Thirteen-year-old Damon Chen is gearing up for the upcoming Fiji Golf Open Championship next month, aiming to make a significant impact in the sport. A Year 8 student at St Teresa Primary School in Ba, Chen has distinguished himself in the amateur junior golf category, kicking off his season with a victory in the Junior category at the Lautoka Open late last year and continuing to impress with several wins at the Ba Golf Club.
Despite being just a teenager, Chen is deeply committed to honing his golf skills, inspired by the unwavering support of his father, Chen Jin Shan, a businessman in Ba.
Chen began his golfing journey in Year 6 and has set his sights on turning professional by Year 11, striving to become one of the youngest professional golfers in the nation. “I plan to play professional golf in Year 11 and be one of the youngest professional golfers in the country,” he said.
Managing his schoolwork alongside his golf training presents a challenge, particularly with his Fiji Eighth Year Examination approaching. “I normally train every day, but if there’s homework, I will focus on my homework and study for my exam,” he remarked.
Looking toward the future, Damon aims to attend Stanford University and eventually establish a professional golf career in Australia.