Taiwanese American junior golfer Shawn Lu won one of the largest junior golf championships in Hawaii on Wednesday.
The 15-year-old fired five birdies — three consecutively on the final three holes — as well as a bogey and a double bogey, in the second and final round of the King Auto Group 13-18 State Junior Championship.
Lu, who played in the 15-18 age group bracket, carded a two-under 70 for a 144 two-day total.
“I feel very blessed on winning,” Lu told reporters.
The King Auto Group 13-18 State Junior Championship, along with the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Callaway Junior World Qualifier, are the two largest junior golf events in Hawaii.
In January, Lu won the AJGA Preseason Junior at the Oak Valley Golf Course in Beaumont, California, with scores of 69 and 73.
Early last month, Lu came second in the Callaway Junior World Qualifier. He is to head to San Diego in California to compete in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships from July 14 to 18.
The victory on Wednesday earned him an invitation to play in the Japan High School Gold Championship in Japan on Aug. 7 to 9.
Born and raised in Hawaii to Taiwanese parents, Lu said he has visited Taiwan many times with his parents and has played on Taiwanese golf courses.
“I would love to play in Taiwan again someday because the atmosphere in Taiwan is much different than in Hawaii,” he said.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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