hkga
From the President Of the many events the HKGA has hosted since I became President, few have given me as much pleasure to attend as the EFG Bank Junior Tour Grand Final, which took place at the beginning of January at Deep Water Bay. Exclusively for local golfers under the age of 14, the tournament was the climax of the inaugural season of the EFG Bank Junior Tour. Comprising thirteen events – taking place at SkyCity Nine Eagles, the Executive Course at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club and Deep Water Bay – the aim of the tour is to promote junior golf in Hong Kong and to provide official tournament opportunities for developing junior golfers. Judging by the number of entries and the enthusiasm of the young golfers at each of the events, I’m delighted to say the tour has been a resounding success. The HKGA, as many of you will know, has worked hard over the past few years to develop its Junior Development Programme and thanks in part to the tremendous support of EFG Bank we are seeing very satisfying results. Not only have more golf tournaments been added to the HKGA event calendar, we are continuing to see an improvement in the standard of play. This all bodes very well for the years ahead. Over the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, the Hong Kong Amateur Close Championship will take place at The
Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling. Sponsored for a second successive year by Montrose Fine Wines, the tournament brings together the finest male golfers in the city for four rounds of keenly-fought golf. Once again, the winner of the tournament will not only receive a handsome trophy but also a coveted berth into November’s Hong Kong Open, where he will tee it up with some of the world’s best golfers. Last year, Steven Lam captured the title for the first time after a confident and mature performance. Steven, now 16, is a product of the HKGA’s Junior Development Programme and it is my great hope that we’ll see many more junior golfers making a name for themselves in senior level competitions. Finally, a call to all golfers over the age of 55. The MacGregor Hong Kong Senior Close Championship will take place in May at the Hong Kong Golf Club. As this is one of the few exclusively local senior tournaments in Hong Kong, all eligible players are encouraged to enter. The results of the event are an important factor in selecting the seniors’ team to represent Hong Kong at the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation Championship in November. As ever, details will be posted on the HKGA website, www.hkga.com. —William Chung President HKGA
Lok Tin Secures Breakthrough Victory
Strapping 16-year-old Liu Lok-tin won the HSBC China Junior Open in fine style at the end of January, holding off Thailand’s highly-rated Poom Saksansin for the most important win of his amateur career. Big-hitting Liu, who finished second at last year’s Montrose Fine Wines Hong Kong Close Amateur Championship, fired rounds of 68, 71 and 73 over the 7,000+ yard Meilan Golf Club in northern Hainan for a three shot victory. “It was really exciting,” said Liu, who averages close to 295 yards off the tee. “It’s the first time I’ve won an overseas tournament, but I wasn’t too nervous over the final few holes. I was feeling confident and it really feels amazing to have done it.” Thanks to Liu’s efforts, Hong Kong finished fourth in the team competition.
Collins Leads HK to Fourth Place
Terry Collins claimed victory in the 65-69 age division at the Asia Pacific Senior Amateur Golf Championship mid December to help Hong Kong finish the prestigious eight-team event in fourth place, behind winners New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines. Collins carded a three-day total of 226 at the Nexus Golf Resort in Kota Kinabalu to win his group by ten shots from fellow Hong Kong golfer Bertie To, Jr. Wilson Chan (60-64; tied 10th), Walter Kwong (60-64; tied 10th), William Chung (55-59; tied 12th) and Stephen Fung (55-59; tied 24th) were Hong Kong’s other representatives. 38
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Dream Debut Albinski cruises to Seniors Open win at the first attempt REPORT BY ALEX JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHARLES McLAUGHLIN
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Norman Swenson
Mike Grimsdick, Joe Hackler and Alan Evans
Terry Collins
Alan Evans
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Terry Collins
o say that Stefan Albinski enjoyed Collins picked up the 65-69 age division title. his first ever visit to Hong Kong Graham Steele (233) triumphed in the 70 and would be something of an over age category. understatement. The 56-yearSaving his best till last, Albinski, the reigning old, who has been making Australian Seniors Match Play champion who waves in his native Australia opened with rounds of 74 and 72, fired six since graduating to senior level 18 months birdies and five bogies in a one-under-par 70 in ago, cantered to victory at the Hong Kong the third and final round. “It was a bit of an up Seniors Open Amateur Championship in early and down day,” he said, “but it’s a lovely course, December – and had nothing but praise for both very picturesque, and not as straightforward as the city and the tournament. its length might suggest.” “I’m really glad I made the trip over,” Sydney-based Albinski, who plays out of the laughed Albinski, who carded a three-round seaside Mona Vale Golf Club to the north of the total of 216 (six-over-par) over the Old Course city, went on to claim the Asia Pacific Senior at the Hong Kong Golf Club to win by seven Amateur Golf Championship a week later in shots. “[Hong Kong international] Terry Collins Kota Kinabalu for a second successive year and really encouraged me to come and I’ve had such vowed to return to Hong Kong at the end of a fantastic time. In terms of quality, this event is 2010 to defend his title. “It’s such a great place right up there with the best of them. It’s really that I’m definitely going to do my best to come been a wonderful week.” back,” he said. Norman Swenson (223) of the United SENIORS OPEN LEADERBOARD States and former Hong Kong Golf Club, Old Course champion A lan December 2-4, 2009 Evans from Australia AUSTRALIA 1 Stefan ALBINSKI 74-72-70 216 (226) claimed second UNITED STATES 2 Norman SWENSON 76-77-70 223 and third spots in AUSTRALIA 3 Alan EVANS 79-74-73 226 the overall category, HONG KONG 4 Terry COLLINS 76-74-78 228 while in-form Collins finished as the bestHONG KONG 5 Mike GRIMSDICK 76-76-77 229 placed local player, UNITED STATES 6 Joe HACKLER 72-82-76 230 his total of 228 SINGAPORE 7 Douglas OOI 74-76-81 231 clinching solo fourth UNITED KINGDOM 8= Graham STEEL 81-76-76 233 overall. Swenson’s JAPAN Junichi MANAI 74-80-79 233 e f f o r t s g av e h i m HONG KONG 10= Donald MOORE 75-85-74 234 victory in the 60-64 HONG KONG Matajiro NAGATOMI 80-76-78 234 age division, while 40
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Stefan Albinski
Graham Steel
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Bertie To, Jr.
Douglas Ooi
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