Guan Tianlang tees off at the Volvo China Open, creating a record
Guan Tianlang is playing the Volvo China Open, creating a record of being the youngest golfer to play a professional event.
The 13-year-old Chinese professional golf player graved his name in the Gunnies Book of World Record. He played the first round on Thursday and gained attraction great deal of attention from the spectators.
Previously, the youngest player record was with the 14-year-old Jason Hak Shun-yat, who exhibited his amateur golfing skills at the UBS Hong Kong Open in 2008. After four years, the record is now transferred to Guan and he is now the youngest player.
The Volvo China Open is a co-sanctioned event of the European Tour and the OneAsia Tour. The US $3 million purse event is being staged at the Binhai Lake Golf Club in Tianjin, China.
Guan is offering his debut performance in the event. The junior amateur has faced tough challenges while playing on the course, as he scored 5-over 77 on Thursday.
He started the round with a bogey, then made two consecutive pars and carded a double-bogey. He was unable to score well throughout the day and shot two more bogeys on the 5th and 6th hole.
On the 7th hole, he made his first and only birdie impressively, but ended the front nine holes with another bogey.
Later on, on the back nine holes, he impressed the spectators by not making any bogey and made nine consecutive pars. Despite not losing on any hole, he has not scored any birdie either.
"I really enjoyed watching Guan Tian-lang play today," Andrew Wild said "It's always exciting to see the next generation of golfers beginning to make their mark on the sport".
Nicolas Colsaerts is defending his title and scored 4-under 68 in the first round of the tournament, on Thursday, April 19, 2012.
He has finished three strokes behind the leader Matthew Baldwin and competed well for the title. Colsaerts shot three birdies, an eagle and only one bogey on the 8th hole.
Baldwin played a bogey-free round and shot 7 tremendous birdies. He is currently holding the top most position on the leaderboard.
Guan is in the danger zone. There is a possibility that he might miss the cut in the second round. Hence, he has to save bogeys on Friday, if he aims to continue till Sunday.
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