MyTurn by JIM DUCIBELLA
Chang ’ s Dream Fuels Unlikely Rise
I t ’ s a safe bet that anyone who ever played golf at a competitive level dreamed of the day he or she would be good enough to match wits and wedges with the best players in the world .
Dreaming of something and making it a goal are two different things . The first takes imagination , which often withers over time and the realization of one ’ s physical limits . The second takes an unbridled work ethic , unshakable self-confidence and a climbing stepladder of success that keeps the fire of desire stoked .
Need an example ? Look to University of Virginia ( UVA ) student Paul Chang . Three years ago , he turned a dream into a goal , and he hasn ’ t let anything stand in his way since .
In 2022 , he was a top member of UVA ’ s club golf team , and he routinely sent emails to Virginia coach Bowen Sargent asking for a spot on the “ varsity .” Sargent , whose team is among the best in the NCAA , declined , though he did suggest some tournaments Chang could enter to increase his status . Chang could have given up .
“ I encouraged myself ( to keep going ) and I had friends who encouraged me as well ,” said Chang , who briefly considered transferring . “ They saw my drive , my passion . Plus , I love this place . I didn ’ t want to leave .”
Though he had never seen Chang play competitively , Sargent couldn ’ t help but notice the student ’ s motor scooter parked outside Birdwood Golf , the Cavaliers ’ home course and practice facility . It was there virtually every day , in every weather .
Finally , while in Williamsburg last July evaluating a recruit at a United States Amateur qualifying event , Sargent watched , amazed , as Chang qualified for the field . A few days later , Sargent added Chang to his team .
That ’ s a great ending to Chang ’ s story . But there ’ s so much more .
Chang checked in at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver , a total unknown in the
It didn ’ t matter to me that no one knew me . I knew I could compete with these players , so I didn ’ t worry about it . I just played my game .”
Paul Chang advanced to the round of 16 at the VSGA
Amateur last summer . field of 312 . You couldn ’ t find his name anywhere on the World Amateur ranking list .
“ It didn ’ t matter to me that no one knew me ,” he said . “ I knew I could compete with these players , so I didn ’ t worry about it . I just played my game .”
That was plenty good enough to open with a 69 , then follow with a 73 to qualify for match play . Again , there were more surprises to come .
Chang took down 36th-ranked Caden Fiorini of UNLV , 2-and-1 , in the round of 64 , then followed that with a stunning 22-hole sudden-death triumph over Caleb Surratt , former World Number 1 .
In the stuff from which legends are made , Chang took a one-hole lead over 11th-seeded John Marshall Butler the next day when he holed a shot from the fairway on the 16th hole . Alas , Butler came back to defeat Chang on the first playoff hole the following morning .
Chang , now ranked 468th , has come a long way — literally and figuratively — to reach this point in his athletic journey .
At age 9 and living in Tianjin , China , Chang tagged along when his nextdoor neighbor — a golf coach — took his son to hit balls . He loved it . Though he shot even-par for the first time at 13 , he considered it merely a fun way to pass the time . After boarding school in England and his first foray into competitive golf , Chang took a year off before starting UVA . He and his father had one of those coming-ofage conversations about what the young man planned to do with his life .
“ We thought we should give pro golf a chance ,” Chang said . “ I mean , I was decent at it .”
Since that conversation , Chang has added 20 to 25 yards , to 315 , off the tee . He ’ s added weight training and , clearly , he ’ s stepped up in competition . So , while there are no guarantees , all things considered — work ethic , determination and drive , his fearless love of competition — Chang looks to have what it takes to ascend from “ who ’ s that ?” to “ who ’ s who .”
CHRIS LANG
72 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2024 vsga . org