[SCMP Archive] Young golf champ continues to impress
Hong Kong International School pupil Scoot Rowe has always been a willing learner. And the national junior champion believes he can benefit greatly from the latest important lesson in his golfing education.
![[SCMP Archive] Young golf champ continues to impress](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1200x800/public/2016/12/14/hkis_22.jpg?itok=gYn17UMJ)
[First published on Jun 24, 1990] Hong Kong International School pupil Scoot Rowe has always been a willing learner. And the national junior champion believes he can benefit greatly from the latest important lesson in his golfing education.
Rowe, 15, finished a creditable sixth out of 35 in last week’s Asia-Pacific Junior Championship in Indonesia.
It was an excellent performance from Hong Kong’s sole entrant who carded rounds of 79-78-73-76 over the 7,700-yard, par-72 Pondo Kinda Golf Club layout in Jakarta.
Far from resting on his laurels, though, Rowe took the opportunity to do some homework…studying the leading Asian juniors.
Rowe was particularly impressed with the South Korean competitors. He said: “They are such good all round players and they work extremely hard at their games.
“They all have outstanding short games and having watched them and played with them I realize more than ever how important that aspect of the game is.”
Over the next couple of months Rowe will have plenty of opportunity of further build up his confidence.
At present all his thoughts are centred on the World Junior Championships in San Diego next month where he will compete in the 15-17 age group.
Last year, Rowe finished 15th in the 12-14 section. His aim this time is to qualify for the final round.
He said:” They have cuts after the second and third rounds. I desperately want to play in all four rounds. To finish in the leading 50 would be a good achievement.”
Rowe is also likely to be a central figure in the Hong Kong team for the Southeast Asian amateur team championship for the Putra Trophy in Singapore in August.
He became the youngest player ever to represent the territory at senior international level when he made his debut in the event in the Philippines last year.
“That was a tremendous experience for me,” said Rowe, who will form the backbone of the Hong Kong team along with national amateur champion Ian Hindhaugh and American-based student Derek Fung.
Fung is currently back in Hong Kong on holiday and has played a couple of rounds with Rowe.
“Derek hits the ball beautifully and even in the short time I’ve known him I’ve learnt a lot,” said Rowe.
Hong Kong professional Dominique Boulet continued his run of good form with a fifth-placed finish in a 36-hole tournament on the North Atlantic Tour.
Boulet, who has spent the past two months in the United States, returned a score of four-under-par 140 over the Falmouth Country Club – five strokes behind the winner.
“I’m hitting the ball really well and feel I’m benefitting from playing so many highly competitive tournaments,” said Boulet, who is planning to depart for England next month.
Warwick Guy, playing off a 10 handicap, won the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club’s Captain’s Cup.
Guy recorded a net 71 to see off the challenge of two-handicapper Graham Meddings by two strokes. Anthony Wong was third. Meddings went round in 75 to win the prize for the best gross score.
Benny Yam scored a runaway victory in the Chairman’s Cup. Yam amassed an impressive 40 Stableford point, seven clear of his closest rival, Lieu Chee-chen.