Hong edges Deen in epic CCC duel
Charles Hong won his second club championship in three years as he pulled past Eric Deen Saturday in one of the most-exciting battles for the Cebu Country Club crown.
Hong, a 19-year-old incoming 4th year Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering student at de la Salle University, took the upper hand several times and had to thwart all attempts of Deen to overtake.
The 43-year-old Deen is a four-time club champion.
Hong told The Freeman that he was ahead from the early going, but Deen always managed to even things up.
After 18 holes, Hong went 2-up and then posted his biggest lead after 28 holes as he was 4-up.
It wasn’t easy sailing from there though.
Deen displayed nerves of steel and took the 29th, 30th, and 32nd holes to go only one-down with four more holes to go.
From there, both players all knocked in pars allowing Hong to score the victory.
Two years ago, Hong beat another former junior golf stand out Jojo Tiongko for the club championship. It was on that year that he made club history being the first person to win both the club and junior titles.
Last year, Hong fell to the seasoned Montito Garcia in their 36-hole final.
Coming in as the sixth seed in the championships this year, Hong beat Jan-Jan Ybañez, a top junior golf player, 5 and 4 in the round of 16.
In the quarterfinals, he avenged last year’s loss to Garcia with a 2-up win and then disposed of another multi club champion, Carl Almario, 2 and 1 in the semifinal round.
AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME, BUT…
Hong said that he feels that he is at the top of his game now and considers the annual club championship as something that he really aims for.
However, he said, there is always room for improvement in his game.
When he is in
His lack of time at the fairways and greens, is however compensated by the time he spends at the Villamor Golf Club driving range, he said.
While golf may seem to be a very important part of his life, Charles has his studies as a priority. He does not only come from a family of golfers, but a family of golfing engineers.
His parents George and Josephine are both Civil Engineers and so are his elder sibling William and Mary Kim.
Charles said that if he gets a chance, he will turn professional someday, but although he may have the skills and determination to reach that goal, he seems to be focused on first earning his degree.
He started playing golf at the age of 6, but said that he did not play competitive golf until he was nine years old.
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