RETURN OF THE LADIES

06 Jun 2024

The Singapore Ladies Masters is back for its second edition this month.

Golf fans in the region will have another opportunity to watch some of the region’s top players battle for top honours against some of Asia’s rising stars when the second edition of the Singapore Ladies Masters returns to the Laguna National Golf Resort Club from 14-16 June.

Local fans will fondly remember the inaugural event as the springboard for Singapore’s very own Shannon Tan to go on and achieve more success abroad following her breakthrough victory on home soil last year. The 20-year-old secured her maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) title at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open in February and remains on course to make her debut at the Olympics Games in Paris later this year.

Shannon Tan @ Magical Kenya Open.jpg: Shannon Tan won the inaugural Singapore Ladies Masters and went on to be the first Singaporean to win on the LET at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open.

While Tan will not be defending her title due to her LET Tour commitments this year, there will be a host of other players ready to dazzle and serve notice of their title ambitions at the Masters course at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.

Featuring a total of 132 players, including 16 elite amateurs vying for top honours in the China Ladies Professional Golf Association (CLPGA) event, the Singapore Ladies Masters will be the sixth leg of this season’s CLPGA Tour and boasts a competitive prize purse of US$100,000, where the winner will receive a US$15,000 prize check. The contenders hoping to make an impression include 13-year-old Sydnie Ng who is poised to become the youngest golfer in the event’s history. Ng was discovered through the Singapore Junior Development Tour (SJDT) and she continued to demonstrate her talent by winning the Future Champions Golf (FCG) World Championship in California last July.

That win placed her alongside esteemed champions such as Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, a two-time Major winner, former world number one and 2021 ANA Inspiration winner Patty Tavatanakit, and Japanese Yuka Saso, the 2021 US Women’s Open champion.

Sydnie Ng (left) with Eddie Loo, Managing Director of CarTimes.

CarTimes, the main sponsor of the Singapore Ladies Masters for the second time, has also been a strong supporter and advocate of junior golf development in Singapore. As one of the largest and most trusted, award-winning automotive brands in Singapore, CarTimes believes in establishing a robust community outreach program which includes nurturing the next generation of champions through its sports sponsorship initiatives.

Eddie Loo, Managing Director and Founder of CarTimes said: “CarTimes has always been a firm supporter of junior golf in Singapore, especially during very challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Like every car owner’s journey, reaching the destination is key. And for our golf sponsorship, we would like our golfers to reach the pinnacle of their success. For that, we have a vested interest in supporting events like the Singapore Ladies Masters where we want to provide golfers like Sydnie with the playing opportunity to shine even as we unearth another superstar in golf.”

Lyn Yeo, tournament organiser and founder of LLD Sports is equally excited about discovering the next big talent in golf at the Singapore Ladies Masters. “The Singapore Ladies Masters was the launch pad for Shannon Tan as she deservedly went on to make further impact on the international stage, especially with her win at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open.

“As we look forward to the return of the Singapore Ladies Masters in June, I’m excited to give our local girls another opportunity to test themselves and unleash their full potential against some of the best players from China and the region,” said Yeo.

Sydnie Ng, just 13, will take on a field more than twice her age at the Singapore Ladies Masters.

A line-up of CLPGA elites, including Ji Yuai and Sui Xiang, who finished third and fourth in the Tour’s overall points standings last year, have also confirmed their participation in the 54-hole showdown. This sets the stage for a thrilling clash against the up-and-coming international players.

Ji, returning this time, will be determined to make amends after narrowly losing the title to Shannon by one shot last year. She had the opportunity to force a playoff but missed her birdie attempt.

Sui will make her second appearance at the Singapore Ladies Masters. She had a strong season last year, securing her second CLPGA title at the Tianjin Ladies Challenge and adding two runner-up finishes. Sui also made the cut in all 11 of her outings.

The Singapore Ladies Masters is also supported by Marina Bay Sands along with other partners including Laguna National Golf Resort Club (Host Venue), Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore (Official Hotel), adidas (Official Apparel), Shiseido (Official Beauty Partner), GolfJoy (Official Golf Simulator Partner) and Pure Water (Official Water).

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