'Godfather' Ju to help SPGA

During a period when golf sponsorship is hard to come by, the Singapore Professional Golfers' Association (SPGA) has found a "godfather".

He is Ju Kai Meng, who stepped forward with a six-figure sum to help the association organise events the whole year round, including two pro-ams.

Ju, an 11-handicap golfer at Raffles Country Club, however, prefers the low profile.

After playing in a pro-am event at Champions Public Golf Course - of which he is a director - at Eng Neo Avenue on Friday, Ju would only say that he is "helping a good cause".

SPGA president M. Murugiah said: "We truly appreciate what Ju has done. We hope to secure more sponsors over the months to help our local professionals improve their game with more tournaments.

"We lag behind countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and India when it comes to a lucrative local Tour. We hope to close the gap this year."

The SPGA started the ball rolling with an event in Batam last month.

From tomorrow, it will organise a $30,000 three-day event, Edge Golf Classic, at Laguna National's World Classic.

In the absence of Singapore's top professional, Mardan Mamat, who is unavilable, the favourites for the event are Koh Dengshan, Unho Park, Lam Chih Bing, Quincy Quek, Choo Tze Huang, Mitchell Slorach and Zaw Moe.

Also competing in the 49-strong main division are Singapore women rookie pros Koh Sock Hwee and Amelia Yong, who will battle it out with the men.

The duo will tee off from between the white and blue tees.

Gregory Foo, of Tanah Merah Country Club who was recently selected for the Asia-Pacific squad for the Boonalack Trophy, and James Leow, who made the cut at the recent SMBC Singapore Open, head the amateur list of 18 players.

Twenty-two seniors will also be competing.

godfrey@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 21, 2016.
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