hkga
From the President My year-long term as president of the Hong Kong Golf Association comes to an end this month, and I would like to take this opportunity to talk about an eventful, interesting and rewarding last twelve months. Firstly, the Hong Kong Open. A fter negotiations with the European and Asian Tours, we have agreed that they will be a partner of our prestigious national championship for the next three years. The HKGA will have direct control of the tournament and this arrangement will be more beneficial in terms of revenue earning for the association. As announced last month, UBS - Private Wealth Management has agreed to be the title sponsor of the championship for 2010 and 2011. Personally speaking, I look forward to witnessing more of the exciting finishes that the tournament has become famous for. One of our key objectives at the HKGA has been to promote junior golf throughout Hong Kong and to identify potential players that are equipped with the natural talent to excel in the game. To that end, the past year has been a successful one. Just last month, the Hong Kong men's and ladies' teams - which were represented entirely by junior golfers - finished first and second at the fourth edition of the All China Games. This was a remarkable result and shows the great strides that have been made in junior golf in recent times. Other successful events include the Lion City Cup and the Santi Cup - Southeast Asia's international team events for junior boys and ladies - where Hong Kong recorded two third place finishes, the first time Hong Kong had won medals in the tournaments.
There were also many noteworthy performances in the individual events. Liu Lok-tin defeated a very strong field to win the HSBC China Junior Open, and then just two weeks later brilliantly won the Montrose Fine Wines Hong Kong Close Amateur Championship, which Steven Lam had won the year before. Lam secured top three finishes at the Lion City Cup and All China Games, and started brightly at the Asian Amateur Championship before fading over the last nine holes. Not to be outdone, Tiffany Chan compiled one of the lowest totals in Hong Kong ladies' golf history enroute to winning the Hong Kong Ladies' Close Amateur Championship. My thanks to all the staff, especially National Coach Brad Schadewitz and Golf Development Manager Michael Ip for all the hard work they have put into making our junior training programme a success. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank EFG Bank for their generous support. As a result, we are now able to provide more training and tournament participation opportunities for young golfers in Hong Kong. This is obviously crucial to the development of golf in the city. Thanks, too, to all the golf clubs for their cooperation with the HKGA. Without their generosity our squad players would not have achieved such good results. Whether it's the use of the clubs' practice facilities or being able to secure tee times for national team training, their help and understanding has proved invaluable. Finally, I would like to welcome Ning Li, the incoming president. I wish him all the success in leading the HKGA to the next level. —William Chung President HKGA
HKO: UBS Extends Sponsorship The Hong Kong Open was given a boost last month with the news that banking giant UBS will continue as title sponsor of the tournament at the Hong Kong Golf Club from November 18-21, 2010. UBS has been title sponsor of the event since 2006 during which time it has overseen a substantial rise in the tournament’s prize money – from US$1.2 million in 2006 to the US$2.5 million figure which will be on offer at Fanling in five months time. HKGA Chief Executive Iain Valentine said: “On behalf of the HKGA I would like to express our delight and appreciation to UBS for extending its commitment to the Hong Kong Open. UBS has helped turned the championship into a world-class golf event and their continued involvement is excellent news for Hong Kong.”
HK Respectable at Queen Sirikit Cup Hong Kong, represented by Tiffany Chan, Stephanie Ho and Kitty Lam (seen here with Ladies’ Captain Margaret Hamilton), finished the Queen Sirikit Cup – the Asia-Pacific Ladies’ Team Amateur Championship – in ninth place out of the 12 teams competing early April. The teenage trio finished on a three-day total of 452 over the Hamilton Golf Club course in New Zealand, which was 32 strokes behind winners Korea (420). The host nation finished second (427), seven shots behind, with Australia taking third spot (430). Hong Kong finished ahead of Singapore, India and Malaysia. The highlight of the week was undoubtedly Chan’s brilliant final round of three-under-par 69, which helped move her into 14th place in the individual competition. “The girls did well against extremely tough opposition,” said National Coach Brad Schadewitz. 42
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Master Class Tiffany Chan romps to victory at the Ladies' Close Amateur Championship REPORT BY ALEX JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHARLES McLAUGHLIN & KING LAI
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All smiles: A sparkling final two rounds earned Chan her first Ladies Close title...
...and a hug from 2009 winner Stephanie Ho
D
espite having been Hong Kong's most consistent female golfer in recent years, Tiffany Chan had never scooped the top prize in local ladies’ golf. That all changed however, thanks to a near flawless display over the scenic links at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club. Quite frankly, the 16-year-old Diocesan Girls’ School student, who had Hong Kong international Steven Lam Tsz-fung caddie for her on the final day, was in a class of her own as she tacked on two sub-par rounds to an opening 72 to win the coveted title by a mammoth 14 strokes. Chan, who has won numerous junior titles at both home and abroad in recent times, carded an impressive six birdies in a twounder-par final round of 68 to seal victory over reigning champion Stephanie Ho in second place. Ever-improving Mimi Ho, who would go on to win the MacGregor Hong Kong Junior Close Championship over the same layout just three weeks later, placed third, a further two strokes adrift. “I’m very happy I finally won it,” beamed Chan, who has come close in the past two editions of the tournament. “All parts of my game were solid and thanks to Steven, who helped me read the greens, I putted much better on the final day. It’s been a very fun week.” Three solid rounds gave Franziska Hu top honours in the Mid Amateur division. Her three-day total of 238 was 12 strokes better than Sunny Kang who placed second. Ruby Yim claimed third spot on countback from Jane Lo. For the full results visit www.hkga.com
Franziska Hu, the Mid Amateur champ, receives her prize from incoming HKGA president Ning Li
Kitty Tam unleashes a drive down the tenth
Michelle Cheung in action
HK LADIES CLOSE LEADERBOARD
Mimi Ho ackowledges the crowd after her fine showing
Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club March 17-19, 2010
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Tiffany CHAN Stephanie HO Mimi HO Isabella LEUNG Kitty TAM Michelle CHEUNG Kimberly WONG Cheria HENG Tiana Gwenn LAU
72-69-68 72-74-77 77-73-75 78-78-72 79-78-74 85-78-72 84-80-77 82-82-80 88-81-81
Stephanie Ho lines up a putt on the back-nine
209 223 225 228 231 235 241 244 250
MID AMATEUR DIVISION ONE RESULTS 1 2 3 3 5
Franziska HU Sunny KANG Ruby YIM* Jane LO Felicia LOUEY
77-82-79 86-81-83 88-86-79 84-82-87 83-85-87
238 250 253 253 255
* Claimed third on countback
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Tiffany Chan contemplates her tee shot on the tough third
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