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12-year-old Ye qualifies for Volvo China Open

Shanghai Daily, March 21, 2013

• Ye has become the youngest golfer to qualify for a European Tour event.

  Twelve-year-old Ye Wocheng became the youngest golfer to qualify for a European Tour event when the Chinese schoolboy survived a late wobble to grab a place at the Volvo China Open yesterday.

  Ye's two-round 2-under-par total of 142 at the qualifier in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, earned him a spot at the May 2-5 European and OneAsia Tour event and his participation will see him better the mark of his compatriot Guan Tianlang, who competed last year as a 13-year-old.

  Ye is already known internationally after he won the US Kids World Junior Championship in San Diego in 2010 and 2011 and finished runner-up last year. He also holds the tournament record of 12 under par.

  This year, he won the Guangdong Junior Championships by a record 18 shots. He credits his father, who caddied for him in Chengdu, with introducing him to golf. "My dad was my first coach, so I owe him a lot for starting me off and helping me to develop my swing," he said, according to the European Tour website. "He's a pretty good player himself - an eight handicap."

  The amateur, who lives in Dongguan City, south China's Guangdong Province and is a member of the local Hillview Golf Club, belied his age and lack of experience to claim one of the three places on offer .

  After shooting an opening 4-under 68 on Tuesday, Ye raced to the turn in his second round leading the field on 7-under after four birdies yesterday, but the pressure began to tell on a tumultuous back nine.

  Shots were dropped at the 11th and 14th before he appeared to settle down with a birdie two at the 15th only to rack up a horror eight at the par-five 16th.

  His opening 27 holes had, however, provided an ample cushion and he could even afford to drop another shot on the last hole and claim the third and final place with two shots to spare.

  Eighteen-year-old Li Xinyang and Jin Daxing finished joint first on 5-under 139. The 19th edition of the Volvo China Open will take place in Tianjin.

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