HONG KONG, 8 June 2016, (HK Golfer News Wire) - The 21-year-old amateur, who joined the Hong Kong Golf Club earlier this year, has enjoyed a successful first season representing the University of Southern California on the US college circuit, earning All-American honours last month. But the former World University champion's focus is now on the US$150,000 event Fanling event, which gets underway on Friday on the Old Course, a layout that she knows intimately.
"I have been playing at the Hong Kong Golf Club since I was eight years old, so to compete in this event means a lot to me and all the Hong Kong players," said Chan, who finished in a share of fourth at a China LPGA event in Jiangsu last week. "My form dipped at the beginning of the year but I've been playing a lot better recently, so hopefully I can continue it into the event. I'm very thankful to the Club for giving us all such a great opportunity."
Chan faces a strong international field, which is comprised mostly of LPGA of Taiwan and Ladies Asian Golf Tour members, and will be joined by five fellow local amateurs, including 12-year-old Chloe Chan Cheuk-yee, who was Hong Kong's best performer at April's Queen Sirikit Cup in Jeju, Korea.
Tuen Mun-raised Tiffany, who beat a field of professionals to claim the Future Open in Chinese Taipei last year, is currently an alternate for the 60-woman field for the Rio Games, which sees golf return to the Olympics for the first time in over a century. But a strong performance this week and at the two other professional tournaments she plans to play – in Korea and Chinese Taipei – before the qualifying cut-off on 11 July could see her vault up into the reckoning.
"Everyone is putting their hopes on me fighting for a spot in Rio, but the rankings are always fluctuating - I likely won't know if I make it until the last minute," said Chan, who finished in a share of 13th at the inaugural Hong Kong Ladies Open in 2015. "But whether I do or not, playing in professional events is a great experience for me."