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Hitting New Heights Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan’s recent hard work paid off with a sensational victory at the China Amateur Open in December, writes Alex Jenkins
Daniel Wong
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Chan, 19, who took a slender one-stroke lead heading into the final round, closed with a 73 over the water-strewn course at Peach Garden Golf Club near Guangzhou to pip China’s Yin Yuan Ru by a shot. Also flying the flag for Hong Kong was Chan’s international teammate, 17-year-old Isabella Leung, who placed third, a further two shots back. Chan’s victory came less than two months after she stunned the field at the Yinli HKPGA Classic, a professional event in Dongguan, by outplaying a string of China LPGA Tour pros to win the title. “It feels pretty good to be the first Hong Kong woman to win the China Amateur,” said Chan, who admitted she hadn’t been at her best heading into the tournament. “The course was very wet and it was cold, but I managed to play well, although I definitely didn't have my putter working as well as I would have liked.” Chan got off to the worst possible start to her final round after being interrupted by photographers at the top of her backswing on her opening drive of the day, which she skewed out of bounds. The resulting double bogey might have thrown a player of lesser character off her stride, but Chan is as resolute as they come and four birdies over the next nine holes saw the former Diocesan Girls’ School student regain her lead, a lead she wouldn’t relinquish. Chan, who finished with a three round total of level par, is heading to the United States early in the new year to continue her education at Redlands Community College in Oklahoma, whose golf team is ranked number one in the region. “I’m excited about going to the US and developing my game over there,” she added.
Chan became the first female golfer from Hong Kong to win the China Amateur; with teammate Isabella Leung, who finished third, at the prize giving ceremony 42
HK Golfer・JAN 2013
iffany Chan held her nerve to become the first female golfer from Hong Kong to win the China Amateur Open thanks to an accomplished performance in Nanhai last month.
HKGOLFER.COM
HKGOLFER.COM
“The hard work that Tiffany has put in the last six months is really paying off,” said national coach Brad Schadewitz, who has worked with Chan on her game for nearly a decade. “The China Open is an important event for all the Hong Kong players and it’s one she has been targeting, so with Isabella also finishing in contention it’s been a really great event for us.” In the men’s championship which was played over four rounds at the same venue, Hong Kong’s Shinichi Mizuno finished in a tie for 12th, 18 shots back of champion Cameron Davis of Australia.
Mixing With the Professionals Just one week after her China Amateur success, Chan took her place in the elite field at the Hyundai China Ladies Open, the country’s most important professional event, after receiving an invitation on the back of her recent form. Co-sanctioned by the China and Korean LPGA Tours, the three-round event, which was held in Xiamen, included a number of notable names, including world number five Shanshan Feng. Without question the most illustrious tournament that Chan has ever played in, the 19-year-old did herself proud, shooting rounds of 76, 72 and 74 for a total of 222 (eight-over) to earn herself a share of 50th spot. South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo won the event with a 54-hole score of 205.
HK Golfer・JAN 2013
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