I'm still learning, insists prodigy Jason Hak
One year on from his Fanling heroics, Jason Hak Shun-yat isn't taking anything for granted when he tees off in today's first round.
It was 12 months ago when Tsim Sha Tsui-born Hak, then 14, made headlines by becoming the youngest ever player to make the cut at a European Tour event - beating the record set by Sergio Garcia 13 years previously.
Hak, who earned a last-minute berth in the event after winning the qualifying tournament at Kau Sai Chau the week before, shot level-par rounds of 70 to make the weekend action before carding a 68 on the final day - in the company of two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal - to finish in a tie for 75th.
That performance earned him a sponsors' invitation into the field this week where he will join eight other local players - amateur Steven Lam Tsz-fung, Derek Fung, Chris Tang Shing-chi, Lokky Lee Man-lok, Jovick Lee Wing-kei, Wong Woon-man, Grant Gibson and William Fung Wai-kuen.
'I'm still a young player and I'm still trying to learn the process of playing tournament golf,' says Hak (pictured), who bases himself in Florida for most of the year. 'Last year was special, but I don't have any expectations this time. It's all about gaining experience.' Lam, who made his debut at the Open last year, is arguably the most in-form of the local contingent. Undoubtedly inspired by Hak's display in the last edition, the St Joseph's College student has raised his game and enters the event full of confidence.
'I think I'm a better player that I was a year ago,' says Lam, who came to Fanling by virtue of his victory at the Hong Kong Amateur Close Championship in February. 'I'm stronger and have more experience playing in high-level amateur and professional tournaments.'
Arguably his most impressive result of the year came in Kyoto last month, where he made the cut at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open, a professional tournament co-sanctioned by the Asian and Japan tours.
Paired with Japanese star Shingo Katayama in the third round, Lam loved playing in front of the enormous galleries and reckons the experience will stand him in good stead when he tees off. 'There's a little more pressure because this is my home Open,' he says. 'But I'll hopefully have a lot of support, and after Japan I'm used to playing in front of a lot of people. I've really been looking forward to this week, so I'm going to go out and aim to make the cut.'
While Hak and Lam represent Hong Kong's ever-increasing number of highly talented young golfers, William Fung, 52, is the second-oldest player at Fanling. Veteran American Mark O'Meara, who like Fung is making his debut at the Open, is eight months older.
Fung, who came through the rigours of qualifying two weeks ago, took up the game only 15 years ago after a career coaching tennis.
'To be honest, I have no expectations whatsoever,' laughs Fung, an instructor at the Garden Farm driving range in Sai Kung. 'There are so many great golfers here that it's just going to be a pleasure to tee it up with them.'
