Teenage sensation out to take down Canto-pop star Stephanie Ho and Tiffany Chan at Hong Kong Ladies Open
The 14-year-old, Chloe Chan, considered the brightest young hope in local women’s golf, is one of seven home-grown talents in the field
Lifelong friends Tiffany Chan Tsz-ching and well-known singer-actress Stephanie Ho Ngan-si might be the main event at next month’s EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open, but Chloe Chan Cheuk-yee is out to make some waves of her own.
The 14-year-old sensation is cutting a swathe through junior competition and will enter the Fanling event armed with experience that belies her years.
Billed as the brightest young hope in Hong Kong women’s golf, earlier this year the younger Chan teamed up with Taichi Kho to finish in a tie for eighth in the team competition of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation Junior Championship.
On top of that, the King George V School student was a key member of the winning team at the 2018 Bangladesh Amateur Golf Championship, finished runner-up at last year’s HSBC China Junior Golf Open in her age group and finished fourth in her age group in the 2016 IMG Junior World Golf Championship.
“I am very excited to be back. This is the biggest tournament at home that we have and we get so much support, which really motivates us,” Chloe Chan said ahead of her third Hong Kong Ladies Open.
“With Tiffany now playing on the LPGA Tour, the tournament has gone up another level, with more fans and stronger competition. The Open is one of the best platforms for me to test my game. I am very much looking forward to it.”
The event, running from May 11-13, will feature seven local players, with Michelle Cheung, Isabella Leung Hei-nam, Selina Li Yuen-yuet and Gabbie Desombre also in the field.
Cheung has been on the Hong Kong national team since 2010 and the 22-year-old was the best amateur at the 2017 Kaoshiung Ladies Open, finishing in a tie for 11th place at the professional event.
Watch: Tiffany Chan and Stephanie Ho battle it out on the putting green
“The competition [in Hong Kong] gets tougher with each year and with Tiffany and her LPGA experience, I believe everyone will bring their A game to keep up with her,” Cheung said.
“I have been playing well lately and getting low amateur in Taiwan at the end of last year really helped with my confidence”
Defending champion Supamas Sangchan has also confirmed her participation as she attempts to become the first player to win the tournament two years in a row.
The Thai star ended her Ladies European Tour season last year with five consecutive top 30 finishes, including a tie for 21st in her last tournament at the Dubai Ladies Classic.
