Paris, France: Shannon Tan’s performance at the Paris Olympics bodes well for the future of golf in Singapore.

That’s the view of Tan Chong Huat, President of the Singapore Golf Association (SGA), who was at Le Golf National to witness Shannon’s appearance, the first by a Singaporean golfer at the Olympic Games.

Tan Chong Huat said Shannon’s achievement in qualifying for the Olympics will serve as a motivation for more golfers to follow in her footsteps and strive to compete at the highest level.

Tan Chong Huat said: “Shannon might not have brought home a medal. But the mental fortitude she displayed all week shows the maturity beyond her years. She’s only 20 and the future is certainly bright for her.

“She’s a trail-blazer for women’s golf in Singapore and has been an inspiration to many golfers. The SGA will build on her efforts and experience to further boost the eco-system so that we can deliver a stronger squad of elite golfers, ready to compete on the world stage.”

Shannon completed a memorable week at Le Golf National with a closing final two-over-par 74 to finish in 40th place with a four-day total of seven-over 295.

As the youngest golfer in the women’s golf competition, Tan found herself in elite company with the majority of the best female golfers in the world featured in the 60-strong field.

Shannon said: “It’s been a great week for me. I’ve only been a pro for slightly over seven months now, so being able to qualify and play against the best at the Olympics has been such a great experience.

“Outside of golf, I really enjoyed staying in the Olympic village, meeting the other Singapore athletes, and just getting the full Olympic experience.

“This is probably the toughest golf course I’ve played this year, and the field is so strong with the best in the world.”

Shannon dropped three shots in her first four holes to turn in 39. She bogeyed 12 before marking her card with her first birdie on 13. She dropped another shot on 15 but closed out her round with an eagle-three on the par-five 18th.

“The eagle was definitely the highlight for me. It’s always nice to end the tournament with a good closing hole,” said Shannon, who will remain in Europe for the next three weeks, competing in the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open and AIG Women’s Open in Scotland, followed by the KPMG Irish Women’s Open.

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko completed a clean sweep of Olympic medals when she struck gold with a winning 278 total. Ko won the silver medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and the bronze medal in Tokyo 2020.

In Paris, Germany’s Esther Henseleit took silver while China’s Lin Xiyu clinched the bronze.

*The Singapore Golf Association is an Associate Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.