Tiffany Kong Happy With First LPGA Appearance At CP Women’s Open
Vancouver's 14-Year Old Tiffany Kong Will Finish Off A Whirlwind Week By Taking A Family Vacation. Even 14-Year Olds Deserve Time Off - File Photo
by Alfie Lau
For Tiffany Kong, a week that began with two medals at the Western Canada Summer Games at Wood Buffalo, AB will end with a well-deserved Caribbean vacation.
Oh, did we mention that Kong Monday qualified for the CP Women’s Open LPGA stop at the Vancouver Golf Club and played the first two rounds, shooting a (+9) score of 153 after rounds of 76 and 77?
“It was tiring, but I had a lot of fun,” said the David Thompson Secondary student who earned one of four spots into the tournament with an even-par 72 at Pitt Meadows Golf Course on Monday.
Kong won a team gold and individual silver in Alberta, flew back Sunday night and teed it up Monday afternoon. “I thought it was just going to be a one-day tournament,” said Kong, who was happily surprised to get another two rounds, but this time with the best female golfers in the world.
Kong couldn’t believe her good luck in meeting some of her favourite golfers. “I shook hands with Brooke Henderson, I met SooBin Kim, I met Inbee Park,” said Kong. “I wasn’t that nervous. I was here for the atmosphere and the experience.”
On the course, Kong said the course played long for her. “My drives were pretty short,” she said. “I hit a lot of long irons when (my playing partners) hit short irons.”
Kong, who could have played the BC Juvenile Girls Championship at Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club instead, was happy to have some of her junior golf friends cheer her on. Ashley Cai was waiting for her by the 18th green to get a flag signed, while Phoebe Yue and Gloria Choi were in the crowd who watched Kong for several holes.
Kong said she will probably come out Saturday to watch the professionals, but she won’t stay for long, because she’s going on a family vacation starting Saturday night.
Vancouver Golf Club member Matt Somers got a call Monday night from Team BC coach Matt Palsenbarg asking if he would be Kong’s caddy for the week. He couldn’t say yes fast enough. “I had a great time working with Tiffany,” said Somers. “She was a pleasure to caddy for.”
“He was really helpful,” said Kong, who said Somers helped her read some greens and calm her down.
As Somers packed Kong’s bag away, the 14-year-old went back to being a teenager, she just wanted to hang out with her friends.
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