Player Profile: Connie Chen

On Sunday South Africa’s Connie Chen won her first Ladies European Tour title at the Spanish Ladies Open. This week’s player profile takes a look at the early career of this talented golfer as she makes her first mark on the European circuit.

Early life

21-year-old Chen was born in Pretoria, South Africa’s capital city. Her natural golfing talent came to the fore during her childhood years, having been introduced to the game by her father. Chen’s love of golf blossomed during her teens, when she began to devote an equal amount of hard work into her golfing and academic commitments – her dedication paid off as she enjoyed a successful amateur career.

First steps in competitive golf

Chen’s amateur career reached its peak in 2010, just before she turned professional. With victories at the 2010 South African Girls’ Championship and the German Harder Championship, Chen was fast becoming a household name in her home country.

The young champion was awarded the 2010 Top Women’s Amateur prize by the South African magazine Compleat Golfer in the same season.

Professional debut

In 2011 Chen made her debut on the Ladies European Tour, making 7 out of 13 cuts for the season. Finishing 93rd on the money list, she weathered her first season and retained her tour card for 2012.

2012 saw Chen playing 20 events on the LET, recording a best finish of 11th place at the Prague Masters. Her final place on the money list moved up to 72nd as her game continued to improve. 2013 was a similarly solid season for Chen, with a hole-in-one on the third day of the Dubai Ladies Masters which saw the 20-year-old walk away with a new Mercedes.

This season was Chen’s watershed year, with her game coming into its own and a newfound confidence on the course. Sunday’s victory marks the beginning of a successful professional career for the young South African – golf fans should keep an eye on Chen as she establishes herself on the European golf scene.

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