Thirteen-year-old Damon Chen is gearing up for the upcoming Fiji Golf Open Championship next month, where he aims to make a significant impact in the sport. A Year 8 student at St Teresa Primary School in Ba, Chen has proven himself as a standout competitor in the amateur golf junior category, beginning with a victory in the Junior division at the Lautoka Open last year and continuing his success with several wins at the Ba Golf Club.
Despite his young age, Chen shows a remarkable commitment to refining his golf skills, driven by support from his father, Chen Jin Shan, a businessman in Ba. Damon started playing golf in Year 6 and has ambitious aspirations to turn professional by Year 11, aiming 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 stated.
Balancing academic responsibilities with his passion for golf poses a challenge, particularly as he prepares for his Fiji Eighth Year Examination. “I normally train every day, but if there’s homework, I will focus on that and study for my exam,” he explained.
Looking to the future, Damon hopes to join Stanford University and eventually establish his professional golf career in Australia.