Champions Crowned at the Hong Kong Junior Classic

The final round of the Hong Kong Junior Classic at Clearwater Bay has come to an end and champions have been crowned. The winners of the event will skyrocket up the Junior Order of Merit, the official ranking system of the JGTA, and source for AJGA PBE Status in Asia. Hong Kong players were hard to miss on the leader board – a total of seven players finishing in the top-10.

Hong Kong local Chloe Chan (2021) took home the trophy in the Girl’s Division. She fired scores of 69-71 for an even-par tournament total of 140. With her win, Chan becomes the first JGTA champion in history from Hong Kong.

“I managed to roll some putts in on the back nine and it built my confidence up. I am really glad that I was able to win this week and in Hong Kong as well, it’s absolutely perfect. There are so many people I need to thank this week – the JGTA for making this tournament possible, Clearwater Bay for hosting us and my friends and family. My friends cheered me on and were the main reason why I felt relaxed through both rounds,” she said.

Taking 2nd place for the Girl’s Division is Vanderbilt University commit Virginie Ding (2020) with scores of 72-71 for a tournament total of 3-over-par 143. This event was Ding’s return to the JGTA playing field after debuting in the inaugural Bintan Lagoon Junior Championship, where she took home 6th place – ending the season T14 on last year’s Junior Order of Merit. Finishing in third was Yuqi Liu (2023) of Beijing, China, firing 71-74 for a tournament total of 5-over-par 145.

Pongsapak Laopakdee (2023) of Rayong, Thailand took home the Boy’s Division trophy after draining a 15-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole. Laopakdee shot 69-70 for a tournament total of 1-under-par 139. Laopakdee is a 2017-2018 All-Asia Team Member and this is his first JGTA victory.

“It felt amazing to make the putt on 18 to win. Winning this tournament makes me feel confident for my upcoming tournaments. I would like to thank my parents for bringing me here and for always supporting me, the JGTA for hosting this tournament, and Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club and its’ members for letting us play their beautiful golf course. Winning this tournament will make my Junior Order of Merit ranking move up to earn more AJGA PBE stars and I am really looking forward to playing in the AJGA this summer,” he said.

In a come from behind 2nd place finish with a final-round score of 69 in the Boy’s Division is Hong Kong local Ching Sum Lincoln Lau (2022). This is Lau’s first-ever JGTA event. Three players finished tied for 3rd place – HanZhe Zhou (2021) of Chengdu, China, Gabriel Hansel Hari (2021) of Jakarta, Indonesia, and Jui-Tung Wu (2021) of Kaoshiung, Taiwan.

The 2019 Hong Kong Junior Classic at Clearwater Bay was one for the history books.