11 locals for golf's SMBC Singapore Open
The SMBC Singapore Open from Jan 28-31 will see 11 local golfers do battle alongside world No. 1 Jordan Spieth, Major winners Darren Clarke and Yang Yong Eun and Ryder Cup star Jamie Donaldson.
The tournament will also feature a host of top names from the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour.
Few give local golfers much of a chance to make an impression, but Mardan Mamat will dare to dream when the tournament gets underway on Jan 28.
Mardan qualified for the competition on merit, having won the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open on the Asian Tour last year.
The five-time Asian Tour winner, who finished 17th on the Order of Merit last year, was the first Singaporean to have won an event co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours when he claimed the Singapore Masters in 2006.
The other 10 spots will be taken up by players from the Singapore Professional Golfers' Association and the Singapore Golf Association.
Lam Chih Bing, who will be playing alongside fellow Singapore PGA members Koh Dengshan, Quincy Quek, Mitchell Slorach, Johnson Poh and Jerome Ng, is looking to make up for his disappointment in the 2008 edition.
The 39-year-old started strong and went into the final round second-placed, but eventually finished joint 18th.
Tickets are available from $20 at APACTix. Entrance is free on the opening day on Jan 28.
- JESLEEN SOH
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now