New professional Jason Hak out to match his amateur performances
Hong Kong youngster has made the cut every time he played at Fanling - now he hopes to earn first major pay cheque at home event
As an amateur, Jason Hak Shun-yat appeared three times at the Hong Kong Open and made the cut every time.
The Hong Kong teenager is now looking forward to his first appearance at his home tournament as a professional, and is hoping for a similar result as he looks forward to making some money for the first time in his career.
"I have earned a little bit of money since turning professional two months ago but not enough to mention. Hopefully, I can win something big here," said the 19-year-old Hak, who is looking forward to what he hopes will be a momentous week at the Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling.
Based in Orlando, Florida, the lanky Hak was given an early wake-up call of what life as a professional could be like when he played, and failed, in the European Tour's qualifying school. He is cool about it.
"It showed me I have a lot of work to do which is always good as you always want to improve yourself. And knowing this will help me," said Hak, who made the cut at the Hong Kong Open in 2008, 2009 and 2011.
On his debut, he made history by becoming the youngest player to make the cut in a European Tour event at the tender age of 14 years and 304 days.
Hak will have to keep an eye out for Max Ding who, at 13, could upstage him and break that record if he makes it to the weekend.
Ding and Humphrey Wong, 16, are two promising local amateur golfers who will be playing their maiden Hong Kong Open this week. All that is well past Hak, who despite carrying the weight of becoming a fully fledged professional, says he feels no different.
"It's still golf, no matter whether I'm playing junior golf or amateur golf or pro golf. It's just a name, different tournament with different people playing," says Hak with the nonchalance of youth.
"I feel like I need to be myself, play the same way, as I still have a lot to learn out here. I'm grateful for the Hong Kong Golf Association for giving me the chance to learn out here, which is what a lot of us need."
Hak repaid the faith the association showered on him when in September he helped Hong Kong win a silver medal at the China National Games in Liaoning. Together with James Wong Woon-man, Timothy Tang Tsz-hang and amateur Yeung Mo-tin, Hong Kong secured a landmark result. They finished second behind the host province but the effort was significant considering that they had pipped a Guangzhou team featuring the cream of the mainland's golfing talent, including the number one Liang Wenchong and Zhang Lianwei.
"That was a memorable experience. The fact that I was playing for my country made it different and I was very lucky to be part of the silver medal-winning team. We didn't have too many shots over par and the experience of all of us sticking together was great," Hak said.
This is my first big tournament as a pro and, yes, I will feel some pressure
On Tuesday, Hak rubbed shoulders with fellow teen sensation Guan Tianlang of China as the tournament celebrated its 55th anniversary with a birthday cake provided by the organisers.
The PR machine at this week's tournament has had to work overtime as organisers hailed the event as a "battle of the generations": Hak and Guan, the teens, against defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, 49, and Zhang, 48.
Hak was unfazed by all the attention and being thrown into the limelight. "This is my first big tournament as a pro and, yes, I will feel some pressure. But I'm not too worried. The less pressure you have the better you play, so I always try to keep my mind clear," Hak said. "I have always loved coming back to play in Hong Kong , as the home support I get is the best."
Having turned professional, Hak will not be eligible to play at next year's Asian Games, which is only open to amateurs.
"But I hope I can represent Hong Kong at the Olympics [in 2016]. That would be a dream come true."
