Singapore men’s quartet target podium finish at SEA Amateur Golf Team C’ships

SINGAPORE – When the South-east Asian Amateur Golf Team Championships tee off on July 9, Singapore’s Ryan Ang is eyeing not only a top-three finish for the team, but also hoping to achieve a personal target.

The men’s individual winner of the annual competition will earn an exemption into the final stage of the Asian Tour Q-School, a stepping stone towards his goal of playing on the Asian Tour.

Ang, a Singapore Management University (SMU) accountancy graduate, enjoyed a successful 2023, making the cut at both the DP World Tour’s Singapore Classic (tied-67th) and the Asian Tour’s International Series Singapore (tied-23rd). In 2024, he also

earned his PGA Tour of Australasia card.

His performances have fuelled his dream of turning professional.

“A lot of my friends who I have been competing with over the years have turned professional and I’m among the last few. I’ve seen many of them do well,” said the 24-year-old.

“One of my friends Sam Jones is already on the DP World Tour and James (Leow) is slowly finding his way up to the Asian Tour. Just to see that I’ve competed alongside them and done just as well as them, knowing that I can do it, so why not (turn pro)?”

Another target is to represent Singapore in the 2028 Olympics, after watching Shannon Tan become the first Singaporean golfer to qualify for the Games.

His fire has also been stoked by teammate Hiroshi Tai’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship win in May, which qualified him for the US Open and 2025 Masters.

“What Hiroshi has done is break through a barrier that no one has done before so I think it’s exciting,” said Ang.

“Seeing Shannon that she can do it, if I get myself on the Australasia Tour and get a few good finishes and work my way onto the Asian Tour, I think it’s very possible.”

But first, he hopes to shine at Seletar Country Club, where over 100 amateur golfers from 10 countries will vie for accolades in four categories at the July 9-12 SEA team championships – the Putra Cup (men’s), Lion City Cup (boys’ under-16), Santi Cup (women’s) and Kartini Cup (girls’ U-16).

Ang will be doing battle alongside Ryan Wong, Sean Lee and Bruce Kwong in the Putra Cup.

While expecting stiff competition from defending champions Indonesia and perennial powerhouses Thailand, Ang, who is No. 256 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, is confident of a top-three team finish.

He said: “I wouldn’t say we are the favourites even though we are on our home course.

“Clearly, Indonesia and Thailand always have strong teams and Vietnam are a very sneaky team also. But I’m very confident the boys will have a good go.”

The last time Singapore won the men’s team competition was when the quartet of Nicklaus Chiam, Low Wee Jin, Donovan Lee and Justin Kuk triumphed in Vietnam in 2019.

While Ang has lofty goals, this competition will hold a special significance for teammate Wong.

The 24-year-old said: “It’s bittersweet, I’m definitely glad to be playing this event, and I think when it’s all over, then it will really hit me that well, I just played what is most likely my last international event.”

The SMU graduate will be leaving competitive golf and entering the workforce, a decision he made after some deliberation.

Singapore will also be competing in the Santi Cup (Inez Ng, Aloysa Atienza, Jaymie Ng), Lion City Cup (Troy Storm, Brayden Lee, Aaron Wee) and Kartini Cup (Chen Xingtong, Denise Ng, Passion Hsu).