The Southern Junior

Moving day at the season-opening event on the Junior Golf Tour of Asia, The Southern Junior, taking place this week at Zhuhai Golden Gulf Golf Club, has come to an end and players have shaken up the leader board. In addition to today’s play, the very first long drive contest has concluded, leaving two players in the driver’s seat.

In the Girl’s Division, Yizhen (Tina) Kong has followed up her first-round score of 1-over-par 73 with a second-round score of even-par 145. If Kong were to pull off a victory, it would be her first on the JGTA and would make her the top-ranked player on the JGTA Junior Order of Merit, the ranking system of the Tour and source for AJGA PBE Status in Asia, heading into the next event.

Second place in the Girl’s Division after moving day is Jiabao Song (2022) of Shanghai, China who came out of the gate ready to compete and fired a 1-under-par score of 71. This, paired with a first-round score of 5-over-par 77, leaves her 3-shots behind Kong. Just one shot behind Song is Yunyi Luo (2023) of Shenzhen, China who matched Song’s 1-under-par score of 71.

In the Boy’s Division, Kai-Chun Hsu (2021) of Taipei, Taiwan shot the lowest score on the day, a 3-under-par 69, to take the Boy’s Division lead. If Hsu were to win The Southern Junior, he would become the first JGTA champion from Taiwan.

Jui Shen Lee (2020) of Yunlin, Taiwan followed up his first-round 3-over-par 75 with a second-round score of 2-over-par 74 to trail Hsu by one stroke after moving day. Just behind Lee is 2018-2019 Junior All-Asia Team Member Hsiao Che Yang (2021) of Tainan, Taiwan.

Taking home the TaylorMade Golf M5 and M6 drivers in the JGTA’s first long drive contest was Ko Yen Chang Chien (2021) of Kaohsiung, Taiwan and Yu-Tien Kuo (2021) of Tainan, Taiwan. Chien hit an absolute rocket, coming to rest at 321 yards while Kuo powered one 256 yards. Both Chien and Kuo used TaylorMade drivers en route to their victory.

Tomorrow, champions will be crowned at The Southern Junior. With many within reaching distance, who will make history?

For more information about The Southern Junior, click here.