HONG KONG, September 10, 2013 (HK Golfer News Wire) - A brilliant collective performance earned the Hong Kong men’s team the silver medal at the National Games in Shenyang on Monday.
With three scores out of four counting towards the total, the team – represented by Jason Hak, Wong Woon-man, Timothy Tang and amateur Motin Yeung – carded a four-round score of 851 (15-under-par) to finish 10 shots behind the host province Liaoning who scooped gold.
"The final day was very competitive as at one point we closed the gap against Liaoning to three," said Ducky Tang, golf professional at the Hong Kong Golf Association, who added he was delighted the team was able to hold off the challenge of Guangdong. Hong Kong’s neighbours featured a side which included the formidable pair of Liang Wen-chong and Zhang Lian-wei, China’s top players of the past 15 years.
"We did not realise they were closing so strongly," said Timothy Tang, a former Asian Tour regular in reference to the Guangdong team who finished one behind Hong Kong in third spot. "We just played our own game and in the end it’s a great job accomplished."
US-based Yeung, who has represented Hong Kong at amateur level for the past two years, finished as the SAR’s leading individual. Rounds of 68, 72, 67 and 72 gave him an impressive total of 279, the second lowest of the tournament.
"Congratulations to the team and our coaches, Brad Schadewitz and Ducky Tang, on a tremendous effort," said Tom Phillips, the newly-installed chief executive officer of the HKGA. "Credit must also go to the sponsors of both the HKGA and the HKPGA, the Home Affairs Bureau, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department as well as the golf clubs of Hong Kong. Without their support over the years a result like this would not have been possible. It's a great achievement for Hong Kong golf."
In the women’s event, Hong Kong – represented by Tiffany Chan, Kitty Tam, Mimi Ho and professional Wong Lai – finished in seventh spot. Guangdong, headed by major champion Feng Shanshan, clinched gold with Shanghai and Beijing second and third.