Golfers Set Sights On Sea Games Podium

Recent results, competition for places give coach optimism about medal prospects

- Kimberly Kwek

After Singapore's golfers returned home empty-handed from the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, national coach Murray Smit is targeting a return to the podium for the players at the year-end Games in Thailand.

Except for the 2023 event, the Republic have won medals at every edition since the 2015 Games on home soil, where its golfers won medals in all four events.

The breakthrough for Singapore golf came in 2017, when Marc Ong, Gregory Foo, Joshua Shou and Joshua Ho clinched a historic men's team gold, before James Leow ended the 30-year wait for an individual title by winning the men's event in the Philippines two years later.

Smit said: "Based on history over the last decade, any time that we go to the SEA Games, we're looking to win medals, in the individual and team component as well.

"We'd love those to be gold medals, which has been achieved in the past. If we can achieve medals on both sides, whether that be in the individual or team component, it would be a great showing from Team Singapore."

On Aug 26, the Singapore Golf Association (SGA) unveiled its national squad comprising 49 amateurs and 11 professionals at the Singapore Island Country Club.

The Singapore National Olympic Council had named a preliminary list of 11 golfers for the SEA Games earlier in August and the final line-up will be confirmed by Sept 11.