Leow shows fighting spirit, clinches ADT breakthrough and Asian Tour card

By Calvin Koh

Singapore Golf Association (SGA) James Leow staged a stunning comeback, overcoming a five-shot deficit to win the Aramco Invitational Tournament for his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) title on Saturday.

Trailing overnight English leader Angus Flanagan by five shots at the start of the final round at Rolling Hills Golf Club, Saudi Arabia, Leow birdied his last three holes to close with a nine-under-par 63, matching the course record. The 28-year-old’s winning total of 23-under-par 265 also saw him pipped Flanagan to the title by two shots.

Leow’s winner’s cheque of US$43,750 propelled him from 51st position to fourth place on the final ADT Order of Merit with US$52,629.69 in season earnings, securing one of the 2026 Asian Tour cards reserved for the top-10 merit finishers.

“I’ve yet to soak in everything, there’s so much going on after the win, but it’s a big sigh of relief. I’ve been struggling since I turned pro for the last few years.

“I’ve been trying to get that first international win. I’ve come close many times and had it slip away on the last or second last round so it’s pretty emotional getting this win, especially on the big stage for the end of the ADT season,” said Leow to The Straits Times, Singapore.

Leow’s win sees him join four other Singapore golfers who had earned their full status on the Asian Tour. They include SGA ambassador Mardan Mamat, Lam Chih Bing, Quincy Quek and Choo Tze Huang. He  is also just the fourth Singaporean to win on the ADT after Mardan, Quek and Johnson Poh.

SGA national coach Murray Smit was full of praise for Leow’s accomplishment and said: “We are delighted James, a SEA Games Gold Medalist, has secured his breakthrough on the Asian Development Tour, becoming the only fourth Singaporean to do so. His win has also secured him a full Asian Tour card for 2026. Congratulations to James and his team, it is a significant boost for golf in Singapore, as such achievements from our golfers will continue to inspire and shine the spotlight on our sporting excellence in Singapore.”

Leow turned professional in late 2022 following a decorated collegiate golf career with Arizona State University. He enjoyed much success as an amateur, including winning an individual gold medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

In 2022, he beat highly ranked opponents to win the Thunderbird Collegiate and the Pacific Coast Amateur titles in the United States, while playing for Arizona State University. He was also on the Team International side who defeated the United States at the prestigious Palmer Cup.

He then turned professional in 2022 following his illustrious amateur career.

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