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13 year old out to prove he's only Green by name

Malaysia’s 13-year-old amateur Gavin Kyle Green will be eager to rub shoulders with the big boys when he tees off at the Iskandar Johor Open on Thursday.

Green is the third youngest player to compete in an Asian Tour event at 13 years and 238 days old and is set to play alongside some of the top Asian stalwarts that include Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit leader Liang Wen-chong, local star Airil Rizman Zahari, Korea’s Lee Sung, Thai duo of Chapchai Nirat and Thaworn Wiratchant, Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wen-teh and Australia’s Scott Hend.

13 year old Gavin Green

Playing in his biggest ever event, Green will take on a cautious approach at the Royal Johor Country Club as he aims to emulate the performance of the experienced pool of professionals from August 23-26.

“This is a great opportunity for me. I am happy and excited to play in this event and hope to learn some tips from the professionals here. I am satisfied with my game and I don’t think I will be too nervous when I tee off,” said Green.

“I hope to play on the Asian Tour in the future so I think this is a good experience for me. I played in the pro-am today and enjoyed myself out there as the course suits my game,” admitted Green, who is under the guidance of coach Tony Maloney.

Green picked up the game from his father Gary Green and mother Vivien at the age of seven.

He finished runner-up in the World Junior Championship Under-14 category in the United States this year. Green, who received an invite by the organisers, will be joined by sixteen-year-old amateur Mohd Iylia Jamil who earned his place through the qualifying round.

“My strength is in my short game and it has been steady so far today when I played in the pro-am. I enjoy playing on this course because the fairways are long and narrow too,” said the amateur, who drives the ball to an average distance of 240 yards.

Sharing the same coach as Green, Asian Tour’s Airil, who won the Pakistan Open in January, believes that with a strong mental game, the youngster has a bright future in the game.

“We share the same coach and I believe he has the potential to make it big in the future. This week though I hope he can relax on course and focus on his game as this is the biggest event for him so far,” said Airil.

Korea’s Lee, who overcame the final round jitters after his triumph at the Bangkok Airways Open in June, will be among the top contenders at the Royal Johor Country Club. Lee will be joined by another tournament winner this season Lu who won the Macau Open in March and big hitter Chapchai who lifted the TCL Classic in the same month.

Australia’s Scott Hend, who struck four top-10s that included two runner-up finishes this season, will be eager to open the second half of the season with a win alongside American Jason Knutzon.

August 21, 2007