Dominant Duo

April's Hong Kong Junior Close Championship was highlighted by fine performances by two youngsters nearing the peak of their game

Lucas Lam and Kitty Tam were the big winners at the Hong Kong Junior Close Championship, which was held at Fanling late last month.

Lam, 17, fired a one-over-par 71 over the New Course in gusty conditions to reel in overnight leader Justin Lok and take the boys' title for the first time. The International Christian School student's two-day total of 141 (one-over) was good enough for a four-stroke victory over Lok, the 2013 champion, who had to settle for second place. Isaac Lam and Michael Regan Wong shared third spot, a further shot adrift.

"I've been hitting the ball really well and my short game has been good," said Lam, who won last year's Hong Kong Junior Open by an impressive 10 shots. "It feels great to have both titles and it's reward for all the practice I've been putting in. I had my putter to thank out there. I kept holing putts which kept my momentum going."

In the girls' division, 17-year-old Tam continued her recent domination in local events by romping to a 14-stroke victory. A stellar two-under-par 70 on day one preceded a rollercoaster 75 - a round which included an eagle, three birdies and a triple bogey - as Tam followed up her win in February's Hong Kong Ladies' Close Amateur Championship in style.

"I've got a lot of confidence in my game right now, which allowed me to play without any pressure," said the Diocesan Girls' School student, who has verbally accepted an offer of a full golf scholarship from San Diego State University.

Sisters Emily Vickie and Estee Vivian Leung finished in second and third place respectively.

Boys' Division Results

1 Lucas Lam 70 71 141
2 Justin Lok 69 76 145
3= Isaac Lam 73 73 146
    Michael Regan Wong 71 75 146
5 Tan Lou 73 75 148
6 Yue Yin-ho 74 75 149
7= Chris Mun 76 74 150
     Taichi Kho 73 77 150
     Humphrey Wong 73 77 150
10= Max Ting 77 74 151
      Leon D'Souza 70 81 151

Girls' Division Results

1 Kitty Tam 70 75 145
2 Emily Vickie Leung 80 79 159
3 Estee Vivian Leung 79 81 160
4= DeeDee Wong 80 81 161
     Andrea Au 80 81 161
     Tiana Gwenn Lau 78 83 161
7= Gabrielle Desombre 85 82 167
     Queenie Lai 83 84 167
9 Cheryl Man 87 83 170
10 Shanice Lam 87 84 171
11 Hu Jing 88 84 172

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