Paychen Chen has always had a strong desire to succeed.
He first came to Long Island from Beijing as a child, speaking no English and having little understanding of America. A talented skydiver for the Chinese national team, Chen’s father wanted to guide him toward becoming a golf star.
“My dad wanted me to play Olympic sports,” said Chen, a 22-year-old senior at St. John’s University, who recently shot a 62 at Bethpage Yellow.
His early attempt at tennis didn’t go well; at six, he struggled to keep the racket in his hand when hit by the ball. So, his father pivoted and took him to a driving range instead.
Later, after a split with Chen’s first golf coach, family friends introduced him to Michael Jacobs. At just 12 years old, Chen began practicing at Rock Hill Golf Club. His mother, with limited English, had to explain their situation to Jacobs.
Jacobs was willing to help, even though Chen, at the time, didn’t seem destined for greatness. “I remember this little, thin kid showing up with glasses,” Jacobs recalled, noting that Chen wore bright red clothing emblazoned with the word “China.”
Despite language barriers, Chen’s enthusiasm for improvement shone through, and Jacobs noticed this quickly.
Jacobs taught him simple terms to convey instructions through body language. Chen, who won the Big East individual title last year, appreciated that Jacobs even turned to Google Translate to communicate effectively.
What started as a summer lesson turned into a decade-long friendship. Each year, up until they both settled at St. John’s at 18, they looked forward to the warm months in New York.
“Kids often want immediate satisfaction in golf,” Jacobs said. “But Chen understood it’s a long journey.”
Achievements
By his 20s, Chen’s hard work paid off; he won last year’s Doc Gimmler tournament at Bethpage Black, with an impressive 54 under 206 over the course.
He also gained insights from Jacobs’ other clients, including Hall of Famer Padraig Harrington and top winners like Jason Dufner.
Jacobs has had a significant influence, contributing to Chen’s success while he pursued studies at St. John’s.
“Rock Hill feels like my second family,” Chen stated, expressing gratitude for the lessons he learned about American culture and humor—he’s quite good at both now.
“They really take care of me,” Chen noted. “Michael Jacobs is like an older brother to me. We share a special friendship.”
Future Aspirations
Looking ahead, Chen remains focused on professional goals, while Jacobs, who doesn’t have a family of his own, is eager to pass on all his golfing expertise.
“It’s about preparing him for a professional career,” Jacobs said.
As Chen contemplates his journey, he’s aware there’s still much more to accomplish.
After a strong comeback at this year’s Big East Tournament, finishing third, he earned a crucial spot in the NCAA Tournament at Poplar Grove Golf Club in Amherst, Virginia.
When he learned the news at Noyak Country Club during a U.S. Open Qualifier, he couldn’t contain his excitement. “I looked at my name and started jumping up and down,” he shared. “This year, I just want to play my game, have fun, and make everyone proud at St. John’s and Long Island.”
