Malaysia’s Ng Jing Xuen clinched top honours in the second leg of the EFG-CLPGA Q series when she posted a two-under-par 70 to end the two-day event at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club atop the leaderboard on Tuesday.
Singapore’s Aloysa Atienza finished in outright second place, four shots behind Jing Xuen after signing for a 72 and two-over-par 218 total while 13-year-old Sydnie Ng – playing in the final group with Jing Xuen, Atienza and Thailand’s Shi Benxing – closed with a 73 to take fourth place in the open division but emerged as the U16 champion.
Ng became the first Malaysian to win the SEA Games gold medal last year and recorded another significant milestone by being the first player from Malaysia to win the EFG-CLPGA Q series in Singapore. Hong Kong, China’s Arianna Lau had earlier won the first leg of the series in May.
“I’m pleased with how I have played the last two days here in Singapore. I didn’t hit some shots very well but I feel like my mental state has been good over the last two days.
“This win has given me the benchmark on where I stand and also the knowledge that I have the game. But having said that, I still need to improve as I keep an eye on turning professional,” said Jing Xuen.
Participants in the 54-hole tournament play 36 holes on the first day, with only the top 50 players and ties advancing to the third and final round on the second day.
The EFG-CLPGAQ series offers S$10,000 prize money to the top 10 players and ties, including amateurs and provides valuable World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
For ladies, it is also a qualifying pathway to the flagship CLPG Tour where former world No.1 and major winner Yin Ruoning, won her first three tournaments as a professional.
When asked to describe her two-day competitive experience, Sydnie - the Grade 7 student at St. Joseph’s Institution International – who compiled a 222 total said: “There are a lot of things which I need to work and improve on because some aspects of my game are still rusty. But by finishing near the top and as the U16 champion, it’s definitely a big confidence boost.”
Details of the next leg of the EFG-CLPGAQ series will be announced at a later date. But with two legs already completed, Albert Chiu, Executive Chairman of EFG Bank, Asia Pacific believes the competition can only get stronger.
“EFG Bank has been involved in the development of golf in Singapore for the last six years and we have a lot of passion in supporting junior golf.
“We have been very impressed with the quality of the players so far and it has attracted a very strong field. The organisation and running of the series have also been very impressive and we can only look forward to seeing what the next leg in the series brings,” said Chiu.
Lyn Yeo, founder of LLD Sports and promoter of the EFG-CLPGQ series, is pleased to witness the sterling performances of players like Sydnie and Jing Xuen as it underscores the mission she has long been championing for.
“I'm delighted to see young players like Jing Xuen, Sydnie and Passion doing well. This is the platform I want to provide for them so that they can achieve their Olympics dreams. They are now competing against top level players from the region on the challenging championship course. All these will prepare them well for the future,” said Yeo.
Kevin Kwee, Executive Director of Laguna National Golf Resort Club hailed the success of the ongoing series and said: “As the host venue, the facilities here are something which everyone is already very familiar with. But what makes the overall event a success is sponsors like EFG Bank getting their value and creating more playing opportunities for amateur golfers.”
