14-year-old Chinese schoolboy golfer Kuang Yang impresses as youngest to ever make European Tour cut
Updated 17:53, 08-May-2019
CGTN
["china"]
While most teenagers are focusing on their studies, 14-year-old Chinese golfer Kuang Yang has made history  at the Volvo China Open last Friday. 
He holed a par putt from around 20 feet on the 18th hole to shoot a second straight one-under 71 and advance to the final two rounds of the China Open in Shenzhen. 
The sinking of the putt at the final hole made him the youngest person to quialify at a regular European Tour event - outside the majors - at just 14 years, six months and 12 days. 
Kuang Yang of China plays a shot during the day two of the 2019 Volvo China Open at Genzon Golf Club on May 3, 2019, in Shenzhen, China.

Kuang Yang of China plays a shot during the day two of the 2019 Volvo China Open at Genzon Golf Club on May 3, 2019, in Shenzhen, China.

He finished the third round with a three-under 69 featuring five birdies in his first 10 holes and shot a final-round 73 to finish in a share of 55th place with a four-under 284. 
The Chinese schoolboy, who had only recently completed his midterm exams in high school and felt underprepared, impressed the world with his first event on the European Tour. 

Golfing from the age of two

Different from many other young golfers who very often get shown golf by the older generations in his family; it is Kuang Yang who took the initiative to learn golf first.
Kuang was only two years old when he came across a "Professional Golf Teaching Session" DVD when his parents took him to a local grocery store. He mistook it for a cartoon and insisted on buying one. As it turns out, Kuang has proved that his "mistake" was worth making.
Intrigued by this obsession with the sport, Kuang's father began to purchase the equipment and later began teaching Kuang after learning how to play first.
Kuang Yang of China plays a shot during the day two of the 2019 Volvo China Open at Genzon Golf Club on May 3, 2019, in Shenzhen, China.

Kuang Yang of China plays a shot during the day two of the 2019 Volvo China Open at Genzon Golf Club on May 3, 2019, in Shenzhen, China.

At the age of four, Kuang participated in his first golfing competition. He claimed his first championship one year later. At the age of eight, Kuang became the youngest player to win the annual MVP award with China Golf Association. The subsequent Volvo China Junior Match Play championship in 2018 won him the ticket into the Volvo China Open.

School comes first

Kuang, a natural left-hander who plays right-handed, says that for now golf plays second fiddle to his studies.
"I am still young, so school is still my main focus", said Kuang before the tournament.
In a post-game interview on Friday, Kuang took questions from foreign media and answered in English, giving us a glimpse of his academic performance at school.
Kuang Yang and Li Haotong of China attend a press conference during the pro-am prior to the start of the 2019 Volvo China Open at Genzon Golf Club on May 1, 2019 in Shenzhen, China. 

Kuang Yang and Li Haotong of China attend a press conference during the pro-am prior to the start of the 2019 Volvo China Open at Genzon Golf Club on May 1, 2019 in Shenzhen, China. 

Even though, according to him, he can only manage to get about 15-20 hours of practice per week, with his proven capabilities of balancing school and golfing, we are likely to see more surprising performance brought to us by this youthful Chinese golfer.