“Too good to be true” – Wenyi Ding scripts history at U.S Junior Open to become China’s first male USGA Champion
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Caleb Surratt and Wenyi Ding
Caleb Surratt entered the U.S. Junior Amateur final as the country’s hottest amateur. Wenyi Ding was the next. The 17-year-old Ding overcame an early disadvantage to build a dominating 8-up lead with eight holes to play in the 36-hole final at Bandon Dunes.
He won, 3 and 2, and became the first Chinese male to win a USGA event. Surratt said, “He played perfect golf. He made every stroke for 25 holes. It was tough. I was 7 or 8 under for 34 holes but couldn’t win.” Surratt was 7 under with concessions. He carded 12 birdies, including on his first three morning holes, to go 2-up.
China’s first male USGA champ
The 18-year-old UT pledge had four top-6 Elite Amateur Series finishes this summer. He reached the Round of 16 at North and South Amateur and Bandon Dunes. Wenyi Ding birdied the par-4 10th to overtake Surratt. By noon, he was 3-up. Until this summer, Ding rarely played in the U.S.
The Chinese amateur won last year’s Volvo China Open. Ranked 20, one spot behind Surratt. Ding’s final match with Surratt is likely to be the first time the field’s two highest-ranked players have clashed in the championship match. Ding ruined the second half.
The 6-foot-4 kid shot 12 under to beat Surratt. He played the afternoon front nine in 6 under and led by 7 at the turn. Surratt won five straight holes to finish 8 up. Ding’s 29th drive was unplayable (No. 11). Surratt almost made eagle on the 32nd hole (No. 14). Ding missed the par-3 green with his first three strokes and conceded. Ding’s caddie encouraged him to relax. “You win. He’s nervous, so you’ll win.”
On the par-4 16th, Surratt missed a 25-foot birdie putt. Ding couldn’t win without an 8-footer. Bo Jin finished second in 2019 to Preston Summerhays. Ding joins Alice Jo and Angelina Ye as USGA champions. Jordan Spieth (2011), Scottie Scheffler (2013), Will Zalatoris (2014), and Min Woo Lee (2015) are among the past 11 U.S. Junior champions (2016).
Wil Lozano, Ding’s caddy, stated, “In the finals, you know you have an equal. I knew it’d be hard. Front nine seemed too good to be true. If he won or tied one hole in the last eight, we’d win. He started feeling the strain and had been telling me for days that he was exhausted. This course is difficult, especially with the wind. I’m glad he persisted.” Ding embraced his father Feng after his triumph. Ding had just defeated Surratt, and now he was crying.
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