Li Linqiang, 13, makes cut to break Challenge Tour record
Friday 13 October 2017 12:57, UK
Thirteen-year-old Li Linqiang became the youngest player to make a cut on the Challenge Tour at the Hainan Open.
The Chinese amateur, who turns 14 next month, followed an opening-round 69 with a three-over 75 on Friday to make the cut at Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club.
Linqiang bogeyed two of his first four holes but bounced back with a birdie at the par-five sixth to reach the turn in 37, before sliding down the leaderboard with a double-bogey at the short 14th.
Golfing World
Needing a par at the last to stay level-par for the week and progress through to the weekend, Lingqiang holed a three-foot clutch putt to stay inside the cutline.
The teenager is 12 strokes adrift of halfway leader Erik van Rooyen, after the South African birdied five of his first six holes on his way to a blemish-free 65.
Aged 13 years, 11 months and 11 days, Linqiang is more than a year older than compatriot Ye Wo-cheng was when he made his European Tour debut at the 2013 Volvo China Open.
The youngest player to make the cut in a European Tour event was Guan Tianlang, who was 14 years and 169 days old when finished in 58th spot at the 2013 Masters.
Atthaya Thitikul was 14 years, four months and 19 days old when she won the Ladies European Thailand Championship earlier this summer, while Lydia Ko was 15 when she won her maiden LPGA Tour title.
