Magnanimous Surratt Hails Champion's 'Perfect Golf'

Bandon, Oregon, United States: In winning the 74th US Junior Amateur at the weekend, Ding Wenyi succeeded where his fellow-Chinese Jin Bo narrowly failed in 2019.

It was three years ago that Jin qualified for the final. But his hopes of becoming the first male Chinese golfer to win a USGA title were thwarted by Preston Summerhays.

In defeating Caleb Surratt 3&2 in this year’s 36-hole final, it is Ding who has written his name into golf’s record books.

To those who have followed his rise in recent years, Ding's victory did not come as a surprise. Winner of three consecutive China Amateur Open titles (2019-2021), Ding’s sole appearance to date in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) came at Shanghai’s Sheshan International Golf Club in 2019.

On that occasion, he finished in a share of 45th place. Seven mainland Chinese players ended ahead of him, including Lin Yuxin, the winner, and Jin, who tied for eighth.

Now, though, it’s Ding, who is planning to attend Arizona State University in 2023, who is in centre stage.

By his own admission, American Surratt could not have done a great deal more in his US Junior Amateur loss to Ding.

“I felt like I was seven or eight-under on the day for 34 holes and just didn’t come close,” said Surratt, an incoming University of Tennessee freshman, in the immediate aftermath of the 36-hole final of the 74th edition of the USGA championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Such was the quality of Ding’s play that Surratt found himself eight-down with eight holes remaining. Although he fought hard and won the next five holes he was eventually beaten 3&2.

Ding played beautifully throughout the week and was a worthy champion.

Surratt said: “He played some really perfect golf, to be honest. He hit every shot where he needed to for 25 holes. It was just hard to beat.

“If you would have told me this morning if I’d be eight-under and lose, I wouldn’t really believe it. But that just happens. It’s match play, and he’s a great player.”