How One Student is Leading the Way for SCIS Golfers

We are excited to share the latest #communityvoices story about our very own dragon, Markus. This seventh-grade student is leading the way for future Dragon golfers. Markus finished on the podium for the Jia Nian Hua Junior Golf Championship Shanghai Regional Final.

The Jia Nian Hua series of junior golf tournaments are nationwide events geared towards promoting junior golf in China, and it is sanctioned by the China Golf Association. This tournament was the year-end final championship for the Shanghai region and boasted a full roster of 134 players, split among four age groups.  

Markus won the Group A title by two strokes with a score of 81, his first win for Group A after taking three wins in Group B in 2021. Happy with his result from the tournament, Markus hopes to continue improving his golf skills and encourage others to take up golf as well. Markus has found his passion and hopes it can help fuel the Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) golf team in growing to its full potential. Learn more about Markus and how he fell in love with the sport of golf at SCIS.  

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Markus, I am 13 years old and currently in Seventh Grade at the SCIS Hongqiao campus. My sister is Isabel and she's in Eleventh Grade. My favorite subject at school is English, and besides golf, my favorite hobbies include, among other things, art, drawing, writing, and playing video games. 

How long have you lived in Shanghai?

I was born in Shanghai in 2008, and I have been attending SCIS since pre-K at ECE. 

What is your favorite part about going to school at SCIS? 

My favorite part of going to school at SCIS is the friendships I've built over the years. The teachers are very helpful, and I feel comfortable and confident learning in this kind of environment. 

When did you start playing golf? 

I started playing golf when I joined the After School Activities (ASA) golf classes at school back in First Grade. It was initially just for fun, but it grew on me, and I started taking private classes with a coach. Whilst I always feel the passion for golf, it wasn't until I was in Fifth Grade that I started training systematically and playing competitively.

I joined a golf club (GGE) and trained with some of the top-ranked junior golfers in Shanghai and China. I improved quickly and started winning some junior tournaments like the Boys U13 group in 2021. I turned 13 last December and moved up to the Boys U17 group. My handicap is currently 6.5. 

What is your favorite thing about golf and why? Do you have a favorite club that you use? 

Golf is said to be the most difficult sport in the world, as it requires both physical and mental toughness. It's an individual sport so your biggest opponent is yourself. Along the way, you have to deal with the elements and factors such as the weather and many others. But encountering these is the fun part of golf. My favorite club in my bag is my 8 iron because it's the most consistent club in terms of control and distance.    

Who is one athlete that you admire most and why?  

My favorite golfer is Collin Morikawa. He has a swing and game I wish to emulate. I've read his advice to young players, and I think it really helped me improve my game. 

How do you balance your time between school, homework, and golf?  

Golf training takes up a lot of my free time since I train a minimum of three times per week on and off the course. I try to balance and manage my time by doing my homework as early as possible and following strict routines. 

What do you hope to accomplish within the SCIS Golf team? 

I hope my playing will bring the SCIS name to the junior golf scene in Shanghai, and I hope we will have more players in the coming year so we can play as a school team under the SCIS flag. 

Congratulations, Markus, on a great golf season. We can’t wait to see how your skills progress and how your passion for golf inspires others.  

SCIS. Positive Contributors.  

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