Atlanta, United States (August 12): China’s rising teenage star Dou Zecheng has withdrawn from this week’s US Amateur Championship.
The highly-rated 17-year-old had been scheduled to make his debut in one of the world’s most prestigious amateur events.
However, he has opted instead to remain in China to prepare to represent his country at the Youth Olympic Games (August 19-26).
First round leader at last year’s Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, Dou is the youngest player to have made the cut in the Volvo China Open, achieving the feat in 2013 when aged 16.
With Dou’s late withdrawal, the US Amateur Championship teed-off with just five Asians in the 312-strong starting field at Atlanta Athletic Club from August.
It is hoped that Dou will make the trip to Royal Melbourne Golf Club from October 23-26 to compete in the sixth Asia Pacific Amateur Championship.
The Asia Pacific Amateur Championship is organised by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) in conjunction with The Masters Tournament and The R&A.
The winner of the 2014 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship will receive an invitation to compete in the 2015 Masters Tournament and an exemption into The (British) Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A.
Meanwhile, the winner and runner(s)-up will earn a place in The Open Qualifying Series with the opportunity to qualify for The Open Championship at St Andrews in 2015.