Singapore’s golfers eye gold medals at the 2025 SEA Games

SINGAPORE – After Singapore’s golfers returned home empty-handed from the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, national coach Murray Smit is targeting a return to the podium for the players at the year-end Games in Thailand.

Except for the 2023 event, the Republic have won medals at every edition since the 2015 Games on home soil, where its golfers won medals in all four events.

The breakthrough for Singapore golf came in 2017, when Marc Ong, Gregory Foo, Joshua Shou and Joshua Ho clinched a historic men’s team gold, before James Leow ended the 30-year wait for an individual title by winning the men’s event in the Philippines two years later.

Smit said: “Based on history over the last decade, any time that we go to the SEA Games, we’re looking to win medals, in the individual and team component as well.

“We’d love those to be gold medals, which has been achieved in the past. If we can achieve medals on both sides, whether that be in the individual or team component, it would be a great showing from Team Singapore.”

On Aug 26, the Singapore Golf Association (SGA) unveiled its national squad comprising 49 amateurs and 11 professionals at the Singapore Island Country Club.

The Singapore National Olympic Council had named a preliminary list of 11 golfers for the SEA Games earlier in August and the final line-up will be confirmed by Sept 11.

While the selections are pending, Smit is encouraged by the squad’s depth and recent international results.

In the women’s game, Inez Ng placed joint-fourth individually at the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships and also claimed the individual title and overall team championship with the University of North Carolina at the Cavalier Regional Preview in 2024.

Chen Xingtong also made history in July when she finished second at the US Girls’ Junior Championship.

There have been equally exciting developments for the men, with Hiroshi Tai becoming the first Singaporean to compete at the US Open (in 2024) and Masters (2025) after winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association title in 2024.

Brayden Lee has also had a year to remember as he captured the biggest win of his budding career at the Royal Junior in Japan in April.

Smit said: “What’s actually exciting this time around is we have some really nice competition for places, both on the men’s and female side. So it’s going to be a tough decision for the training development committee to decide who the most suitable players are for the SEA Games, but that’s a good thing.”

Among those vying for Games selection are national squad members Brayden, Xingtong and Troy Storm, who said they have benefited from the guidance and opportunities in the national set-up.

The trio will also compete in October’s World Amateur Team Championships in Singapore.

Making the SEA Games team is a target for Brayden, especially after hearing about assistant national coach Shou’s experiences at the regional competition.

The Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) student, 18, said: “If we could do that (win gold), that would be incredible and a really fun experience that we hopefully will be able to do.”

Fellow ACS (I) student Troy, 16, who finished runner-up at the Hong Kong Junior Open Championship in August, added: “Hearing all the stories from ex-players, seeing the passion they have, especially playing in the SEA Games – that’s something that really excited me, just having the nation on your back and doing the best to represent them.”

Xingtong, 16, has dreamt of competing at the SEA Games since 2020, noting that she is more confident now that “I have what it takes to get a medal, but you definitely have to play well and stay calm because the girls are really strong”.

Alongside nurturing young talent, the SGA also reiterated support for Singapore’s professionals, with two-time Ladies European Tour winner and Olympian Shannon Tan among the 11 players in the professional squad.

With the support of Radar Tyres, each player in the squad will receive some funding to help them build high performance support teams. This can range from sports psychologists to strength and conditioning support, and coaches.

The national sports association also provides guidance and advice in areas like management agencies, support teams and which tournaments they should target.

The long-term goal is to have four golfers representing Singapore at the Olympics.

Smit said: “Just like how we want to grow the whole programme, we can do more and more to support our pros and help them reach their goals that will then hopefully inspire the young players coming through in the years ahead.”