Scenic Showdown

Hong Kong juniors fared well at the Junior Open but concede top prizes to Taiwanese and Thai players

Taiwan's Tsai Tsung-yu claimed his first MacGregor Hong Kong Junior Open Championship title with a convincing final-round display at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in mid August. Tsai followed up a first round of 69 with a level-par 70 over the scenic cliff-top layout to win the boys' division by three shots from Jonathan Lai of the United States, who closed with a brilliant 67. Thailand's Smithti Teeratrakul placed third, a further three strokes adrift. With Hong Kong missing four potential starters because of Nomura Cup duties in Fiji, Bibendum Leung raised local hopes with a solid 72 on the second day. The round enabled Leung to finish in solo fifth spot, 10 shots off the pace. Thailand’s Sathikia Ruenreong staged a remarkable comeback to take the honours in the girls' event. After recording a lacklustre 78 on day one, the 17-year-old roared to a three-shot win thanks to an almost blemish-free 68. China's Yin Zi-jun placed second, with Isabella Leung left flying the flag for the SAR. A final round 74 gave her a highly credible third. It proved to be a disappointing tournament for pre-event favourite Tiffany Chan however. The Diocesan Girls' School student, who placed fifth in the World Junior Championship in San Diego just a month ago, looked out of sorts throughout and finished eight strokes off the pace.

Overall Boys’ Division

1 Tsai Tsung-yu TWN 69 70 139
2 Jonathan Lai USA 75 67 142
3 Smithi Teeratrakul THA 72 74 146
4 Jordan Smith THA 72 76 148
5 Bibendum Leung HKG 77 72 149
6= Linus Lo HKG 75 76 151
Michael Regan Wong HKG 75 76 151
8 Tong Jiang HKG 76 77 153
9= Ng Hon-lam HKG 77 77 154
Jackie Chan HKG 73 81 154

 

Overall Girls’ Division

1 Sathika Ruenreong THA 78 68 146
2 Yin Zi-jun PRC 75 73 148
3 Isabella Leung HKG 75 74 149
4 Nattapan Siritrai THA 73 77 150
5= Pimchanok Kawil THA 80 73 163
Michelle Ho HKG 77 76 163
Chen Yu-ju TWN 76 77 163
8 Tiffany Chan HKG 76 78 164
9 Mimi Ho HKG 80 76 166
10 Kitty Tam HKG 80 77 167
 

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