by Al Campbell

MONTREAL, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China will be prominent when the Junior Presidents Cup tees off on Monday in Quebec as three of the country's top amateur golfers are competing on the International Team that faces an uphill battle against a dominant squad from the United States.

The two-day, team match-play competition pits 12 junior boys, all 18-year-old and younger, from the U.S. against their 12 counterparts from the International Team, which is made up of players from around the world, excluding Europe. The American juniors have won the first three editions of the tournament that takes place three days before the pros tee it up on Thursday at Royal Montreal for the Presidents Cup.

Chang Xihuan, a 16-year-old from Beijing who has posted nine wins over the past three seasons, eight of them coming against pro fields, said he was just happy to be selected to a team that includes top amateurs from Vietnam, Thailand, India, New Zealand, Indonesia and host Canada.

Joining Chang is fellow Beijinger Yu Hanjie and Gu Liangliang, a 15-year-old from Jiangsu province.

"I'm cherishing this opportunity, it's precious to me," said Chang on Sunday after his practice round on the Blue Course at Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac. "I practiced three days on the golf course and find it has a good quality and good views. Some holes are easy, but some are hard. For those hard par-threes I'll aim to the middle of the green and look to get par. I came to learn, to gain experience."

With Chinese amateur Ding Wenyi on top of the inaugural Global Amateur Pathway Ranking and in contention to get his full playing card on the DP World Tour for the 2025 season, Chang, currently 34th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, is the top Chinese in the field this week.

Ding, 19, who missed the cut at this week's Procore Championship on the PGA Tour, played on the 2022 International Team that lost to the U.S. 13-11 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Chang, who played in five events in the U.S. this year, said he knows he will be facing tough competition from the Americans.

"When I played with the U.S. juniors, I found them to be stronger, their mental game is better, and they have better skills of dealing in tough situations," said Chang. "The goal I gave to myself is to play well on every shot, focus on every shot, and work well with my teammates."

Yu, ranked 226th in the world, was another feeling lucky to get the opportunity to be in Montreal.

"I just got into the World Amateur Golf Ranking this April and I played in only 10 events. My points were enough for me to be the 12th player in the Junior Presidents Cup International Team. It is my very first time to play in a tournament outside of China, and it is such an important event," said the 18-year-old Yu who has been playing golf for the past 10 years.

"I am looking forward to the match-play format. I hope my score is better than two-under every day. But my hope is to gain tournament experience here. I tested the course and find the greens very hard."

Gu is another playing in his first event in North America. The Nantong native is 250th in the World Ranking on the strength of four wins over the past two seasons.

"My dad took me golfing in the beginning, and then I was influenced by my good friend. We shared golf interest and motivated each other. I've been playing golf for six years now. I am very excited about this opportunity," said the Chinese prodigy.

"I rarely play golf outside of China, only played in England and Japan this year. I tried to get this opportunity by playing events with more WAGR points. I know that I'd be up against some pretty tough competition. I'll just follow my own pace and strategy. I am not an aggressive player. My driver lacks the distance. I hope my teammate could be a good pairing with me. He can be more aggressive and I hope he can hit longer drives."

The U.S. Team is coached by PGA Tour veteran Charley Hoffman, while Canadian Graham DeLaet, a former PGA Tour pro, leads the International Team. Enditem

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