HKGA | KSC JUNIOR OPEN
Keeping His
Cool
Shinichi Mizuno saves final-hole blushes to take Kau Sai Chau Junior Open in a play-off, while Mimi Ho canters to victory in the girls’ division
Daniel Wong
Mizuno had played quite brilliant golf for 17 holes of the final round over the Gary Player-designed North Course at Kau Sai Chau. Standing on the 18th tee, the Nagoya-born, Hong Kong-raised Mizuno was five-under for his round and held a healthy four-stroke advantage over Ng, his playing partner, who had matched him on day one with a 71. But then disaster struck as Mizuno, with driver in hand, lost two balls from the tee – the first was hooked into impenetrable jungle, while the second was pushed
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The second play-off hole would produce a winner, as Ng failed to get up and down, while Mizuno made amends for his earlier implosion by holding a fourfooter for par – and the title. Ng and Mizuno both now qualify for the 2013 Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, which will be played at Mission Hills Golf Club in China next March, where they will join Michael Regan Wong and Justin Lok, who booked their tickets to the world’s biggest golf resort by finishing in the top two spots in the boys’ 13-15 age division. In the girls’ category, the in-form Mimi Ho eased to a comfortable five-stroke win thanks to solid rounds of 73 and 71 in what were extremely stifling conditions. Discovery Bay Golf Club member Ho, 15, who is in a rich vein of form at present, also qualifies for the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, alongside Kitty Tam, Isabella Leung and Cheria Heng.
Overall Boys’ Results 1 2 3 4 5 6= 8=
Shinichi Mizuno *+ Terrence Ng + Jackie Chan Marcus Lam Michael Regan Wong + Justin Lok + Steven Lam Lucas Lam Bibendum Leung Taiga Iwasa
* Wins on second play-off hole + Qualifies for Faldo Series Asia Grand Final
HKGOLFER.COM
Clockwise from top: Terrence Ng, who carded a final round of one-under 71, receives his prize for winning the Faldo Series Asia Hong Kong qualifying event from Kau Sai Chau’s Paul Riley; all the medalists from the now TV Presents 2012 Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Junior Open; Shinichi Mizuno recovered gamely from his quadruple bogey eight on the final hole of regulation to seal victory at the Kau Sai Chau Junior Open in a play-off over Ng
Overall Girls’ Results 72 71 72 71 74 72 79 71 75 76 80 72 76 76 80 73 78 75 76 77
143 143 146 150 151 152 152 153 153 153
1 2= 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Mimi Ho + Kitty Tam + Isabella Leung + Emily Vickie Leung Cheria Heng + Carrie-Ann Lee Michelle Ho Andrea Au Lin Jiaxin Carol Ho
73 71 78 71 72 77 76 74 76 78 78 79 80 78 79 82 79 83 79 84
144 149 149 150 154 157 158 161 162 163 Alex Jenkins
S
hinichi Mizuno overcame a horrific final hole in regulation to defeat Terrence Ng in a sudden-death play-off to win overall boys’ honours at the now TV Presents 2012 Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Junior Open in early August.
right into waist-high rough. The resulting quadruple bogey eight – the dreaded “snowman” – meant extra holes after Ng made a solid par. Returning to the par-five 1st – the first playoff hole – both players, who are international teammates, hit good drives, but it was Mizuno who took the advantage after firing a brilliant three-iron from 220 yards to within eight feet of the pin to set up an eagle chance. But again, Ng survived, this time after pitching to within a couple of feet of the hole for a cast-iron birdie, while Mizuno saw his putt for a three drift by the hole. The second hole played – the demanding parfour 9th – would produce a winner, however, as Ng failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker, while Mizuno made amends for his earlier implosion by holing a four-footer for par – and the title. “I probably didn’t need to hit driver down the last,” said a visibly relieved Mizuno, who won the Hong Kong Amateur Close title in 2011. “I thought I was in control of the situation but those two drives nearly cost me. But aside from that I played well throughout the tournament and am glad to come away with the win.” Ng, who like Mizuno had only just returned from the Hong Kong Golf Association’s junior squad’s summer tour of the United States and was feeling the effects of jetlag, didn’t leave Kau Sai Chau empty-handed, as his performance was good enough to win the Faldo Series Asia Hong Kong qualifying event, which was played concurrently with the Junior Open, on count back. The Faldo Series, unlike the Junior Open, is decided over 36 holes and play-off results are not counted.
+ Qualifies for Faldo Series Asia Grand Final
HK Golfer・SEP 2012
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