Singapore: Laguna National Golf & Country Club will play host to Singapore’s first competitive golf event since the Covid-19 pandemic took hold in March.

Featuring a 74-strong field, the EFG Singapore Junior Masters will be staged over three rounds (November 30-December 2) on the award-winning Masters Course at Laguna National, a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

Strict safety management measures will be observed and enforced throughout the tournament, which has been afforded World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) status.

Organised by LLD Sports Development and Management, the event will provide top junior golfers with an avenue to test themselves against each other and gain access to major junior and amateur tournaments such as the China Amateur Open and Singapore Ladies Masters 2021.

Lyn Yeo, Founder and Managing Director of LLD Sports Development and Management, said: “Junior players in our neighbouring countries have all resumed tournaments and their players were all forging ahead. I was determined to get an event off the ground for our Singapore-based players as our top players are starved of competition.”

Yeo, who is also President of the Singapore Ladies Golf Association, previously served as Chairperson of the committee dedicated to junior golf development at the Singapore Golf Association from 2016 to 2020.

Open to players aged 19 and under as of January 1, 2020, the field is made up of 47 boys and 27 girls, representing Singapore, Malaysia, China, India, USA, UK, Germany and South Korea. All competitors are Singapore residents.

Team Singapore will be spearheaded by Shannon Tan (+3.3 handicap), Sean Lee (+4.5) and Brandon Han (+2.1).

Daryl Low, Brayden Lee, sisters Jaymie and Denise Ng, and Guo Junxi are tipped to vie for the Under-14 title. The youngest players in the field are eight-year-old Freya Kylie Lim (14 handicap) and nine-year-old Passion Hsu (15.8).

Title sponsor for the tournament is EFG International.

Albert Chiu, the Swiss bank’s Head of Asia Pacific Region and Chairman of EFG Young Athlete Foundation, said: “EFG has a long tradition of nurturing young sporting talent. We are pleased that EFG Bank has played a major role in developing locally born and bred world-class athletes since its establishment. It is our goal to inspire youngsters and create a lasting impact on the community.”