BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Big-hitting Kurt Barnes will be among a strong contingent of Australians competing in next week's 500,000 U.S. dollars Midea China Classic golf event, the third event of the inaugural One Asia season.

    The burly Barnes, nicknamed "Australia 's John Daly", is relishing the return to China after winning April's Sofitel Zhongshan IGC Open in Nanjing on the mainland's domestic circuit, which marked his first overseas victory.

    Barnes now believes he has what it takes to conquer the Nick Faldo-designed layout at the Royal Orchid International Golf Club in Shunde, south of Guangzhou.

    "I'm really looking forward to going back to China. I enjoy any chance to tee it up where I've won and I'm looking forward to competing with the top Chinese players again," said Barnes, whose victories include the 2004 Queensland PGA Championship and the 2005 Victorian Open.

    "It has been a quiet few months for a lot of us Australians. Tristan Lambert, Peter Wilson and Craig Scott are among the guys going over for the Midea China Classic, so it will be a strong field and I'm looking forward to bringing the bacon back home."

    Before winning in Nanjing in April, Barnes finished tied 11th at the previous week's 2.2 million U.S. dollars Volvo China Open in Beijing , which marked the first event on the inaugural One Asiacircuit and was co-sanctioned with the European Tour.

    However, Barnes was unable to compete at One Asia's second event, last month's Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open, as the Australian was competing in the second stage of the Japan Tour Qualifying School.

        "It was a very successful week as I finished joint-first in the stage, but unfortunately I had to miss the Korea Open. However, I'm playing well and in China I will be trying out a new caddie who speaks Japanese, so we'll see how that works out," he said.

    Liang Wenchong and former champion Zhang Lianwei will be among the local stars at the Midea China Classic, now in its fifth year.

    Zhang won the 2006 edition a year after losing a play-off to compatriot Yuan Hao in the inaugural event and has also competed in the last two editions.

    "I'm looking forward to the Midea China Classic as it has become an established tournament in China's golfing calendar. I will always support this tournament's development as I believe it will have a bright future," said the 44-year-old Zhang, who helped re-design Royal Orchid in 2007.

    "I won the Midea China Classic in 2006 and every time I try my best to make a good score. Now that it has become an international event, the competition has become stronger, so this makes me more determined to play well. Australian and Korean players are very competitive."

    Liang, Asia's number one in 2007 and joint runner-up in last month's Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open in Japan , will be gunning for his first victory in the Midea China Classic, which was won by Thai legend Thaworn Wiratchant in 2007 and Korean teenager Noh Seung-yul last year.

    One Asia plans to offer 12-15 events next year and 17-20 annually from 2011 and beyond.