Around the HKGA
junior golf
Winning on Home Turf
A round-up of news and other events from Hong Kong
From the President I am honoured to serve as the new P r e sid e n t o f t h e Ho n g Ko n g G o l f Association and I am looking forward to working with the Executive Committee, the junior development staff and all our sponsors to further enhance the role of the HKGA in local golf. It is my intention to make the next year one of the most productive and successful in the Association’s proud history, and I will do my utmost in ensuring this becomes a reality. First of all, I would like to express my appreciation to Rick Siemens, our immediate past president, for all that he has accomplished over the past 12 months, in particular securing sponsorship from EFG Bank towards our HKGA Junior Golf Development Foundation Fund for the next three years – and possibly beyond. One of our main goals is to raise junior golf in Hong Kong to a standard where our young players can compete at the highest level internationally. This resource will undoubtedly go a long way to help achieving that. We have already witnessed significant performances by HKGA-trained Junior Elite golfers over the past 12 months, and I’m delighted to say that this success has continued. During the recently completed tour of the United States, a number of our players excelled themselves, which you can
read about in the following pages. Gaining tournament experience overseas is crucial in a player’s development, and thanks to the continuing hard work of National Coach Brad Schadewitz and the increasing number of playing opportunities for young local golfers, the future of the game in Hong Kong looks very bright indeed. 12-15 November will see the 51st playing of the Hong Kong Open at The Hong Kong Golf Club. Always a highlight on the local sporting and social calendar, the Open will once again bring together world-class golfers from all corners of the globe for four days of stellar golf. Last year’s event was arguably the most thrilling in Asian professional golf history, with Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang outlasting Rory McIlroy and Francesco Molinari in an extraordinary sudden-death playoff. But it will also be remembered for the achievements of Hong Kong-born Jason Hak. Aged only 14, Jason became the youngest ever player in European Tour history to make the halfway cut, beating Sergio Garcia’s record in the process. Both Lin and Jason’s performances have inspired many more local golfers to take up the sport, which is truly fantastic to witness.
Steven and Stephanie Conjure HK Success at MacGregor Junior Open REPORT BY ALEX JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK LEUNG
—William Chung President HKGA
Lee Captures July Stableford Eric Lee carded five birdies on his way to securing the July Stableford Tournament at Clearwater Bay Golf Club on 7 July. Lee, a 5-handicapper, recorded 31 gross points to pip second-placed Tsui Shun-leung by a point. Timothy Granald Lau finished third on 28 points. In the Nett Division, Terence Lai came out on top with an impressive 43-point haul, closely followed by Kwong Foo-man (42) and Willie Wong (41). Visit www.hkga.com for full results and upcoming event information.
Countback Win for Isabella Ever-improving junior Isabella Leung edged out Betty Chan and Ruby Yim for the June Stableford Tournament at The Hong Kong Golf Club on 8 June. All three finished their rounds over the New Course with 29 gross points, but it was Leung who prevailed thanks to a solid back nine. Another junior, Christy Chong, recorded a remarkable 41 points to clinch the Nett Division by the narrowest of margins from Jeanette Ting, Cindy Yuen and Chiu Kim-kum fi (40). 30
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Young Guns (clockwise from top left): Terrence Ng battled for a top-10 finish; Michelle Cheung led after the first round; Anthony Tam looks an exciting prospect; Chinese Taipei's Peng Chieh; Charles Stone finished strong for a share of third place; Mimi Ho unleashes a drive down the middle.
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teven Lam and Stephanie Ho capped one of the most successful MacGregor Hong Kong Junior O p en’s i n re cent ye a r s w it h convincing wins in their respective divisions early August. In an event traditionally dominated by overseas players, 16-year-old Lam fired stellar rounds of 67 and 69 over the New Course at The Hong Kong Golf Club for a runaway 10-stroke victory in the overall boys’ division. In doing so, the St Joseph’s College student, who is
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also the reigning Hong Kong Close champion, became the first golfer from Hong Kong in 14 years to win the title. “I played pretty solid both days; my iron play and putting were good, and despite the heat I was able to stay in control,” said Lam, who matched former Hong Kong international Ro der ic k St au nton’s w i n i n t he 19 95 championship. “14 years is a long time to have to wait for a Hong Kong win, so I’m delighted it was me.” Thailand’s Pitchakorn Tirakul placed second on a two-day total of 146, while Hong Kong junior international Charles Stone tied for third alongside another Thai, Samarth Dwivedi, a further three strokes adrift. In the girls’ division, Ho, the current Hong Kong Ladies Close champion, fought back brilliantly to capture the title in some style. Carding a lacklustre 83 in the first round, the 16-year-old played almost flawless golf in a final round of 70 to finish six shots ahead of Chinese Taipei’s Peng Chieng in second place. Ho’s great friend Tiffany Chan, who came in to the event with hopes of adding to her Junior Close title, placed third, a further shot back, while Michelle Cheung, the first round leader, placed fifth. “It was a much better day for me,” beamed Ho, who has made a name for herself away from the golf course with appearances on TVB Jade’s popular singing talent show, The Voice. “I lost focus in the first round because of the weather delay but I was much more comfortable out there the second time around.” There was even more success for Hong Kong in the lower age divisions, with the extremely HKGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM
talented Tam siblings – Anthony, Ambrose and Kitty – picking up the boys’ 13-14, boys’ 11-12 and girls’ 11-12 division titles. One expects the Tam trio to feature prominently in many national and international events over the years to come.
BOYS – TOP TEN OVERALL 1 2 3= 5= 6=
10=
Steven Lam Pitchakorn Tirakul Charles Stone Samarth Dwivedi Chepe Dulay Anthony Tam Kasidit Lepkurte Shinichi Mizuno Smithti Teeratrakul Terrence Ng Marcus Lam
HKG THA HKG THA PHL HKG THA HKG THA HKG HKG
(67-69) (76-70) (76-73) (76-73) (79-71) (75-75) (79-72) (72-79) (77-74) (78-74) (78-74)
136 146 149 149 150 150 151 151 151 152 152
(83-70) (81-78) (82-78) (82-79) (79-84) (85-85) (91-80) (86-85) (83-88) (91-80)
153 159 160 161 163 170 171 171 171 181
GIRLS – TOP TEN OVERALL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7=
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Stephanie Ho Peng Chieh Tiffany Chan Michelle Chen Michelle Cheung Jolia Lo Michelle Ho Cheria Heng Mimi Ho Kelly Kung
HKG TPE HKG USA HKG HKG HKG HKG HKG HKG
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