Hong Kong; October 30, 2017: Chinese sensation Yuxin Lin, 17, will compete in this week’s Clearwater Bay Open days after his life-changing victory in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) in New Zealand.

Lin, who only turned 17 on October 12, was the top amateur at last year’s Clearwater Bay Open but returns to Hong Kong a far more experienced and accomplished player after a year in which he has shone in several pro events and now captured one of the biggest titles in amateur golf.

The winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur has always earned a spot in the Masters the following year, but this year, for the first time, the champion also secured a spot in The Open, which will be held at Carnoustie in 2018.

“It was an amazing feeling, probably the best feeling I’ve ever had. I’m just really excited that I made it to the Masters and The Open. I was a little speechless but just really excited,” said Lin, one of four Chinese players in the top five at Royal Wellington Golf Club.

“I’m quite confident going to Clearwater Bay, and I hope I have another good week in Hong Kong. I’ll definitely be more confident after the win in New Zealand. I’ve built up a lot of confidence over the last three weeks.”

Lin was only 16 when he made the cut at the European Tour’s Shenzhen International in April and this month finished seventh in the European Challenge Tour’s Hainan Open and recorded an albatross on his 72nd hole at the Asian Tour’s Macao Open.

On Sunday in New Zealand, Lin led by one going into the final round of the AAC and was level with countryman Andy Zhang with two holes to play. Lin then drove the green on the 361-yard, par-4 17th and eagled the par-5 18th to close with a 6-under-par 65 and secure a three-stroke victory over Zhang.

Last month, he made his Japan Golf Tour debut, and in late November he will play in the Australian Open for the second time.

In November 2016, Lin tied for 59th in the inaugural Clearwater Bay Open after rounds of 78-65-74-68. He believes he can improve on that this week.

“It’s a great golf course with beautiful views, but there are a couple of tough holes with tricky tee shots; especially 15, and 18 are pretty tough when they’re into the wind,” said Lin. “Last year I had a couple of bad holes in the first round. I had a triple bogey on 15 when I hit a pretty good tee shot, but [the ball] hit a sprinkler and I couldn’t find it.

“My long game definitely helps at Clearwater Bay, but you still need to have a good short game and make putts,” he added.

Lin’s compatriot Cheng Jin, who finished fifth at this year’s AAC, is also in the field two years after winning the AAC at Clearwater Bay in 2015. The 19-year-old remains the only amateur to have won a PGA TOUR-China event, taking the 2014 Nine Dragons Open outside Shanghai.

Hong Kong No. 1 Jason Hak will spearhead home hopes, with his confidence boosted by winning his first pro title in August.

Australia’s Daniel Nisbet will defend his title while other PGA TOUR-China winners include two-time champions Taewoo Kim of South Korea and Gunn Charoenkul of Thailand, and Canadians Justin Shin and Eugene Wong.

Brazilian Lucas Lee, who played PGA TOUR-China in 2014, the Web.com Tour in 2015 and the PGA TOUR in 2015-16, will make his Clearwater Bay Open debut.

Since 2003, The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club has been committed to its Community Outreach Program, an initiative aimed at strengthening neighbourhood ties, preserving the environment and upholding family values while working with charity partners to organise and raise funds for different sectors of people in the community.

Information source : i3 Sports / Clearwater Bay Open