S'pore junior Brayden eyes Royal boost to the season

Up against some of the top juniors in the region, Singapore amateur golfer Brayden Lee had to "dig deep" to claim the biggest win of his budding career at the Royal Junior on April 20.

- Melvyn Teoh

At the Royal Golf Club in Okura, Japan, Brayden shot three birdies and three bogeys to finish round three for an even-par 72 and one-over 217 total to emerge victorious among the field of 49 players. Junior golfers from 15 countries, including China, South Korea, and the Philippines, competed in the three-day tournament.

Thailand's Parin Sarasmut (71) placed second with a 218, while South Korea's Yu Min-hyeok (77) was third on 219.

Brayden, 17, said: "Playing against the top few amateurs from Japan and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation is always a pleasure. It was a tough fight out there against the two Thai boys (Parin and Wiss Jittathorn, who finished sixth after a 76) up front. I really had to dig deep and win with a few one-putts on the last few holes.

"I knew I had a chance going into the final round, after the front nine there were six people tied for the lead, so I just kept on going.