Beijing, China: Hong Kong native Perry Xin has made a successful debut at the China LPG Qualifying Tour.
The 22-year-old amateur captured the opening leg of the China LPGA Tour development circuit after shooting rounds of 71-80-71 over the Beijing Orient Pearl Country Club layout.
Beijing-based golf coach Yan Panpan was the leading professional at the CLPGQ Beijing Pearl Series, one stroke off the pace following a closing three-over 75 in the 54-hole stroke play tournament.
The RMB50,000 event featured a field of 70 players made up of 19 female professional golfers and coaches and 51 male and female amateurs. The prize purse was distributed to the top-10 players, including amateurs in certain proportions. Amateurs are allowed to accept prize money of no more than RMB6,000 for one event.
“This was my first China LPGA event. That’s exciting,” said Xin, a film and media major who played on the Yale University golf team from 2017 to 2021. “There wasn’t any part of my game that was outstanding, but I had the most confidence in my driver.”
With his victory, Xin also became the first player on the CLPGQ development circuit to receive World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points. He is currently 4,814th in the listing.
“It’s been a while since I’ve participated in a WAGR tournament. I have to continue training my mentality. Once you stop playing competitive golf, it’s easy to relax after a shot, but every shot counts. I’m excited to start the year strong and I’m looking forward to the upcoming events,” he said.
Amateur Guo Yeyun made a hole-in-one in the first round, acing the 175-yard 17th hole with a seven-iron. It was the fifth hole-in-one of his career.
Ning Zetao, the Chinese swimmer who won a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, missed the cut after recording rounds of 84 and 92.
Since launching in 2020, the CLPGQ has hosted 380 amateurs in tournament settings. This year, the circuit is hoping to stage 34 tournaments in Beijing, Xiamen, Zhuhai, Ji’nan and other cities. The leading players will earn promotion to the China LPGA Tour.
