National Games: Kuang Yang goes wire to wire to win golf gold, Hong Kong team fall short
Zhejiang player, who is eager to turn professional, beats some of China’s best players despite nursing an injury in days before event
Kuang Yang never imagined he would be standing on top of the National Games podium with a gold medal around his neck, having spent four days outduelling some of the best golfers China has to offer.
And the 20-year-old from Zhejiang did not just sneak across the line either; he led from start to finish at Hong Kong Golf Club, ending his wire-to-wire victory four shots clear of Shanghai University of Sport’s Chai Bowen, who took silver, and bronze medallist Wu Ashun of Shanghai, who has won multiple times on the DP World Tour.
A final round five-under-par 65 took Kuang to 18 under for the tournament, and the obligatory soaking with whatever liquid came to hand as he left the 18th green followed.
That he did it having spent the days immediately before the tournament nursing a bad back made it all the more impressive.
“I feel awesome,” Kuang said. “Before I came here I never imagined I could win this tournament. You can see how many [of] the greatest Chinese players are here.
“I hurt my back last week and couldn’t play at all two or three days before the game. I was really happy that my back felt a bit better on the first day of competition.”