hk open review
Home boys (clockwise from below): William Fung lines up a putt on the second day; a happy Hak after making the cut; Steven Lam (with sister Sharon on the bag) wasn't his usual self at the HKO; Derek Fung battled gamely late on but missed out on the weekend play.
J Jason Does it Again In an otherwise disappointing tournament for local players, teenage amateur Hak makes it two made cuts out of two at the Hong Kong Open STORY BY ALEX JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHARLES McLAUGHLIN
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HK Golfer・Dec 2009/Jan 2010
HKGOLFER.COM
ason Hak’s love affair with Fanling’s Composite Course continued at the Hong Kong Open, with the 15-yearold making the cut for the second successive year. Twelve months ago, Tsim Sha Tsuiborn Hak carded consecutive opening rounds of 70 to become the youngest ever player to make the halfway cut at a European Tour event – surpassing the record set by Sergio Garcia thirteen years previously. This time around, the tall, slender Hak opened up with another 70 in the first round before firing five birdies in a brilliant 67 on the second day to make the weekend action with a shot to spare. Hak, who bases himself in Florida where is coached by noted instructor Mike Bender, was the only Hong Kong player to make the cut. “I played really great,” said a delighted Hak, who finished the event in a tie for 60th after a pair of 72s in the final two rounds. “[The second round] was definitely up there as one of my best ever. Playing in this tournament is such a great experience. It has helped develop me as a player and I really enjoy playing at the Hong Kong Golf Club.” Hak, who earned an invitation into the field from sponsors UBS thanks to his heroics of a year ago, rebounded after a three-putt bogey at the first hole of his second round in fine style with four front nine birdies. Finding every green in regulation, Hak put on a ball-striking exhibition on the back side, his only other error coming at the fourteenth, where he again needed three putts. Coming to the eighteenth, the teenager smashed a drive down the centre of the fairway before hitting a wedge to eight HKGOLFER.COM
HK Golfer・Dec 2009/Jan 2010
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In control: Jason, with the help of his caddiefather, lines up a putt enroute to a brilliant 67 on the second day. 40
feet and then holing the putt for birdie, which 52-year-old debutant William Fung (the he celebrated with a fist-pump, a rare show of second oldest player in the field after American emotion for the normally placid youngster. Champions Tour player Mark O’Meara) “I love that hole,” beamed Hak of the Hong slumped to a 79 on the second day after an Kong’s notorious closer. opening 72. Derek Fung, a veteran on the local Although Hak, whose father doubled up as professional scene, battled gamely late on in his his caddie for the week, only spends a few weeks second round, making three back-nine birdies, of the year in the city of his birth, he said he was but eventually fell three shots short of the cut proud to wear the bauhinia emblazoned on his line, which fell at two-under-par. shirt and was grateful for the encouragement of “I went into the event rusty, and although the local galleries. I played pretty well over the final nine holes I “They’ve shown me tremendous support knew it wasn’t going to be enough,” said Fung. throughout the tournament,” said Hong Kong Player Scores Ha k. “ They ’ve given me a lot of encouragement and they’ve made me 60 Jason Hak (A) 70-67-72-72 281 feel really comfortable out there. I can’t 92 Derek Fung 71-70 ------- MC thank them enough.” 132 Chris Tang 74-74 ------- MC Aside from Hak, Hong Kong’s 135 Jovick Lee 74-76 ------- MC eight other representatives struggled 137 William Fung 72-79 ------- MC in the tournament, which began in 139 Grant Gibson 77-76 ------- MC cold and wet conditions. Highly-rated 140 Steven Lam (A) 78-78 ------- MC Steven Lam, the defending Hong Kong 141 Lokkky Lee 75-83 ------- MC Amateur Close champion, wound up 142 Wong Woon-man 80-80 ------- MC with successive rounds of 78, while
HK Golfer・Dec 2009/Jan 2010
HKGOLFER.COM