Golf prodigy Feng
Shanshan tees off during the Orient China Ladies Open over the
weekend in Xiamen. Feng, the first Chinese player to earn exempt
status on the LPGA tour, hopes to make an impact on the
international stage in 2008.
China's female golf prodigy Feng Shanshan can't wait for her new
life on the LPGA tour.
The 18-year-old is counting down the days until February when
she'll get to tee off in the world's most prestigious women's
tour.
"After a year of training and competition in the US, I know much
more about the golf culture there," said Feng, who qualified for
the LPGA tour only a fortnight before the Orient China Ladies Open
last weekend, where she finished tied for seventh place.
"It (the tour) is totally different from what it is in China.
For me, I am feeling very good about competing in the US. I also
want to show my personality in front of fans and the public."
Brimming with self-confidence, Feng showed rapid improvement -
both in golf and in English - after less than a year training and
studying at the International Junior Golf Academy (IJGA) in South
Carolina. She was the first student-athlete from China to enroll at
IJGA.
She finished tied for ninth with a 5-under par 355
(72-72-70-71-70) at the LPGA Final Qualifying School at the LPGA
International in Daytona Beach, Florida, earlier this month,
earning her exempt status on the 2008 LPGA Tour, meaning she will
be able to play in as many as 25 tournaments throughout the year.
She is the first woman from China to earn such status on the
LPGA.
"It's a big surprise and thrill for me. I did not expect to make
it so quickly," said Feng, one of only two amateurs to earn the
LPGA exempt card for the 2008 season.
Feng, or "Jenny" as she is known at the academy, said how
important living and competing within the culture of the US is for
the success of a Chinese or any Asian player.
"You must get involved and be friends with the players," she
said. "Americans have the nature to show their personalities, like
someone wearing all red while playing golf. It's very important to
show your personality under the spotlight. It means you are
open-minded to fans and media. You must be liked by them."
Feng's agent Jay Chang, CEO and president of Beijing HS
Management Group, said he is glad to see a player like Feng bring
her naturally noble attributes to the LPGA.
"She is confident but not arrogant. She is disciplined and
independent. She is humble and always shows respect to other
players," said Chang, who brought Feng to IJGA and has managed her
career. "She's unusual because Chinese and Asian people tend to be
shy and quiet. She is a treasure for China."
Chang said Feng's experiences at IJGA and in competition in
America's amateur tournaments have polished Feng's personality, and
helped make her more "American".
"She still had very good characteristics before she went to
America," he said. "The American culture just helped her to be more
open-minded and more confident. More importantly, she's still young
so she does not know the pressures a Chinese person usually has to
endure."
Chinese pioneers
Feng said Chinese pioneers on the world golf stage like Zhang Na
- who had a sparkling JLPGA debut season in 2007 with four wins -
motivate her to take the next step.
"I remember I competed in a stage of JLPGA three years ago and I
finished first from the bottom. Zhang's success there is an
encouragement and motivation to me.
"I hope I can play competitive golf in the first year of LPGA. I
am still young and I will take it step by step."
The talented teenager started playing golf eight years ago and
quickly became the nation's best amateur golfer. Prior to arriving
in the US, Feng won the China Amateur Tournament three times as
well as winning the China Youth Championship.
Feng soon became the first junior golfer from China to play in
the US Women's Open. She also advanced to match play at both the US
Girls Junior Championship and the US Women's Amateur Public Links
Championship and went on to post four wins on the International
Junior Golf Tour.
She says one of her most influential coaches was Gary Gilchris,
who was one of teen golfing sensation Michelle Wie's first
instructors.
"Gary helped me a lot with my swing. I changed instructors after
he left IJGA and I had bad performances. Now I have picked up the
previous way again and I still keep close contact with Gary."
Feng is the fourth IJGA alum to play on the LPGA Tour. Last
year, South Koreans Kim Song-hee, Kim In-kyung and Choi Hye-jung
all earned their professional cards.
She is now hoping Zhang will join her on the tour so they can
play side-by-side, like the South Koreans who have been dominant
forces in the LPGA for a while.
"I hope that day will come as soon as possible. It's totally
different when you have a fellow backing you up in the same
tournament," she said.
More than anything, Feng is excited about the chance to improve
her skills:
"These tournaments are big challenges and also precious chances
to polish myself."
(China Daily December 20, 2007)
