Youngest European Tour Qualifier

Thirteen-year-old Guan Tian Lang has qualified for the Volvo China Open, becoming the youngest ever qualifier for a European Tour event

Guan Tian Lang tees off at the par-5 12th in qualifyingHONG KONG, April 14, 2012 - When he tees it up in Tianjin next week, Guan will break the existing record of 13 years & 280 days set by Lo Shih-kai at our very own Hong Kong Open in 2003. Guan will set the new mark at 13 years and 177 days.

His next target is to break the record for the youngest player to make the cut at a European Tour event, set by local hero Jason Hak at the Hong Kong Open in 2009. Jason was 14 years and 304 days when he broke the record previously held by Sergio Garcia, giving Guan well over a year to achieve this feat.

In March, Guan competed in the Faldo Series Asia, winning the Mission Hills Trophy as highest finisher from the mainland, and in 3rd place overall, despite being 3 years younger than the winner. Later this year he'll be playing in the grand final in Northern Ireland, hoping to emulate past winners Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng.

Currently ranked 153rd in the R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking, the Guangzhou-born youngster burst onto the international scene with a stunning 11-shot victory in his age group at the Callaway Junior World Championships last summer. He is the current China Amateur Open champion and seems certain to rise rapidly through the rankings in the coming months.