SGA squad members ready to make impression abroad

Singapore, June 16: Members of the Singapore Golf Association (SGA) squad are set for a packed summer, travelling across the globe to test their skills at top-tier international tournaments.

17-year-old Brayden Lee is set to make his debut at The Amateur Championship from June 16 to 25 at the Royal St George’s and Royal Cinque Ports in southeastern England.

The national squad member punched his ticket to the premier amateur tournament when he topped the field of 49 players from across 15 countries at the Royal Junior Golf Championship in Japan, becoming the first non-Japanese player to do so.

Brayden will also team up with victorious Lion City Cup team member and fellow squad member, Troy Storm at the US Junior Amateur, scheduled for July 21 to 26 at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, Texas.

The duo earned their berth in the esteemed field by earning spots among the top 100 Under-19 players in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

“It will be our first time competing in Dallas. We competed in the event last year and experienced some bumps along the way. I was struggling a little bit and we both missed out on the matchplay part of the event,” said Brayden.

“I think our game looks much better than last year. So hopefully, we will both make it to the match play. And we hope to also progress as far as we can.”

Hiroshi Tai, Singapore’s highest ranked amateur golfer, has enjoyed a standout few years, making his U.S. Open debut at Pinehurst in 2024 and competing in April’s Masters, where he impressed with an opening-round 73 to finish the first day tied for 38th in a 95-player field.

The 23-year-old will be competing in a swing of summer events in the States including the prestigious US Amateur Championship that tees off at The Olympic Club in San Francisco from August 11-17.

He secured his entry by ranking in the top 50 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings and clinching the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) individual championship title.

Despite his impressive pedigree, he remains hungry for more top competition experience.

“It will be a lot of fun to compete in one of the biggest amateur events around the world. I am looking forward to the experience,” said Tai.

Junxi Guo, meanwhile, will tee off at the prestigious US Girls’ Junior Championship from July 14 to 19 at the Atlanta Athletic Club, following in the footsteps of compatriot Jaymie Ng, who competed in the 2022 edition.

Guo earned her place through the notoriously tough qualifying tournament, holding her nerve to sink a birdie in a playoff and seal her spot in an event that has crowned past champions such as major winners Ariya Jutanugarn and Minjee Lee.

Squad members Chen Xingtong and Aamiya Koul will be aiming to join Guo, as they are scheduled to compete in qualifiers taking place from May 21 to June 26. Bruce Kwong is also eyeing a spot at the US Junior Amateur, hoping to join Lee and Storm. He will be part of the same 18-hole qualifying series during that period.

Ends.