Last year's Hong Kong Open was highlighted not only by Ian Poulter's terrific performance in holding off a world-class field to win the title, but also by the play of Hong Kong's Shinichi Mizuno, the 16-year-old amateur who was making his debut in the championship.
Mizuno, who had made it through the rigours of the qualifying tournament to earn his spot at Fanling, carded solid rounds of 73 and 70. And although those scores meant he narrowly missed out on making the weekend action, he'll get another chance this year having once again made into the field.
Amateurs making headlines at the UBS Hong Kong Open has been one of the tournament's recurring themes. At the 2008 edition, Tsim Sha Tsui-born Jason Hak became the youngest player in the history of the European Tour to make the cut when he achieved the feat at the tender age of 14. And just to prove to everyone that that performance wasn't a one off, Hak went out and did exactly the same thing a year later, his second-round 67 thrilling the large galleries at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
An energised Mizuno, who booked his UBS Hong Kong Open place thanks to an impressive win at the Hong Kong Close Amateur Championship earlier this year, will be hoping he can match the accomplishments of his international teammate.
"I think my expectations have changed slightly from last year," said the now 17-year-old Mizuno, who attends West Island School. "This year my goal is to definitely make the cut and I really want to be the lowest amateur. My game has improved greatly in the last 12 months as well and I am anxious to see how I will perform at this high a level.
"Last year I was a little overwhelmed seeing people like Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell on the practice putting green at the same time as me. But once the golf started I was OK and one of the highlights of the week for me was playing alongside Anthony Kang when he shot 61 in the second round."
Mizuno, who will be joined at Fanling by fellow amateurs Ron Totton – who made it through the qualifying tournament at the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau in October – and Hong Kong Amateur Open champion Huang Yongle of China, has enjoyed a superb season.
After his breakthrough win over the Lunar New Year holiday, the Nagoya-born Mizuno, who only took up golf five years ago, claimed the Hong Kong Junior Close title and performed admirably for Hong Kong at the Asia Pacific Amateur Golf Team Championship (the Nomura Cup) in Fiji.
But it was at the 51st Putra Cup in September, which Hong Kong hosted for the first time since 2002, where Mizuno really excelled.
Held at the scenic Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club, Mizuno spearheaded a brilliant local challenge for the Southeast Asia Amateur team title, which Hong Kong had not won since the inaugural staging of the tournament in 1961. Firing a superb 68 in the final round, Mizuno finished in second place in the individual standings, a position matched by his team in the main event, which saw Hong Kong – also represented by Hak, Liu Lok-tin and Terrence Ng – narrowly lose out to Singapore.
That experience, says National Coach Brad Schadewitz, will stand Mizuno in good stead.
"Over the last year he has a lot more experience playing bigger events and is now more used to being in a host of pressure situations," said Schadewitz. "The more times you are in those situations the easier it is. Right now though, Shinichi is balancing his golf with his studies and being a full-time student. But he has a pure golf swing and certainly has enough game to be competitive. This should be another great experience for him."
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