Thirteen-year-old Damon Chen is gearing up for the Fiji Golf Open Championship next month, determined to make his mark in the sport. The Year 8 student at St Teresa Primary School in Ba has excelled in the amateur junior golf category, starting with a victory in the Junior category at the Lautoka Open late last year. He has since maintained his impressive performance with several wins at the Ba Golf Club.
Despite his young age, Chen demonstrates a strong commitment to improving his golf skills. His father, Chen Jin Shan, a businessman from Ba, serves as a significant source of motivation and support.
Damon began playing golf in Year 6 and has set ambitious goals to turn professional by Year 11, aspiring to be one of the youngest professional golfers in Fiji. “I plan to play professional golf in Year 11 and be one of the youngest professional golfers in the country,” he shares.
Balancing his school work with his golf training poses a challenge, especially as he prepares for his Fiji Eighth Year Examination. He mentions, “I usually train every day, but if I have homework, I make sure to prioritize my studies.”
Looking toward the future, Damon hopes to attend Stanford University and eventually move to Australia to pursue a professional golfing career.