Chinese young golfer Dou driving for gold in Nanjing YOG

Dou Zecheng competes during the Asia-Pacific amateur golf championship in Longkou city, East China's Shandong province, Oct 24, 2013.[Photo/CFP]

NANJING -- Chinese golfer Dou Zecheng is hoping for the biggest win of his life at the 2nd Youth Olympics in Nanjing.

The 17-year-old from central China's Henan province, is the top-ranked Chinese amateur golfer in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, at No. 39.

Dou even had a starring role in Saturday night's opening ceremony. He was one of eight Youth Olympic Games' athlete representatives who received the Olympic flag from the eight Chinese flag bearers who marched it into the stadium.

Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games

The teenager's story began when he took up the sport when he was six. Dou, whose nickname is Marty, said: "At the very beginning I played it for fun with my dad, and I always love it. I began to focus on training and competing a few years ago. Now I'm on the 2nd grade at high school. I spend much of my spare time playing golf."

He plans to go to university aboard when he finishes school. Afterwards he would like to become a professional golfer. The high school student is well on his way too after winning the 2014 PGA tour China Buick open and finishing second in the 2013 Nomura Cup.

He has competed in both China and the USA, but feels very patriotic about competing at Nanjing 2014. So much so that he decided to miss a major competition in July to focus on winning the gold medal.

"I'm the only golf player presenting China. It's my great honor and pleasure to be here. I feel the pressure but I can handle it. My goal is to win the Games," he said with confidence.

The golf competition gets underway on Tuesday.