22-05-2025
Golfer off to junior worlds
Golfer Ricky Kang, 17. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER
Selection for the New Zealand under-19 golf team for the Toyota Junior World Cup in Japan next month confirms Queenstowner Ricky Kang's steady rise up the ranks.
The South Korea-born golfer, who turned 17 yesterday, is one of three boys chosen for the strong-looking team along with three girls.
Ricky, whose sister, Sumin, 20, is on a four-year golf scholarship at Northern Arizona University, in the United States, has enjoyed some good results in recent months.
He won the Southland strokeplay, was second in the Canterbury strokeplay and debuted for Otago.
He was also part of the NZ squad who travelled across the Tasman to play the Aussie juniors.
Ricky came close, too, to qualifying for this year's NZ Open at Arrowtown's Millbrook, where he's a member.
"I was four-under playing a qualifier and I really needed to birdie the last [hole] and just missed out."
At 910th in the world junior rankings, he's set some ambitious goals on his 'Ricky Kang's Supporters' Facebook page — he wants to win the US junior amateur champs before he turns 19, aims to play the PGA Tour and wants to represent NZ and medal at the Olympics.
His coach of five years or so, Millbrook's Ben Gallie, applauds his goal-setting.
"Those goals are really good just to keep you motivated on the lonely days out on the range.
"He's getting better and better and he's starting to understand his own game, in particular, situational preparation."
Everything's solid about his game, Gallie says, "and he's got good work ethic".
Ricky, who was first taught by his dad, Moon, when he was five, came to Queenstown with his family in 2011.
He used to play with Sumin, "and do bets really often".
What he loves about the game is "it's challenging always".
"Even in the good times you can always look for something better."
Unlike his sister, Ricky's not looking to go the US college route, but instead wants to join the Korean Tour as a pro.
His favourite NZ courses are Jack's Point, near where he lives, Invercargill's Otatara, Christchurch's Shirley and Waikato's Tieke Golf Estate, and his hero is Aussie Min Woo Lee.
This week he has gone to Sydney for a month's prep ahead of the Toyota Junior World Cup in Nagoya from June 24-27.
Meanwhile, his father is appealing for anyone who'd like to help sponsor his son, "because the training and tournament costs are quite a lot".
