Singapore: For the second week in succession, Singapore witnessed an imperious sporting procession. A week after George Russell led his rivals a merry dance from pole position in the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix, Christiaan Maas produced a similarly imperious display of front-running to lap the field in the World Amateur Team Championship.

With a brilliant virtuoso performance at Tanah Merah Country Club, Maas not only had the distinction of finishing as the low individual, but, more importantly, led South Africa to its first Eisenhower Trophy success.

It was a dominant display from Maas and the South Africans. They led by five shots after two rounds and 11 strokes after round three. With a four-day team aggregate of 29-under 547 in the event in which the best two daily scores are counted, they ended eight shots in front of second-placed Australia with England a further two strokes back in third.

Maas was the central figure adding a closing 69 to earlier rounds of 66, 66 and 65 on the Tampines Course. His 22-under 266 total was 10 shots better than runner-up Declan O’Donovan of Australia.

Over the four days, he amassed 23 birdies and an eagle against just three bogeys, two of which came in the final round.

A move to the pro ranks will wait until he graduates in mid-2026. For now, though, he can savour a famous victory with University of Texas team-mate Daniel Bennett and Charl Barnard, who played supporting roles in the South African team.

Australia did their best to exert some pressure on the leaders with O’Donovan and Harry Takis to the fore. With seven holes remaining they reduced the deficit to eight, but that was as close as they would get.

Thailand ended as the leading Asian nation in a share of seventh place, while host nation Singapore had the satisfaction of bettering its previous best Eisenhower Trophy outing of 21st in 2021. Brayden Lee underlined his potential with a three-under 69 while Hiroshi Tai signed off with a 71, lifting Singapore into 17th place.

While the South Africans were celebrating, the much-touted American team of Preston Stout, Ethan Fang and Mason Howell were left to lick their wounds and ponder what went wrong.

Arriving in Singapore as overwhelming favourites to defend their title, the US trio avoided the ignominy of being the first team from their country to finish outside the top-10 since the Eisenhower Trophy’s inauguration in 1958 by the skin of their teeth.

Thanks to a 69 from Fang and a 70 from Howell they scraped into equal 10th place with Japan, no fewer than 20 strokes adrift of the winners.

*Tanah Merah Country Club is a Facility member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.