Singapore: The sterling efforts of Sentosa Golf Club’s greenkeeping team drew rich praise from two of the stars of the 15th HSBC Women’s World Championship.

Despite torrential downpours at various stages during the LPGA Tour event, the brilliant work of the Sentosa crew ensured that it was possible to complete the 72 holes – and crown Korean Ko Jin-young as champion for the second year in a row.

Ko led the chorus of approval to Andy Johnston, Sentosa Golf Club’s General Manager and Director of Agronomy, and his staff.

In a hand-written note, Ko offered her gratitude.

She wrote: “Thanks for your hard work on the course. That’s why we can play this amazing course. We like to play at Sentosa and love to visit here. Thanks a lot!”

American Danielle Kang, who fired a second round 63 and finished in a tie for third place, was also lavish in her praise for the greenkeeping staff and the tournament volunteers.

She said: “Normally what we do is in America, my caddie and I, we go buy cases of beers, and I have him help me out and load them up and give them to the grounds crew and things.

“This week, I thought the volunteers did an incredible job, so we add the volunteers this time, too. They worked really hard to keep the golf course in the most championship condition possible and without them we would not have been able to play or finish 72 holes. So, I just wanted to say thanks and have a beer on us.”

Reflecting on the weather-hit tournament, Johnston said: “With all the rain that we had it proved to be a challenging week. But our greenkeeping team did a superb job. Kudos to them.

“We had many heartfelt thank you notes from the players. That’s never happened before.”

Johnston also highlighted Sentosa Golf Club’s partnership with Jebsen & Jessen and Toro which recently celebrated its first anniversary.

Johnston said: “That partnership allowed us to establish a centre of excellence. That centre of excellence helps us develop and engineer some of the best equipment we’ve ever seen.

“It’s productive; it’s energy-efficient … and on the sustainability side there’s new things coming that nobody’s even thought of.”

Sentosa Golf Club, Jebsen & Jessen and Toro are all members of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.