China collected two medals in golf at the Jakarta Asian Games. Liu Bowen won silver on the women's side while Jin Cheng captured bronze among the men which could mean good things for the future of the sport in China.
Golf is only for amateurs at the Asian Games and China sent a strong squad who harbored hopes of winning the country's first gold in the sport.
In the men's team event, Lin Juexin, Zhang Huachuang, Yuan Yechun and Jin Cheng finished in the top five at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. But after four rounds, it was the 2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur titleholder Jin who came out with the best result of the team.
"Unfortunately we didn't win gold for our country, but I tried my best, and I respect what our competitors did, they did better than me. It’s a good trip," said Jin.
China's Jin Cheng lines up a putt during round two of the men's individual golf event at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. /VCG photo
Jin, also the first amateur to lead a PGA Tour China event in 2014, teed off in the final group with first placed Naka-jima Keita and Seung-taek Oh who was tied second place after the third round. Keita maintained his lead till the end, Oh came second thanks to six birdies, followed by the 20-year-old, Jin, in third.
Jin's bronze wasn't without disappointments as he said himself, but it was also the first men's individual event medal that China has gained at the Asian Games since Zhang Lianwei's silver in 1994. China also claimed silver in men's team event, the first medal ever won by the country in this category in the history of games.
Among the women, 2017 CLPGA Shuangshan Challenge champion Liu Wenbo kept a lead of three shots until the very last hole. The amateur world number 28 took 9 shots in the 18th, while her opponent Yuka Saso, competing for the Philippines, had an eagle putt to finish 13-under to claim gold. "I feel very bad because of the last hole. The four extra shots are gone so quickly, I had a three-shot lead, and I just wanted to finish quickly, that's not a right mindset. And then I made some huge mistakes," said Li Bowen.
China's Liu Wenbo hits a shot during round three of the women's individual golf event at the Asian Games in Jakarta. /VCG photo
The experience will eventually benefit Liu's desire to become a professional golfer, much like her idol and friend, former world no.1 Feng Shanshan, who only finished 6th in the 2006 Doha Asian Games, when she was just 17. "She will share her experience in golfing with us, as well as the lessons she learned," added Li.
Jin is off tomorrow to America to study and Liu has just decided to turn professional this year.
It’s clear that golf has gained more attention in China with youngsters continuing to show their talent.
(Top picture: China's Liu Wenbo wins the silver medal. /VCG Photo)