Buoyed by recent engagement, Matthew Jordan claims share of lead at Porsche S’pore Classic

SINGAPORE – March 2025 is unforgettable for English golfer Matthew Jordan, who got engaged to his fiancee Kate Parry in Rio Grande after the March 6-9 Puerto Rico Open.

Now, the Englishman is hoping to cap a momentous month by capturing his maiden DP World Tour title, as he shares the lead at the Porsche Singapore Classic with compatriot Marcus Armitage.

The duo shot seven-under 65s in the tournament’s delayed opening round on March 21 and hold a one-stroke advantage over Spaniard Manuel Elvira, Frenchman Adrien Saddier, China’s Li Haotong and England’s Jordan Smith and Callum Shinkwin.

In a post-round interview, Jordan, 29, joked: “This was my first round since that (engagement). I guess that I should have done that sooner if I was going to play like that.”

Jordan, fresh off celebrating his engagement to Parry, a director for European Tour Productions at IMG, delivered an impressive performance in the first round of the US$2.5 million (S$3.3 million) tournament, which had been

delayed by a day owing to torrential rain on March 20.

At the Laguna National Golf Resort Club’s Classic Course on March 21, he birdied four of his opening eight holes, including a near-ace on the par-three, 182-yard seventh hole.

A bogey at the par-four ninth interrupted his momentum, but only briefly as Jordan, who needed just 22 putts, rattled in five consecutive birdies from No. 10.

The world No. 127 picked up another bogey on the par-three 17th as he hit his tee-shot into the water, but kept his place atop the leaderboard with Armitage.

Reflecting on his round, Jordan said: “It was enjoyable. Of course, when you shoot a score like that, it’s great. I hit it close, that was probably the main thing for today with these greens.

“If you can have some decent wedge-play shots, then you can work it through the tee and access some pinch. That’s what I was able to do.”

While incessant rainfall resulted in the cancellation of the pro-am event and the postponement of its opening round, the skies remained clear on March 21, except for brief showers in the mid-afternoon that lasted about 20 minutes.

Some players and caddies took shelter, while others used umbrellas, but play was not officially suspended. The rain brought windier conditions, however, adding an extra challenge for the players.

Organisers also announced that the event will be decided over 54 holes, with the cut to be made after the second round on March 22. But the shortened format has done little to change Jordan’s strategy. He said: “The fact that it’s 54 holes doesn’t really change anything I do.

“You’ve got emphasis on having a good start, because you get behind the eight-ball a bit and then you are struggling, you don’t have as much time. That was nice to do that today.”

After spending March 20 doing “absolutely nothing”, Armitage was glad to be back out on the course as he registered six birdies, an eagle after holing a wedge shot from 102 yards and a bogey.

It was a good return to form for the 37-year-old, who missed the cut in his last three tournaments after finishing second in January’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship.

“The game’s still been there, it’s just been a bit of poor preparation, probably taken a bit of a back seat and chilling out after Ras Al Khaimah Championship,” said the world No. 223, who won the 2021 Porsche European Open.

“Mentally, I probably needed to be a bit more focused so I went home and rethought it and I’m back out focused.”

Meanwhile, Singapore’s Brayden Lee sits tied-24th with 11 others after posting a creditable 69 in his DP World Tour debut.

The 17-year-old Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) student, who is the only amateur in the 132-strong field, mixed five birdies with two bogeys, putting him on track to achieving his goal of making the cut.

Brayden had said before the tournament that if he made the cut, he would set a top-40 target, which remains unchanged despite his first-round score.

He said: “It was a good day out there, had a couple of chip-ins so that made my round feel slightly better. I am feeling quite calm, I don’t really feel anything.

“Things start to go downhill if I float and feel happy. I can say that I’m satisfied with my round and hope that I can continue this flow.”