junior golf
Maroon and Gold: Tiffany has worn her new colours with pride at recent tournaments
The Next Stage
Having secured a golf scholarship to the prestigious Arizona State University, former junior standout Tiffany Chan talks about an exciting new phase in her amateur career
U
Daniel Wong
nwavering determination and one heck of a golf game – these are just two of Tiffany Chan's many attributes. But having dominated the local golfing scene over the past few years she is now ready to take her game overseas. Chan, 18, recently received word from Arizona State University that they wanted her to be a part of their "Sun Devils" golf team. Chan accepted their offer – and for those who know their college golf, her decision makes enormous sense. 50
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Alumni from ASU include Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey, Billy Mayfair, Grace Park and Anna Nordqvist, and the college has a track record to match the names of their illustrious former students. The women's golf team has won the NCAA Championship a staggering 13 times; they have had nine individual national champions, 70 All-Americans, eight LPGA major winners HKGOLFER.COM
and have claimed 78 team championships since 1982. Needless to say, ASU is considered among the premier golf colleges in the world. This is what Chan, who will be teeing it up in the college's famous maroon and gold from August next year, had to say about what is undoubtedly going to be a very special time of her life: I was so excited and happy that I performed well at the Callaway Junior World Championships this summer. I knew it was my last chance to really impress college coaches, and it was really important to me. I talked to ASU coach, Melissa Luellen, right after my round and it was then when she offered me the chance to be a Sun Devil. I gave her a call a few days later to accept. It has been my dream to play college golf, and it has come true. I could not be happier. The process of gaining a college scholarship can be confusing, nerve wracking and exciting – all at the same time. I just tried to show all of the coaches my best whenever I had the opportunity. I have been in contact with ASU for almost a year prior to their offer, so we were constantly emailing each other. They had told me that they were looking forward to seeing me compete in the Junior World, so I knew that would be my big chance to make my collegiate golf dreams come true. Brad [Schadewitz, the national coach] really helped me a lot in communicating with the coaches. I know that it would not have been possible without him. ASU is a traditional golf school and very well known. The fact that so many successful golfers have come from ASU is a testament to their team and to the programme they have in place. They even have their own golf course! This will make it much easier for me to practice, improve, and pursue my dream. As everyone knows, practice facilities, especially ones with real grass are hard to come by in Hong Kong. I’ve been dreaming about going to the US to play college golf since I was 14, which was the first year the HKGA junior squad went on their summer tour. That year I came in fourth at the Junior World Championship, and I really started to think that I could do it. But I never actually thought that my dream would come true. A few days before this year's Junior World, I was talking to Brad and I asked him why ASU wanted me on their team. Brad laughed and said, "why not?" It just seems so unreal to me, but I am really looking forward to representing Hong Kong in Arizona. A SU 's of fer ha s rea l ly i ncrea sed my confidence. I do not believe in success without hard work; the harder you work, the more successful you will be. I will make sure to work my absolute hardest so that I will not let down HKGOLFER.COM
my family, Brad and all the HKGA staff, as well as my teammates who have supported me over the years. This is a really big step towards my ultimate goal of playing on the LPGA Tour. At ASU I hope to win an NCAA team championship and to really improve my game. I will be practicing every day with the team, in addition to working out three times per week. It will be a very busy schedule, but I know that it is necessary if we are going to be successful. I’m not entirely sure what I will study at ASU – I’m still deciding – but most likely it will be something to do with business. I know that golf seems so boring to a lot of people, but obviously I don't agree with that! Golf has changed my life in so many ways; the way I approach and solve problems, the way I treat people, the way I work with others, my manners, and my positive outlook on life. I still remember the first time I played on a real golf course. I shot 138. Back then I would never have thought that in just 10 years I would be on the team of such an elite golfing school as ASU. Time has just flown by. I can also clearly remember the first junior tournament I played in. It was the 2002 Junior Close at Clearwater Bay, where I ended up finishing in fourth. Just a few weeks ago I finished my last junior event there, the Junior Open. I didn’t play my best, but I really enjoyed the tournament. It is just so surreal to think that I am basically done with my junior golf career. Although this chapter of my life may be closing, I am extremely excited about the next four years playing golf as a Sun Devil. I will work extremely hard to make everyone who has supported me proud, and I plan on representing Hong Kong in any tournament that I can. It is always an honour to wear the Hong Kong shirt in competition – once a team member, always a team member! That will never change. –As told to David Cunningham III
"It is always an honour to wear the Hong Kong shirt in competition – once a team member, always a team member! That will never change."
Sporting School – Arizona State University Located in the metropolitan area of downtown Phoenix, Arizona State University is the largest university in the United States by enrollment. It is currently made up of just over 70,000 students that reside on 6.2 square kilometers of total campus space. The university offers a variety of programs to its students, including engineering, journalism, business, and law. ASU is a Division One school and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. It is one of the most respected universities athletically in the United States. The school has won 23 NCAA National Championships, nine of which have been in golf. The athletic facilities at ASU match its impressive championship record. The Karsten Golf Course – named after Karsten Solheim, the founder of equipment company PING, who largely funded the project – is ASU’s own and lies in the shadow of the famous 74,000-seat Sun Devil stadium, where the college's American football teams plays. The course is a links-style layout designed by Pete Dye and will provide the perfect place for Tiffany and her teammates to hone their skills in the years ahead.—DC III
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