Earlier this season, Tiffany Chan earned a sponsor’s exemption into the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play, and made the most of the opportunity, finishing tied for ninth. Entering the year with limited LPGA Tour status, she’s only made three additional appearances on Tour since her week in Las Vegas. Chan finished T63 at the U.S. Women’s Open presented by ProMedica, missed the cut at the ShopRite LPGA Classic carded a tie for 67th at the Meijer LPGA Classic. So when Haeji Kang asked Chan to be her partner at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, Chan was so grateful to team up with one of her good friends.
“All I need is the chance this year. I appreciate it that no one asked me,” said Chan. “Haeji just one day said, hey, Tiff, do you want to partner with me? I said, of course, I want to partner with you. My number one priority that we set this week is just try to have fun. Don't say sorry. Slap on the hat if we say sorry. So far we're doing pretty good.”
Now Chan and Kang are thriving in the team format and currently sit in a tie for third at -11 heading into the final day in Midland thanks to shooting foursomes rounds of 68 and 69 and a 62 during Thursday’s four-ball round. Kang, playing with Amy Yang, finished in a tie for sixth in 2021, one of 16 top-10 finishes of her career. Chan’s best finish in the event came with Peiyun Chien in 2019, when they tied for 20th. Neither Chan nor Kang have never won on the LPGA Tour before, and though they’ll be chasing the leaders from six strokes back, the two could not be more excited for the chance to change their lives and careers on Saturday.
“It's obviously I want my friend to do well and she gets an opportunity out of this, so hopefully I'll do my best and see what happens, and I hopefully help her with her status,” said Kang.
“One more day to enjoy it,” said Chan, “And could be life-changing experience, so who knows?
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