Tian Takes Control with Stunning Birdie Spree

Beijing, China: Rising teenage star Ethan Tian produced a spectacular birdie barrage as Hong Kong, China extended its lead at the half-way stage of the 31st Nomura Cup.

Continuing a remarkable run of form that has seen him win seven World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) events this year, Tian snared nine birdies en route to a second-round five-under-par 67 at Bayhood No. 9.

With Markus Lam contributing a 71, Hong Kong, China posted a day two total of 138 in the event in which the best two daily scores in each three-man team are counted. Jeffrey Shen, the third member of the team, carded a 79 which was discarded.

With a 36-hole aggregate of 10-under 278, the Hong Kong trio holds a six-stroke lead from Japan in the biennial Asia-Pacific Men’s Amateur Golf Team Championship that is being contested by 21 member nations of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC).

Four shots further back in a share of third place on even-par 288 are hosts China, the Philippines and Vietnam, the defending champions. They are followed by Thailand (289), New Zealand (292), Korea (294), Macao, China and Malaysia (both 297), Australia and the United Arab Emirates (both 300), Singapore (301), Chinese Taipei (303), Pakistan (305), Indonesia (309), Myanmar (318), Guam (327), Cambodia (337), Saudi Arabia (339) and Mongolia (345).

Tian, whose opening 73 was not required in the team event thanks to 70s from both Lam and Shen, is now leading the way in the individual standings on four-under 140. Only two other players are in red figures – Lam (141) and Japan’s Mao Matsuyama (142).

While tough pin positions posed problems for many players on the undulating greens that were running at 10.3 on the Stimpmeter, 15-year-old Tian flourished, pinpoint approach shots setting him up for countless birdie opportunities, nine of which he gratefully accepted. Of those, eight were from within 15 feet. His longest birdie putt was a 40-footer that disappeared below ground at the 14th.

Tian, who has committed to the University of Notre Dame for 2028, raced out of the starting blocks, making birdies at four of the first six holes. A double-bogey at the par-four seventh slowed his progress and there were further dropped shots at nine and 10.

“After the 10th hole I spoke to coach Tim (Tang) and told him I was hitting it well and that I just got a bit unlucky on a couple of holes. I had a quick mental re-set and it was great from there with five more birdies,” said Tian, whose scorecard included no fewer than nine threes, including pars at all of the four short holes.

Testament to the quality of Tian’s golf was that his score was four shots better than the only other seven players to better par on day two.

With all three Hong Kong players adapting well to the tight course, Tian believes the team from the Special Administration Region of China can maintain its challenge for a first victory in the event that was inaugurated in 1963.

Tian, the fourth highest-rated player in the 63-strong field at 151st in the WAGR, said: “It would mean the world to us to win the Nomura Cup. It’s the biggest (amateur) team event in Asia. But before that, our only goal is to stay committed to every shot and stay in the right frame of mind to hit good shots. If we stick to the gameplan for the next two days, I hope we can take it home.”

Despite facing a half-way deficit, Japan, winners in 2022 and runners-up in 2024, China, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam will all believe victory in Beijing is still possible.

After posting a 71 that leaves him tied for fourth individually on even-par 144, alongside compatriot Nguyen Tuan Anh, Ho Anh Huy was in optimistic mood.

The only member of Vietnam’s triumphant 2024 team competing here this week, Ho said: “It’s been pretty solid so far. Definitely we feel a little pressure as defending champions. But I’m loving the course and the conditions and am feeling good about my game.

“Winning the Nomura Cup in Vietnam (in 2024) is at the top of my list of favourite golfing memories – me (Nguyen) Anh Minh and (Le Khanh) Hung. Nothing’s out of the question this year. There’s nothing to say we can’t recreate that. If we just keep playing our game, at our own pace, and keep playing steady then I’m sure we can have a good run at it.”

FULL SECOND-ROUND TEAM SCORES

278 – Hong Kong, China (140-138)
284 – Japan (142-142)
288 – China (145-143); Vietnam (145-143); Philippines (142-146)
289 – Thailand (146-143)
292 – New Zealand (147-145)
294 – Korea (148-146)
297 – Macao, China (151-146); Malaysia (149-148)
300 – Australia (150-150); United Arab Emirates (149-151)
301 – Singapore (155-146)
303 – Chinese Taipei (159-144)
305 – Pakistan (152-153)
309 – Indonesia (154-155)
318 – Myanmar (162-156)
327 – Guam (161-166)
337 – Cambodia (166-171)
339 – Saudi Arabia (174-165)
345 – Mongolia (176-169) 

LEADING SECOND-ROUND INDIVIDUAL SCORES

140 – Ethan Tian (Hong Kong, China) 73-67
141 – Markus Lam (Hong Kong, China) 70-71
142 – Mao Matsuyama (Japan) 71-71
144 – Ho Anh Huy (Vietnam) 73-71; Kaito Sato (Japan) 73-71; Cui Jingguo (China) 72-72; Nguyen Tuan Anh (Vietnam) 72-72; Rolando Bregente Jr (Philippines) 69-75
145 – Warut Boonrod (Thailand) 74-71; Settawut Kenanan (Thailand) 73-72; Aiden Ahmad Shaharuddin (Malaysia) 71-74; Taisei Nagasaki (Japan) 71-74

*For full scores and live scoring, please click here.