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Next Up
Spotlighting the
next generation of
Virginia golfers
NATIONAL
SPLASH
by CHRIS LANG
Virginia Golfer: Making a run to the semi-
finals of the U.S. Junior Amateur is quite
an accomplishment. What did you learn
about yourself and that level of competi-
tion last year that helped you make it all
the way to the final four this year?
Kelly Chinn: I definitely learned a lot.
Especially since I was the medalist last
year, there was a lot of pressure going
into the match-play rounds and I think
I learned a lot about how to deal with it.
This year, I definitely knew what to expect
12
with each match and was more comfort-
able with the position that I was in.
VG: Take us through that semifinal match
a little bit. There were several swings
where you were behind but managed to
find a way to catch up against a very good
opponent. What’s the key to keeping
yourself in a match like that mentally?
KC: I just told myself that I could do it.
I’ve been in that situation a couple times
already during that tournament and was
V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 19
KELLY CHINN
AGE: 16
CLUB: Army Navy CC
HIGH SCHOOL: Langley (2021)
COLLEGE: Committed to Duke
University
able to come back, so that experience
definitely gave me confidence that I could
always come back, no matter how behind
I was. I always thought to myself to stay
in the moment and not worry about any
outcomes or anything that could distract
me from my next shot.
VG: When did you start playing golf and
what drew you to the game?
KC: I started playing golf when I was about
5. My family and I were visiting Japan
where my grandmother and grandfather
lived and my grandfather decided to take
vsga.org
KELLY CHINN WASTED NO TIME IN ANNOUNCING HIS PRESENCE ON BOTH
THE VIRGINIA AND NATIONAL GOLF SCENES. As a freshman at Langley High
School, he won the Virginia 6A individual championship. As a sophomore, he qualified
for the U.S. Junior Amateur and earned stroke-play qualifying medalist honors. Now as
the 16-year-old Chinn completes his junior season at Langley, the Army Navy Country
Club member is coming off his biggest accomplishment yet: A trip to the semifinals of
this summer’s U.S. Junior Amateur.
Virginia Golfer caught up with Chinn to chat about his accomplishments and his future
in the sport.