LC: What’s on your mind at the end of second round, knowing you were in a good position to make the cut?
MC: It was very nerve-wracking, but it’s also exciting for the fact that I actually have a chance to make the cut. I finished early because I teed off in the morning. I went to practice in the afternoon, just to keep my mind off from the nerve. I ended up at tied 65th, just literally on the number. Dean (Nelson, Golf Director of Hong Kong Golf Club) was texting me as he was watching the guy who was one over, playing the last hole. He’s the only one who can get to even to kick out all the one-over guy. Dean told me, “he hits to the left into the trees at the 18th. You should probably make the cut.”
LC: Your girlfriend Kaitlin has moved to Hong Kong from the U.S. recently. Does she play a big part in your performance?
MC: It’s really nice having her here. She’s really been supportive of me. She came with me in the final round at 5am to the golf course. Not many people would do that, you know. She’s a competitive athlete as well.
LC: What will be your next goal after the Hong Kong Open?
MC: I will be playing the PGA Tour of Australasia Q-School in December. I will also play the Asian Tour Q-School in mid-December. This year is not over yet. A big goal for me is to get my tour card for 2019.
The other four locals to play in the Hong Kong Open – Steven Lam, Ben Wong, Alvin Cheung and Jonathan Lai – all missed the cut by considerable margins, with Cheung and Lam finishing on seven over after the opening two days. Wong carded a 13-over-par, while Lai finished on 20 over.
