If this finally ends up being Wenyi Ding’s last event as an beginner, what a approach to exit.
Ding, the 19-year-old Chinese language standout who’s ranked fifth in World Novice Golf Rating, gained the Asia-Pacific Novice on Sunday at Taiheiyo Membership in Gotemba, Japan. He fired his fourth straight 3-under 67 within the last spherical to edge countryman Ziqin Zhou, a freshman at Cal, by a shot.
Ding’s victory comes a 12 months after he misplaced this championship to Australia’s Jasper Stubbs on the second additional gap at Royal Melbourne.
“It feels actually good,” stated Ding, who birdied the 239-yard, par-3 seventeenth gap, from 6 ft, to interrupt out of a tie with Zhou after which parred the par-5 ending gap after having to put up out of a fairway bunker. “Final 12 months, I misplaced within the playoff and simply felt like I can play higher. And this 12 months I bought the trophy, so it’s wonderful.”
With the win, Ding earns exemptions into subsequent 12 months’s Masters Event and Open Championship at Royal Portrush. Nevertheless, Ding was not sure whether or not he’d keep beginner to make use of these invitations. He at present is ranked No. 1 within the new International Novice Pathway rating (assume PGA Tour College for non-college gamers), and the highest participant on Oct. 15 will earn a full DP World Tour card for subsequent season. Coming into this week, Ding, who left Arizona State this summer season after only one semester, had deliberate to leap to the professionals after competing in Japan.
Now that he’s gained, Ding has a troublesome determination positioned in entrance of him.
“Earlier than I performed this, I can’t think about I’m assure to win this event,” Ding stated. “So, I don’t know. It’s an issue.”
Ding then added: “I feel extra probably I ought to take the cardboard.”
If he does determine to forego his exemptions and switch professional, he would certainly accomplish that earlier than the brand new DPWT season begins on Nov. 21 in Australia.
“It doesn’t matter what, I’m beginner or professional, I’ll nonetheless play the Masters and The Open,” Ding stated. “So, if I can, I could make it later. … This could give me a number of confidence. I attempted to play the DP World Tour final 12 months, and I made some cuts. So, I do know I can do higher and attempt to be taught to be a professional participant.”
