On a windswept final day, Hong Kong again got off to a decent start and at one point closed to within three shots of Liaoning, a side that boasted the at times brilliant Hu Mu. Gold wasn’t to be however. Liaoning and Hu finished in style, while Guangdong ran the SAR all the way before having to settle for bronze.
"We didn’t realise they were closing so strongly," said former Asian Tour player Tang, in reference to the Guangdong team who finished just one stroke behind Hong Kong. “We just played our own game and in the end it’s a great job accomplished.”
While Hong Kong were by no means favourites for the National Games, which saw golf included for the very first time thanks to the sport’s re-introduction to the 2016 Olympics, Schadewitz said he was confident of a strong result ahead of the tournament.
"I was excited to see James and Tim playing so well before we left for Shenyang. I knew Jason and Motin were coming in with some good performances under their belts, too, so I really thought we’d have a chance,” said Schadewitz. “We might have surprised a lot of people but we didn’t surprise ourselves."
US-based Yeung, who has represented Hong Kong at amateur level for the past two years and is currently studying at Duke University, finished as the SAR’s leading individual. Rounds of 68, 72, 67 and 72 gave him an impressive total of 279, the third best individual score of the tournament.
"It’s funny because Motin didn’t play all that well in the practice round, but we worked on an old habit that had come back into his swing and he performed when it counted. He was excellent," added Schadewitz.
Given the team’s make-up - HKPGA pros Wong and Tang combining with Hak, who only turned pro a month before the event and amateur Yeung - the side were performing together for the first time and didn’t have long to gel. But the chemistry, said Schadewitz, clearly worked.
"The guys bonded great. In fact everyone - including the girls’ team and the coaches - all got on really well. We were the only medalists to stay in the athletes’ village, which I think helped. There was a real spirit among all the Hong Kong representatives, and it showed on the golf course."
Pages
Click here to see the published article.
