Golf: After a stellar amateur career, Singapore’s James Leow turns pro

SINGAPORE – As a kid, James Leow had harboured hopes of becoming a leading professional golfer.

After completing a stellar amateur career, Leow, 26, announced this week that he would start playing-for-pay.

It has been a very encouraging last three years for Leow, who has distinguished himself for self and country.

One of his most notable achievements was the gold medal that he won in the individual event at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines.

In 2022, he beat highly ranked opponents to win the Thunderbird Collegiate and the Pacific Coast Amateur titles in the United States.

He also represented the Team International side who beat the United States at the prestigious Palmer Cup.

Then, playing as an amateur, he raised eyebrows with his 31st-place finish on eight under at the Asian Tour’s International Series Singapore in August.

He finished six shots better than the Republic’s No. 1 Mardan Mamat, the lone pro to make the cut.

And in the recent Nomura Cup, he clinched both team and individual silver medals, leading Singapore to its best-ever result at this event.

With these achievements, Leow has risen to an impressive 43rd in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Speaking from Arizona, Leow said on his status switch: “It’s all I’ve been working for since I was a kid.

“And I’m ready to compete against the best in the world.

“My debut as a pro will be at the Asian Tour final qualifying stage in Thailand in January.”

Since his dad Pee Lip introduced him to the game at the age of six, and at nine when the precocious Leow came under the wings of former Putra Cup champion Phua Thin Kiay, he has been fully committed to golf.

Leow has received an exemption from the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation to the Asian Tour’s final qualifying stage.

The Jan 18-22 event will be held at Lakeview Resort and Golf Club in Hua Hin.

It will be played over five rounds and, at the conclusion of 90 holes, the top 35 will receive their full Tour cards and be ranked accordingly for the 2023 season.

Leow’s performance at the final qualifying stage will determine how many events he will be eligible for in 2023.

He also plans to play on the Asher Tour, the longest running mini-Tour, established in 1982, in the West Coast of the US.

A recipient of Sport Singapore’s spexScholarship programme, he has received financial support for his training and tournament-related expenses.

Leow will also join the Singapore Golf Association (SGA) Professional Programme which aims to help professionals navigate the transition from elite amateur to professional golfer by providing technical support, access to training facilities and holistic skill development.

“James has done Singapore proud with his many achievements during his amateur career and we wish him all the best as he embarks on the next phase of his career,” said SGA president Tan Chong Huat.

“SGA will continue to support him in his professional career.”

Leow recently graduated from Arizona State University, a highly ranked collegiate golf institution in the US that has produced the likes of Spain’s former world No. 1 Jon Rahm and American Phil Mickelson, a six-time Major champion.

Leow added: “My goals now are to secure playing rights on a major Tour and to start racking up Official World Golf Ranking points in order to climb the rankings.

“Breaking into the top 100 in the world and qualifying for the Majors are my main goals.”