Q Golf - Official online magazine for Golf Queensland Summer 2012 | Page 16

Late in 2011 Guan won the Aaron Baddeley
International Junior Championship in China
earning the right to play the Australian Open
at the Lakes Golf Club in early December.
Australian golf fans will get to see first-hand
a game that at this stage of his career and
development is built around strategy and
craftsmanship rather than power. The power
will come, as he is yet only 14 but despite
the fact that he was being out-driven by
nearly all the field during the course of
the week he was unfazed and went quietly
about his business. It was, in its own way, a
ruthless display.
His playing partner on the final two days
was the very impressive and long hitting
Oliver Goss from Western Australia who
just a week earlier had claimed the WA
Open Championship against a field of
professionals. Goss also made it to the
Quarter Finals of the US Amateur but during
this week he was outplayed by a young man
who was four years his junior and some 70
metres shorter than him from the tee. Goss
would eventually finish 3rd behind Guan
and Taiwanese star Cheng tsung Pan

but there is little doubt in this writer’s mind
that Goss is a superstar in the making.
At times the discrepancy from the tee
between the two was embarrassing but
Guan was unbothered and very clinically
went about his business. He was also at
times very slow, an area of his game that will
need to improve significantly when he plays
at the Australian Open.

His mother might have given some of the
answer when asked after round two via
an interpreter what he was like around
the home.

That aside however those present at
Amata Spring that week felt blessed to
have witnessed something special and the
emergence of a golfer who could go on to
blaze trails for Chinese golf. To some extent
he already has.

Guan’s family would have every right to
feel that way following his narrow one shot
victory but so too does a Chinese golfing
community waiting for a genuine superstar
of the game to emerge from the rapidly
expanding middle class of Chinese society.

When asked at the halfway mark of the
event how he was feeling about being in
front against such a significant field Guan
replied. “I feel pretty proud of myself but
I now have to work hard and keep going. I
prepare hard for this tournament and I feel
pretty excited about it and so it is good for
me and good for Chinese golf.” Perhaps the
understatement of the week. So is there
anything that would suggest that Guan is
still a kid at heart?

The potential golfing numbers in China are
staggering but it might just be a 14 year
old who provides the greatest catalyst for
growth in that country.

“He is very relaxed but very active and
sometimes naughty,” said Jenny. “ If he was
to go on and win this week however we
would feel very proud and rewarded.”

For the record, Cameron Smith finished
in a share of 7th, yet another solid if
unspectacular week for the highly regarded
Wantima / Royal Queensland member.
Photos: PAUL LAKATOS

Augusta National Chairman, Billy Payne flanked by Cameron Smith and Oliver Goss

16 Q Golf Online Summer 2012

www.golfqueensland.org.au