Christine Wong - GOLFWEEK Player Of The Week

A winner back in October, Wong last week stroked her way to a three-shot victory in the Hurricane Invitational in Miami Lakes, Fla., leading GOLFWEEK magazine to name her Player of the Week.

A graduate of Richmond's McMath Secondary, this was Wong's second tournament title in just her fifth career event as an Aztec

With a 1-over par 217 total to win by three strokes in the 90-player field, Wong remains the only MWC women's golfer to win an event this season and is ranked as high as 51st nationally by golfstat.com. She is the first SDSU player in the 11-year MWC era to win two 54-hole tournament titles in the same season.

Wong is also featured as the lead story of GOLFWEEK's College Notebook.

By Julie Williams

Christine Wong doesn't waste much time. For that matter, neither does her golf coach, Emilee Klein.

Wong claimed medalist honors last week at the Hurricane Invitational in Miami. It's the second collegiate victory for the San Diego State freshman who, together with newly minted coach Emilee Klein, is breathing new life into the Aztec program.

It only took one semester for Wong, also a winner at the Price's Give 'Em Five Invite in October, to get the lay of the land in San Diego, even though she was playing golf more than 1,000 miles from her home in Richmond, British Columbia, just south of Vancouver. Despite a pang of homesickness when the Winter Olympics come on TV, Wong has transitioned well and is thoroughly enjoying the warmer climate and extended practice season. She used the first semester to figure out how to juggle school and golf, and now is on to more important things: winning golf tournaments.

"I've never had so many people support me and try to help me with my game," Wong said.

A big part of that support comes from Klein, a California native and former LPGA standout who is in her first year coaching at San Diego State after four years at UCF. Wong calls her "the best coach I've ever had."

"She's always there for us to talk to, to ask anything we need," she said. "She's done a lot for the team already."

The affection is mutual from Klein, who attributes Wong's smooth transition to a carefree, happy personality and a closely-bonded Aztec team ready to open its arms to Wong and her fellow freshmen.

"She's such a strong player, she just hits the ball so far that when she gets her consistency going, she's a really good player," Klein said.

Barely into her college career, Wong, ranked No. 77 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings, already is making vast improvements to her game. Klein is helping her nail down exact yardages throughout her bag, improve her distance control and hone an already solid short game. Wong's good play is set up by her distance from the tee.

At this rate, Wong is a player to keep on the radar as her game continues to improve. She gave a taste of what she's capable with last week's three-shot victory in Miami, setting the pace for the field in Round 1 with a 3-under 69 in which she hit every fairway and every green. She lays out those details casually, along with the fact that, "I think I had just under 30 putts for that round."

"My short game has improved a lot and I see it improving more in the future," Wong said. "I've worked on my distance control and the mental side of my game. I'm just looking forward to learning."

Editorial Note:
Christine Wong's golf career in British Columbia began when she played in the Little Masters events organized by Harry White and his team of Optimist volunteers.

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