Ras Al Khaima, United Arab Emirates: Making a winning Bonallack Trophy debut for the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) would be the icing on the cake for teenage Indian golfing prodigy Kartik Singh.

Singh celebrated his 15th birthday yesterday in the UAE, preparing for the Ryder Cup-style match play event against the European Golf Association that tees-off at Al Hamra Golf Club on Wednesday.

To commemorate the occasion, APGC officials arranged a cake for him during a team bonding dinner.

“It was a nice surprise. I wasn’t expecting that,” said Singh, currently 127th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

“I’ve been looking forward to the Bonallack Trophy. It’s a unique format and it’s going to be an exciting week,” added Singh, already a seasoned tournament player who was a member of the International Team at last year’s Junior Presidents Cup.

Rishi Narain, the APGC team’s non-playing captain, is in no doubt that Singh will acquit himself well.

Narain said: “He may be the youngest member of our team here, but Kartik is an experienced player and a mature individual.

“On the golf course, he’s very focused and so consistent. I don’t think he’ll be at all overawed and will take things in his stride.”

For Singh, it will be his second appearance in the UAE having finished runner-up in last year’s Junior Dubai Desert Classic.

Among other notable performances in 2024, Singh won the Black Mountain Asian Junior Masters in Thailand, the Singapore Junior Championship and the All-India Juniors and had a top-20 placing at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan.

Away from Asia he also distinguished himself, finishing third in the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass and sixth in The R&A Junior Open in Scotland.

“My main goal for 2025 is to become a better golfer and to break into the top-100 in the WAGR,” said Singh.

*The Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation and Al Hamra Golf Club are members of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.