Thirteen-year-old Damon Chen is gearing up for the Fiji Golf Open Championship next month, eager to make a significant impact in the sport. The Year 8 student from St Teresa Primary School in Ba has distinguished himself in the amateur junior golf category this season, beginning with a victory in the Junior category at the Lautoka Open late last year. He continued his strong performance with several wins at the Ba Golf Club.
Despite his youth, Chen demonstrates a deep commitment to honing his golf skills. His father, Chen Jin Shan, a businessman in Ba, has been a constant source of support and encouragement throughout his journey.
Damon started playing golf in Year 6 and has ambitious goals to turn professional by Year 11, with the aspiration of becoming one of the youngest professional golfers in the country. He stated, “I plan to play professional golf in Year 11 and be one of the youngest professional golfers in the country.”
Juggling school responsibilities with his passion for golf presents challenges, particularly as he prepares for his Fiji Eighth Year Examination. “I usually train every day, but if I have homework, I focus on that and study for my exam,” he explained.
Looking to the future, Damon aims to attend Stanford University and eventually relocate to Australia to pursue a professional golf career.