGA official website (in Chinese)
  • {{OWGR|479}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lu, Liang-Huan}}

Category:Taiwanese male golfers

Category:Japan Golf Tour golfers

Category:Sportspeople from New Taipei

Category:1936 births

Category:2022 deaths