Ervin over the moon after receiving invite for US Amateur

The Covid-19 pandemic can be a blessing in disguise for some people and national top amateur golfer Ervin Chang is one of them.

The 21-year-old has secured a dream debut in the prestigious US Amateur golf championship in Oregon from Aug 10-16, thanks to the changes made by tournament organisers, the United States Golf Association (USGA).

One of the key modifications was that the playing field this year are by invitation only rather than gaining exemption or coming through the qualifiers.

Ervin, the world No. 149, made the 264-man field by virtue of being the top 225 golfers in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) – a special exemption category introduced this year.

“I’m so excited for my first shot at the US Amateur, it’s the Major of amateur golf!” he said.

“Some of the legendary golfers such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have played here and won before. It’s not easy to get into the tournament.

“Only the top 50 WAGR players get in, the rest will have to go through qualifying.

You don’t enter major tournaments just to make up the numbers, you’ve got to be ambitious.

Ervin Chang

The US Amateur is not the only event Ervin is looking forward to.

He has also earned himself a start in the Sunnehanna Amateur in Pennsylvania from July 21-24 and the Western Amateur Championship in Indiana from July 24-Aug 1.

“I’m eligible for both events not only due to my WAGR position but also my college career performance,” he said.

“These events are really good as well and are considered among the top seven amateur tournaments in the world alongside the US Amateur.”

Ervin has vowed to prove that he will be no pushover against some of the world’s best.

“I have set myself some goals ... a top 20 in the US Am and top 15 in the other two,” he said.

“You don’t enter major tournaments just to make up the numbers, you’ve got to be ambitious.”