Chen Xingtong relishes 2nd outing at HSBC Women’s World Championship after winning qualifier

SINGAPORE – The battle for a sole spot at the 2025 HSBC Women’s World Championship proved to be as heated as the 32 deg C conditions at the Sentosa Golf Club on Jan 9, when teenage golfer Chen Xingtong found herself with a fight on her hands on the final day of the national qualifying tournament.

The 16-year-old, who won the same event in 2024 to earn her debut at the tournament, had looked comfortable after carding a two-under 70 for a three-shot lead over the six-player field on Jan 8.

But on a hot and windy final day, Xingtong squandered away her lead after posting seven bogeys over 17 holes at the Tanjong Course to set up a nervy finish with Aloysa Atienza.

She made par on the final hole for a 79 to stave off her 26-year-old rival, who bogeyed the par-four 18th for a 77 to hand Xingtong her second straight qualifying win.

The teenager’s overall five-over 149 was just one shot below Atienza’s two-round total. Passion Hsu was third (75, 155) ahead of Jaymie Ng (78, 156), Aamiya Koul (80, 159) and Amelie Ng (83, 169).

Xingtong said that she felt nervous going into the final hole, adding: “It was a close win this year, and definitely it was a good fight put up by Aloysa.

“I was definitely super nervous. But I think past tournaments and even the previous HSBC helped me a lot.

“I have experience in such high-pressure situations, so it definitely helped me to be able to handle it pretty well and I made a pretty safe par (18th hole) to beat her by one.”

Atienza added: “I came into this week not expecting much, because I just got down with a fever, and I am on medication, so I’m just not feeling my best physically and I was just counting down the holes before it ended.

“Early in the round, Xingtong was kind of struggling with her game, and I just tried my best as much as possible to capitalise on that, but I didn’t quite do that too well.

“I think the pressure just kind of got to me, it’s a bit different playing with no expectations, versus when the expectation starts to creep in, just because you know it’s somewhere within reach and for some reason, that just got to me.

“Definitely a bit painful, more painful this year compared to the last three years, because it’s the fourth time I’m finishing second in this qualifier. So hopefully next year will be my turn.”

Xingtong will join some of the world’s top women’s golfers at the US$2.4 million (S$3.3 million) tournament, including Olympic champion Lydia Ko, 2024 winner Hannah Green and world No. 2 Yin Ruoning. The event will be played at the same venue from Feb 27 to March 2.

In 2024, the Singaporean finished last among the 62 players who completed the tournament, with an 18-over 306 total.

Singapore’s best result was in 2023, when Amanda Tan ended 62nd among 66 golfers with an eight-over 296.

On her targets for the 2025 edition, Xingtong said: “This time it’s just to do better than what I did last year, definitely to go out there and have fun again and learn even more. Hopefully, I’ll be able to play at least one round under par.”

Singapore Golf Association national coach Murray Smit said: “Yesterday there was some really good scoring and for Xingtong to shoot two under, really shows what she’s capable of.

“Having that experience from last year will help her a lot, having already played with top players in that type of set-up. She’ll be in a better position this year to hopefully post some lower scores and try and compete with what is an unbelievably strong field, one of the best ones in women’s golf.”

Ahead of the HSBC Women’s World Championship, Xingtong will compete in the Selangor International Junior Golf Championship in Malaysia from Jan 15 to 18, before heading to a training camp in Thailand from Feb 14 to 18 to prepare for the championship.