CityView Magazine

Fast Facts about David Chung from www.gostanford.com: CityViewNC.com | 65 This past summer, Chung showed a lot of people just how good he is. On July 4, he won the 109 th North & South Men's Amateur Championship, one of the most prestigious amateur events in the country, with a 4-and-3 victory. Chung knows the 7,342-yard, par 71 Pinehurst No. 2 course well, having played there since he was 11. After surviving five rounds of match-play, which pits opponents directly against one another, he rallied to defeat South Carolina's Wes Bryan. Vanquishing Bryan was no easy feat. In fact, despite his familiarity with the surroundings, Chung found himself down three with less than half the 36-hole final to play. The afternoon holes took a decisive turn after Chung's birdie on the 23rd hole set the match at 2-up, Bryan. Chung surged forward from then on, sinking five more birdies in the next 10 holes. On an equally impressive note, in order to make the quarterfinals, Chung had to beat Oklahoma State's Morgan Hoffman. At the time, Hoffman was the No. 2 player in the country. This was Chung's third time competing in the North & South Amateur Championship. He became the first player from Fayetteville to ever win the tournament, and had his name added to the Pinehurst Heritage Hall plaque for North & South Champions, which also includes Jack Nicklaus, Curtis Strange, Francis Ouimet, Davis Love and many other golf greats. Chung was confident going in to the tournament. He said he had had a solid freshman college season. "It was a big win for me. This was always one I wanted to win," Chung said. "You work so hard, and may or may not get results. All my hard work paid off, and it's motivated me to work even harder now." Conrad Ray just began his sixth year as head coach of the men's golf program at Stanford University. He said Chung played very well in his freshman year and was an all-conference performer. "Every year, we set out recruiting the best," Ray said. "We felt David was what we were looking for academically and athletically. He's a competitor, and he's developing as a great player." Ray was excited for Chung on his victory at Pinehurst. "I know David played there a lot as a kid, and a win on your home turf is pretty sweet," he said. "It's a great feather in his cap." That Chung has a bright future is something of an understatement. "His future in the game is up to him," Ray said. "I think he will have the tools. I think he will be someone you'll continue to read and hear about." Chung has an athletic scholarship to Stanford. He said he chose the school because it offered a first-rate education and a terrific golf team. "I feel comfortable out here and with the other guys on the team," Chung said. His hero, Tiger Woods, also happens to be a Stanford alumnus. Chung was lucky enough to have the opportunity to eat dinner with him last fall. "It was really cool to pick his brain," Chung said. "He's in every way at the top of his game. He's someone I really look up to." Woods may be competing against his biggest fan before he knows it; Chung plans to turn pro after he finishes school. "I'm hoping my career will be golf," Chung said. CV Runner-up in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in 2004, at 14. In 2005, advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, was the runner-up at the Western Junior Amateur Championship, finished in a tie for 11th at the Dixie Amateur Championship, and captured the North Carolina Junior Championship. A 2005 second team Rolex Junior All-America honoree and the 2005 Carolinas' Player of the Year. In 2006, won the Lessing's AJGA Classic and had top-five finish in the National Junior Championship. Selected to the East Team of the American Junior Golf Association's (AJGA) Cannon Cup in both 2005 and 2006. In 2007, tied for 23rd at the Western Amateur and was named a first-team Rolex Junior All- American. In 2008, tied for 11th at the Porter Cup. A three-time qualifier for the U.S. Amateur (2006-2008). "I love trying to find out how good I can get," Chung said. "I work really hard to figure things out. It's a process. It's something you really have to earn."

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