Singapore: Teenage amateur Shannon Tan upstaged the professionals from the China LPGA Tour with a stunning final-day charge to win the inaugural Singapore Ladies Masters.

Continuing her remarkable run of success at Laguna National Golf Resort Club’s Masters Course, 19-year-old Tan birdied the final hole for a closing six-under-par 66. That gave her a 54-hole aggregate of 10-under 206 and a one-stroke triumph from China’s Ji Yuai.

Three strokes further behind in third place was Thailand’s Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong with Chinese Taipei’s Chang Tzu-yi and Thai Pakin Kawinpakorn in a share of fourth spot on 211. Amanda Tan, Singapore’s leading female professional, was in equal seventh place.

 “This (win) is truly special, especially in front of all my friends and family who have been supporting me all week,” said Tan, a Texas Tech University under-graduate who had flown in from the United States specially to compete in this tournament.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I didn’t know I had to make the birdie putt on the 18th (to win) and I just approached it like any other normal putt,” added Tan of the 10-footer she snared for the seventh birdie of her round.

As well as winning multiple junior events over the Masters Course at her home club, Tan finished individual runner-up behind Japan’s Mizuki Hashimoto in last year’s Queen Sirikit Cup.

Currently 81st in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), Tan’s next golfing engagement will be as a member of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation team in the Solheim Cup-style Patsy Hankins Trophy match play event against their counterparts from the European Golf Association.

Ji was visibly upset to lose out. She held a one-shot lead with four holes left to play until a bogey on 17 put paid to her hopes of a maiden China LPGA Tour triumph. She also missed a birdie opportunity at 18 that would have forced a play-off.

“It’s disappointing. I really tried my best and this (loss) felt even worse than my other runner-up finish at the Beijing Women’s Challenge as I was leading and could have won if not for my wayward tee shot on 17.

“It’s a bitter pill to swallow. But that’s golf and I have to move on and take the positives from the week,” said the 18-year-old Chinese.

Lyn Yeo, Founder of LLD Sports and organiser of the Singapore Ladies Masters, said: “It has been a fabulous week for Singapore golf. I was quietly confident Shannon will win. This will kick-start many things and her win will inspire many players that this (winning) can be done with the right support, belief and perseverance.”

Laguna National is a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation. The Singapore Ladies Masters was the third professional event held at Laguna National in 2023. The DP World Tour’s Singapore Classic took place in February followed by the Ladies European Tour’s Aramco Series Singapore in March.