Local heroes

The Singapore National Amateur Championship has been the default tournament to determine our country's top amateur players.

This year marked the 16th anniversary of this event, which entails two rounds of stroke play qualifying, and a match play format from quarter-finals to the final.

Tanah Merah Country Club's picturesque Tampines Course played host to this year's competitors, which totalled 44 in the men's category, and 20 in the women's.

Held from Aug 17 to 20, Gregory Foo led the men's after the first two rounds with a 141-total (72-69).

National women golfer Joey Poh led the women with her two-round score of 146 (72-74).

Unfortunately, Foo and Poh both didn't live up to their lead, and fell away in the match play round. Foo fell to Yash Majmudar 2 & 1 in the semi-finals, while Poh was shocked 6 & 4 by Ou Yang Hua in the quarter-finals.

VICTORY

James Leow improved on his runner-up position at the event last year with a victory against Mashmudar in the final, handily winning 6 & 5, with six birdies in the first seven holes.

With the title, Leow will get a chance to play with the pros at the 2016 SMBC Singapore Open to be played at Sentosa Golf Club next January.

In the women's division, Jen Goh continued her fine form by beating Ou Yang Hua 6 & 5 in the final.

Goh was on the national team that won a silver at the 2015 SEA Games, and also won the 2015 San Diego City Amateur Championship last month at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California.

This article was first published on August 29, 2015.
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