GEL Golf is once again celebrating a Tour win, its fifth in just over two years, following Chinese Chen Jian’s victory using a GEL Ruby putter in the Luxehills Golf Championship on the Omega China Tour.

The 34-year-old secured his first title on the China Tour yesterday (June 14) over the Luxehills International Country Club in Chengdu after overcoming Australian Rowan Beste at the second hole of a thrilling sudden-death play-off.

Chen no doubt benefitted from the support of the large local gallery as well as his GEL putter after as he recorded a two-under 70 for an 11-under total of 277 while playing partner Beste shot a 69 to finish level after four rounds.

“I’m so excited. Winning this is a dream come true. I don’t really have the words to express how I feel,” said Chen, a Kunming-based teaching pro. “With so many people watching, I really wanted to prove I could play, that I belonged here. When I birdied the eight and heard the crowd roar, I felt great. It was just an amazing atmosphere.” With his win, Chen joins an elite group of professionals who have enjoyed professional Tour wins using a GEL putter.

American Anthony Kang secured the Malaysian Open on The European Tour using a GEL Paul Hurrion Rego putter in February at the Saujana Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur whilst in 2008 Hsu Mong-nan of Chinese Taipei claimed the China Tour’s Shanghai Championship with a GEL Jade and American Tom Stankowski clinched the Canadian Tour Championship using a GEL Emerald.

GEL’s first ever win came at the 2007 Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open when American Bryan Saltus won the event on the Asian Tour using a GEL Topaz.

“Given that we only launched GEL at the start of 2007 and already boast five Tour wins, we have made excellent progress into the market with our groove putters,” commented Alec Pettigrew, founder and managing director of Groove Equipment Ltd (GEL) Golf. “Moreover GEL Golf has established itself as the number one groove putter on Tour in Asia and is marketing itself globally so I am sure that we will be enjoying further victories in the near future.”

Chen Jian wins in the Luxehilld Golf Championship with a GEL Ruby Putter