Huang Yongle put together one of the most impressive rounds in recent HKGA event history enroute to securing his first Masters Golf Fashion Hong Kong Open Amateur Championship title in mid October – and with it, a spot in next month's Hong Kong Open, where he'll tee it up alongside a host of European and Asian Tour stars.
Eighteen-year-old Huang fired an astonishing 10-under-par 62 in the second round of the curtailed championship at Discovery Bay Golf Club, a round that contained an eagle and eight birdies.
Huang, who is based at the Chung Shan Hot Spring Golf Club in Guangdong and is mentored by China's number one professional Liang Wen-chong, finished with a three-round total of 207 (nine-under-par) to cruise to a 14-shot triumph.
Poor weather on the second day meant the normally 72-hole event was reduced to 54 holes, with the preferred lies ruling in force for the final two rounds. This meant that Huang's 62 couldn't be counted as a new course record, not that the long-hitting Huang was too concerned.
"I'm really excited at the prospect of playing at Fanling with the professionals," exclaimed Huang after the last putt had dropped. "[The 62] is the lowest round I've ever had. Things went my way; I holed a lot of putts and my irons were very solid. I wasn't thinking too much, which helped a lot, I think."
Huang, the number one ranked amateur on the mainland, was followed on the leader board by a resurgent Steven Lam, who battled back gamely after a shocking start to his final round. Hong Kong's Lam, 18, who held a share of the first round lead before Huang's second-day fireworks, overcame a disastrous 11 on the par-five sixth with seven birdies in a closing 76. Park Nam-kyu, from Switzerland, placed third, a further shot adrift, in the overall category but managed to scoop the Mid Amateur title, which is awarded to the best performing player over the age of 25.—Alex Jenkins
Final Standings
1 Huang Yongle CHN 72 62 73 207
2 Steven Lam HKG 71 74 76 221
3 Park Nam-kyu SUI 74 74 74 222
4= Xiao Jie-yu CHN 72 79 73 224
Vikrant Chandra FIJ 71 75 78 224
6 Charles Davies SIN 74 71 80 225
7= Tang Kei-hin HKG 77 72 78 227
Sebastian Lorenzo PHL 73 76 78 227
9 Michael Stott HKG 74 76 78 228
10= Neil Keating HKG 76 78 75 229
Ronald Totton HKG 74 75 80 229
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