Brayden Lee, 17, qualifies for golf’s Porsche Singapore Classic as top local amateur

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s Brayden Lee will tee up for the biggest tournament of his career in March, after the 17-year-old qualified for the Porsche Singapore Classic on Feb 18.

On the Classic Course at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club, Brayden carded a one-over 73 in the qualifying event to finish fifth – he was the top local amateur.

There were two other spots up for grabs for the US$2.5 million (S$3.4 million) DP World Tour tournament to be held at the same venue from March 20 to 23.

Thai professional Natipong Srithong finished first with a three-under 69, while fellow pro Shinichi Mizuno of Japan won a three-way play-off against Hong Kong amateur Wang Ngai Shen and Indonesian pro Jonathan Wijono for the other spot after all three posted a 71.

Brayden, who made two birdies on the front nine and three bogeys on the back, said: “I’m quite happy that I’ll be playing this year’s event, as I narrowly missed out last year.

“I’ve definitely improved from last year but, this year, I was able to just stay more composed and I tried to limit the mistakes. I guess I did enough this year to get myself a spot.

“The smaller goal is to make the cut. But if you look at the bigger picture, I just want to see how the guys from the better tours actually navigate their way around courses.”

The Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) student also noted that 2025 will be a “big year”, adding: “There’s this DP World Tour event coming up and closer to the end of the year, I have the World Amateur Team Championship in Singapore, SEA Games in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai.

“(The DP World Tour) in terms of the World Amateur Golf Ranking will be the biggest one. I think if I’m able to set some decent scores, I’ll have a little bit of a confidence boost and be able to ride that wave through the year.”

Natipong said after his triumph: “I played at Laguna National in 2015, but the course has since been renovated.

“I arrived in Singapore on Monday morning and my practice round was meant to be in the afternoon, but it was raining, so I just drove the buggy around to see the layout and didn’t get to practise.

“I was looking at the yardage book last night and tried to imagine being on the golf course. My target for the Porsche Singapore Classic is to try and finish in the top 20 or top 10.”

Mizuno added: “Play-offs are always a tough one because it’s like a shoot-out and whoever plays the best that day can take the spot.

“I’m definitely really happy with the result. I was super nervous, even on the last putt I was shaking. I just want to play my best and see if I can compete with Europe’s best players.”

The Porsche Singapore Classic, which kicks off the DP World Tour’s Asian swing, will see the three qualifiers join a field that includes Ryder Cup star Robert MacIntyre and the tour’s most recent winner Li Haotong, who won the Feb 6-9 Qatar Masters.

Other players who will feature include 2024 runner-up and four-time DP World Tour winner Kiradech Aphibarnrat, young talent Ding Wenyi and Keita Nakajima, who won his first title in 2024.

Executive championship director Patrick Bowers said: “The Porsche Singapore Classic has consistently attracted some of the top names in golf and constantly strived to create the best experiences for visitors to our event.

“Congratulations to the three qualifiers and we look forward to watching you take on the Classic Course once again next month.”