Yuan yearns for Games glory
Rising young Chinese star dreaming of gold at Asiad
As one of Chinese golf’s golden boys, “Carl” Yuan Yechun wants a medal to match that label at next month’s Asian Games.
The 21-year-old served notice of his talent at this month’s Qingdao Championship, leaving a field of professionals trailing in his wake to become just the second amateur to win on the PGA Tour Series-China.
He couldn’t quite keep the magic going over the weekend at the Beijing Championship, but still finished as the leading amateur on Sunday, 12 shots off New Zealander Peter Campbell’s winning 17-under total of 271 at Topwin Golf and Country Club.
It all bodes well for China’s chances at the Aug 18-Sept 2 Asiad in Indonesia, where Yuan, Jin Cheng, Lin Yuxin and “Andy” Zhang Huachuang will head in mood.
“Our goal is to bring back gold, 100 percent,” Yuan told China Daily.
“We have a great chance of winning compared with other teams. We have great players but, still, playing golf is shot by shot. Anything can happen, and we just need to play good golf and be ourselves.
“It would be a milestone to achieve such a feat for my country. For China’s men’s team, I don’t think we’ve ever won a medal (in golf ) at the Asian Games. We will try to make history.
“Individually, I will try my best to win the gold. It’s a great honor to play in the Asian Games for my country. I don’t think I’ll get a second chance to do so.”
Team China’s other young players also boast impressive resumes.
Twenty-year-old Jin’s career trajectory shares many similarities with Yuan, for example. Both played US collegiate golf — Yuan for the University of Washington and Jin for the University of Southern California — while Jin was the PGA Tour SeriesChina’s first amateur winner when he won the 2014 Nine justifiably confident Dragons Open
Lin already has two majors — this year’s Masters and British Open — under his belt at the tender age of 17.
University of Florida student Zhang also has major pedigree, having played in the 2012 US Open at just 14.
“I know my teammates have been playing great,” said Yuan.
“Yuxin has played the British Open, which is a great experience for him. I have a as a 16-yearold. great team, and we all worked toward the same goal. We will try our best to come out on top.”
After the Games, turning pro is next on Yuan’s agenda but he is under no illusions that will be an easy transition.
“When you play golf for a living, people are much more serious during the preparation and are a lot more focused. I was inspired to work even harder. If you don’t work harder than anyone else, you have no chance of winning.”
World No 42 Li Haotong is the most successful Chinese graduate of the PGA Tour Series-China, and the nation’s increasing success in the pro ranks is giving Yuan belief he can follow suit.
“Starting in the PGA Tour Series-China provides us with a great opportunity, especially knowing that you can get to the next level,” said Yuan. “We saw many pro golfers like Dou Zecheng and Zhang Xinjun begin on this tour before going on to bigger things.
“The Qingdao victory definitely meant a lot, especially as the second Chinese amateur to win. Winning as an amateur also showed how much golf has grown in China.”
Despite Li mixing it with the men’s elite and the feats of former women’s world No 1 Feng Shanshan, Chinese golf still lags behind the game’s global powerhouses.
Yuan reckons, though, golf is shedding its image in China as the preserve of the rich and points to the increasing number of young people playing the game as another positive sign.
Preferential policies at local level are helping more and more kids pick up clubs.
Yunnan province, for example, has made golf a part of its Belt and Road sports industry development strategy.
“Yunnan Golf Association made a proposal suggesting that all of its clubs should give discounts to underage golfers, and lots of clubs have made it a reality,” said Gong Lei, the YGA’s deputy secretary-general.
“For domestic professional players, we also offer all kinds of discounts providing them with a comfortable and convenient atmosphere for training. We have launched programs to promote golf in schools. We help teachers and students learn more about the sport so they can see that golf is an activity for everyone.”