Coming off the back of one of the most impressive results in recent years, national coach Brad Schadewitz believes Hong Kong has what it takes to spring a few surprises at some of golf's most important amateur team events in the autumn.
Ten days ago, the men's team put in a gutsy display to share first place at the fourth edition of the All-China Games in Anhui province.
Spearheaded by 17-year-old Steven Lam Tsz-fung, who claimed third spot in the individual event, Hong Kong finished the 36-hole tournament at Heifei's Yuanyi International Golf Club on seven-under-par, the same score as Yunnan and ahead of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai, the traditional powerhouses of mainland golf.
Sixteen-year-old Liu Lok-tin, the reigning Hong Kong Close Amateur champion, Terrence Ng Shing-fung, 17, and Anthony Tam Hong-yin, 15, made up the youthful side, by far the youngest in the competition.
To round off what was an excellent week, the Hong Kong ladies' team comprising juniors Tiffany Chan Tsz-ching, Stephanie Ho and Michelle Cheung Wing-yee, finished second behind Guangzhou, who fielded members from the China national squad.
'It was a great achievement, one of the best we've ever had,' said American-born Schadewitz, who has been involved with the Hong Kong Golf Association since 2002, joining full-time as national junior coach in 2004.
'No one really expected us to be factor, but the guys showed a lot of determination and spirit and it opened a lot of people's eyes to Hong Kong golf. To finish as the top region in China in the men's category and second in the ladies' is very satisfying. It bodes very well for future international events.'