Hong Kong hopefuls lining up for a tilt at Open glory

The talent emerging from the local golf scene is well represented at this year’s Link Hong Kong Open, with nine players in the field for the US$2m event, the eighth leg of The International Series, which takes place from 21-24 November.

Taichi Kho needs little introduction after winning the World City Championship at the Hong Kong Golf Club last year. The 24-year-old, an Asian Games gold medalist, is a regular on the 10 elevated Asian Tour events that offer a pathway to LIV Golf.

The International Series also offers a pathway for local and regional talent to compete against the world’s best, and this week Kho is joined by four players from the professional ranks and four leading amateurs who all hope to use local knowledge going into the tournament.

Michael Regan Wong, one of two players to book his place in the tournament via a two-round qualifier at the course last month, is a Trainee PGA Professional working out of the Hong Kong Golf Club.

The 27-year-old showed his talent with a first-round 64 but needed a 12-foot clutch putt on 18 on day two to book his spot alongside Terrence Ng, who had Kho on the bag for the two rounds.

Lining up in a field with three Major champions, big names from the LIV Golf League and Asian Tour stars battling it out for vital points in The International Series Rankings race and Asian Tour Order of Merit, Wong is doubling down on home advantage.  

Aside from his own course knowledge, he will have another ace up his sleeve - fellow HKGC pro Steven Lam is on the bag this weekend.

Wong said: “He's a good player, too. So, with things like club selection, reading greens, even that extra 10% could be a great help.

“I’ve been working and trying to find time to practice. My form has been okay, and I’m just trying to prepare the best I can. It's never going to be perfect so this week it’s about enjoying every moment and having fun. I’m thrilled to be here and there are some great players playing an amazing golf course.”

Wong last played the tournament ten years ago as a 17-year-old in the edition won by Scott Hend, an experience he likened to being “a kid in a candy shop”.

He recently had the benefit of some top-level experience after qualifying for the SJM Macao Open, an Asian Tour tournament which featured Open champion Brian Harman and Australian Min Woo Lee.

He said: “The whole week was great, just seeing some great players and being able to play amongst them and play – it is really just playing against the golf course, but then also seeing them there, it's really cool.”

The other local players representing Hong Kong in the field this week are Leon D’Souza, Shun Yat Hak and the amateur quartet of Wang Ngai Shen, Isaac Lee, Alexander Yang and Timothy Chan.

D’Souza has a real air of confidence going into the weekend after qualifying through his position on the Hong Kong PGA Order of Merit standings.  

He said: “There's no place like home and it's nice to be back and playing on a course I'm familiar with and getting to see a lot of familiar faces. It only happens once a year so I’m just looking forward to being somewhere I'm comfortable.

“I just tell myself that at the end of the day, my game is good enough to be here. So, it is good enough to contend in a tournament like this. All the other players are trying to do the same thing, trying to do the best that they can do. That's why we practice, and you tee it up and see how it goes on Thursday.”

D’Souza has lofty ambitions – he’s hoping to make the step up to the Asian Tour in the near future, with the dream scenario being to earn a place through a sensational week in his home tournament.

“That's my next goal - to get full status on the Asian Tour,” he said. “If you have a good week this week, then that takes care of it. I'm playing final stage (Q School) next month so we'll see how that goes. But you can't force anything. You can't think too far ahead. You just have to take it day by day, do the best that you can do, and see where that gets you.”

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