14 year old Yang Kuang makes the cut at the Volvo China Open

[Friday, May 3, 2019 16:18:58]

Yang Kuang showed nerves of steel on the 18th green to become the second youngest player to make the cut in European Tour history at the Volvo China Open. At just 14 years, six months and 12 days old, he faced a 13 foot par putt to stay at two under and seal his place over the weekend at Genzon Golf Club.

He admitted afterwards he had felt nervous but you would never have known it as he rolled home to take his spot in the history books behind only countryman Guan Tian-lang - who made the cut and finished as low amateur at the 2013 Masters Tournament.

Yang has been impressing everybody ever since he won the Volvo China Junior Match Play Championship in December to seal his place in the field this week. He showed incredible maturity in facing the media on Wednesday but his golfing prowess has been even more spectacular over days one and two.

He posted an opening 71 and when he birdied the second in round two with a group of school friends watching, he was on course to make the cut. A tense afternoon would follow as he dropped shots on the third and eighth but birdied the fourth to turn in 36 at one under.

Gains on the 11th and 13th gave him some breathing room before he dropped a shot on the 15th, but he almost picked it straight back up on the next as he saw a very long putt brush the edge of the hole. He parred the 17th and his big moment on the last brought a fist pumping celebration and warm congratulations from playing partners Louis de Jager and Kodai Ichihara.

"I’m really happy, it’s amazing," he said. "I was really nervous on 18 as it is a long putt for me but it went in and I‘m too happy - there are not enough words to describe the feeling.

"Although my putting was better and my game was better than yesterday, the score is the same.

"I’m just so happy and want to thank my mum, my dad, my headteacher and members of my family for all their support.”



 

 


Return