Shannon reigns supreme in Singapore

Teenager fends off international field at CLPGA tourney

Amateur Shannon Tan showcased her huge potential to triumph in a nail-biting finish to the inaugural Singapore Ladies Masters on Saturday.

Playing on her home course at Laguna National Golf Resort Club, the 19-year-old closed with a six-under-par 66 for a one-shot victory over China's Ji Yuai, who was left to rue a missed birdie putt that would have forced a playoff with the young Singaporean.

Stepping up to the 18th green, Tan kept her composure and duly delivered by sinking a 10-foot (3-meter) putt to sign off from the 54-hole event with a winning total of 10-under-par 206. She became the first Singapore golfer since Mardan Mamat in 2006 to win an international tournament on Laguna National's Masters course.

"This (win) is truly special, especially in front of all my friends and family who have been supporting me all week," said Tan, who flew in from the United States where she is a student at Texas Tech University, to compete in the China Ladies Professional Golf Association (CLPGA) tournament.

"It just hasn't really sunk in yet. I didn't know I had to make the birdie putt on the 18th (to win) and I just approached it like any other normal putt."

Tan's joy was also her father's pride as the elder Tan was quietly confident his daughter would enjoy a grandstand finish this week.

"At the start of the week, when Shannon told everyone at the press conference that she would win this tournament, there were doubts. But not me. I believed in her and I was confident she would do well if she played to her full potential," said Desmond Tan.

Lyn Yeo, founder of LLD Sports and organizer of the Singapore Ladies Masters, said: "It has been a fabulous week for Singapore golf and myself. I was quietly confident Shannon would win. This is the best birthday present for me as I couldn't celebrate it earlier given the busy preparations for this tournament.

"This will kick-start many things, and her win will inspire many players, showing that this can be done with the right support, belief and perseverance."

Ji was visibly disappointed as she was clinging to a one-shot lead with four holes to play until a bogey on 17 put paid to her hopes of a maiden win on the CLPGA.

"It's disappointing. I really tried my best and this felt even worse than my other runner-up finish, at the Beijing Women's Challenge, as I was leading and could have won if not for my wayward tee shot on 17.

"It's a bitter pill to swallow. But that's golf and I have to move on and take the positives from the week," said the 18-year-old Chinese.

Thailand's Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong carded a 70 to finish in outright third place with a 210 total.

The Singapore Ladies Masters featured an international field of 132 players from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Hong Kong China, Chinese Taipei, India, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, battling for a total prize purse of $100,000.

It was the fifth leg of the 2023 CLPGA season after stops in Tianjin, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong province. The tournament was sponsored by Trust Golf, Marina Bay Sands, Criti Rora, CarTimes Group and adidas, and supported by host venue Laguna National Golf Resort Club, and Official Hotel Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore.