During the second qualifying match of the 2017 Volvo China Open, the Blu-ray Guanling Qualifier, Richard Castka, whose vest pocket was stuffed with cameras, picked up his beer cup as usual and sipped it.
Originally from the Czech Republic and based in Hong Kong, Richard has long been the official photographer of the Volvo China Open and its Volvo China Open qualifiers, Volvo National Junior Hole Championship and other golf tournaments, and is a master who can drink beer as tea.
Seeing Richard's comfortable look, Ms. Wu Rong, former media director of volvo China Open, sighed: "With two more games, Richard will shoot 50 qualifiers. ”
50 fields seems like an impossible number. But for Richard, 50 games is really just that.
Richard (Image courtesy of Richard)
The Blu-ray Guanling Qualifier is the 48th qualifying tournament held since volvo China Open first launched its qualifiers in 2005. Less than a month later, from April 11 to 12, 2017, Tianjin Binhai Forest Golf Club ushered in the 50th qualifying match.
In those two days, Richard, who followed the Chinese mainland the oldest international professional golf tournament to the north, was naturally also on the scene.
Shooting these 50 qualifiers, Richard spent 13 years, one without falling, full attendance.
Over the years, people have had various views on the judgment of "996", but no matter how the wind changes, the "full attendance award" is still unanimously praised.
You must not think that the "attendance award" is easy to get.
First of all, you have to be diligent enough.
Second, you have to be disciplined enough.
Again, you have to be physically healthy all the time, have a medical pain or something, even if you don't want to take leave, you can't cooperate with your body.
In the end, you have to be tough enough that the wind and rain can't stop the call of work to you.
To some extent, the "attendance award" can be equated with the model worker.
Richard was filming
In addition to the above standards, there is a special requirement for Richard, that is, photography technology must reach the international standard. He took the European Tour-certified Volvo China Open, which was carefully selected by the organizing committee and released by thousands of people around the world. The slightest flaw may be questioned.
For a photography expert like Richard, nature is not a problem.
After shooting the 50th qualifying match, Richard continued to be active at the Volvo China Open.
Richard at the 2019 Volvo China Open
Richard has been filming the Volvo China Open since 1996, and if it were not for the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the records for consecutive service qualifications and open tournaments would continue to be refreshed by him.
Back to the previous article, after saying that sentence, Wu Rong followed up with a sentence: "The matter is man-made!" With care and persistence, the Open record can be created by yourself. ”
When Richard participated in the filming of the Volvo China Open that year, he should focus on the photos that the organizing committee was satisfied with, rather than running to set a record. But just like his beer belly, which is slowly formed under the nourishment of beer for a long time, after following the Volvo China Open for so many years, the record that belongs to him was inadvertently born and became a glory that people look up to.
Richard with a camera on his shoulder
Do not despise this record and glory.
People have left their names, and geese have left their voices.
Golf big guys also like to brush records. The emperor of golf, Arnold Palmer, participated in 50 consecutive Masters games, and although the personality of the "Black Knight" Gary Pleier failed to compete consecutively, he could not grab Palmer's record, but Pleier participated in a total of 52 times, becoming the player with the most majors in this Grand Slam.
You might say that Palmer and Pleier's high-ball achievements are far from what these two records can describe, but Palmer and Pleier are stunned to persevere. It is estimated that there are not a few famous players who are holding their breath to catch up with this record.
Richard received a thank-you note from the organizing committee (image courtesy of Richard)
Richard's record is not included in the Volvo China Open Memorabilia (hereinafter referred to as "Memorabilia"). Memorabilia chronicles highlights the game, but Richard's love for the event deserves respect, and his record deserves to be collected.
The Volvo China Open will continue to be held, and when the epidemic is over and Richard returns, his record will be extended again.