Jin Jeong ?

Jin Jeong played links golf for first time only three weeks ago

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
By ALISTAIR TAIT

Jin Jeong, the first Asian player to reach the British Amateur final, only started playing links golf THREE weeks ago. His first taste of old-fashioned golf came in the Scottish open amateur stroke-play championship at Glasgow Gailes. The 20-year-old did well to finish seventh, considering it was a new experience.
Last weekend Jeong played in the St Andrews Links Trophy and missed the cut because he couldn’t handle the capricious nature of the Jubilee Course.
“I didn’t like it (links golf) the first time,” Jeong said. “When I play in the U.S. or Australia I can control the ball, but here the ball bounces everywhere.
“I just hated last week. I couldn’t do anything around the greens. Most times I hit it over the green. I couldn’t spin the ball on the greens. Now it’s fun.”
Jeong has been dreaming of playing in the Amateur Championship for some time. He first became enamored with links golf when he watched television footage of Ernie Els winning the 2002 Open Championship at Muirfield.
“I dreamed of hitting out of the long rough. We don’t have rough like that in Korea or Australia.”
Thankfully Jeong hasn’t had to do much of that this week. Besides Nixon and Cutler, he’s overcome strong players in Tom Lewis, the reigning British boys champion, and France’s Romain Wattel, winner of the Scottish stroke-play championship.
Now he’s on the verge of realising another dream.
“I’ve been dreaming about winning this tournament for a long time, since I found out that if I win I get to play in the British Open. My goal this week was to win this tournament.”
Jeong no longer lives in South Korea. He moved to Australia three years ago to play golf full-time. He is a member of Waverly Golf Club in Melbourne, where he takes lessons from head pro Trevor Flakemore. He has permanent residence status and can apply for Australian citizenship at the end of this year.
Not only has he adapted well to links golf, but to life in Australia. He has won two of Australia’s biggest amateur championships this year, the Tasmanian Open and Riversdale Cup.
It should be a riveting final, and a dream come true for whoever takes the trophy.

FRIDAY'S RESULTS

QUARTER-FINALS
Matthew Nixon (Ashton under Lyne) bt Rhys Enoch (Truro) 3 and 2.
Jin Jeong (South Korea) bt Paul Culter (Portstewart) 3 and 2.
James Byrne (Banchory) bt Edouard Espana (France) 2 and 1.
Chris Paisley (Stocksfield) bt Andrea Pavan (Italy) 5 and 4.

SEMI-FINALS
Jin Jeong bt Matthew Nixon 5 and 4.
James Byrne bt Chris Paisley 2 and 1