The strength of local junior golf was put into sharp perspective at the Masters Golf Fashion Hong Kong Open Amateur Championship as Liu Lok-tin recorded a brilliant victory at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club.
The 17-year-old, who started the final round two shots behind overnight leader Mark Leich of Australia, overcame a shaky start to record a one-over-par 71 and claim victory by four shots over Singapore's Jerome Ng in second. Liu finished on a four-round total of 285 (five-over-par) to replicate the achievements of Tang Man-kee, who was the last local player to lift the national amateur open silverware in 1989.
"It's a very special feeling," said the long-hitting Liu, a product of the Hong Kong Golf Association's junior development programme. "I was nervous at the beginning of my round, but managed to relax and get into a rhythm. Honestly, I'm a little surprised but I couldn't be happier."