Alongside world’s best, Singapore amateur golfer Chen Xingtong gears up for Sentosa showdown

SINGAPOREAN golfer Chen Xingtong can be forgiven for appearing a little starstruck when she steps onto the Tanjong course at Sentosa Golf Club this week.

At this year’s HSBC Women’s World Championships starting on Thursday (Feb 27) and ending with the crowning of the winner on Sunday, the 16-year-old is the sole amateur in an elite field of some of the sport’s most decorated players.

The 66-player field includes nine of the world’s top 10 golfers (except for the top-ranked Nelly Korda) and 19 Major champions. Six golfers have at one point held the coveted world No 1 ranking.

But far from feeling like a lamb among the wolves, Chen, a student at the Singapore Sports School, feels she is more than deserving of her place at the US$2.4 million tournament. She did, after all, top the qualifiers last month, beating even some Singaporean professionals along the way.

Having made her HSBC Championship debut last year, she said on Tuesday that she is more relaxed this time: “This time, I feel no pressure. I don’t want to feel intimidated, but just to play my own game.

“I have had my practice rounds on this fabulous course, which is in great condition. I have been driving well, my short game has improved, and I hope the putts will fall.”

Chen is not the only golfer flying the Singapore flag. For the first time, there will be two Singaporeans in the field, the other being rookie pro Shannon Tan, who has been stamping her mark on the Ladies’ European Tour of late. She also won the Magical Kenya Ladies Open and qualified for the Olympics in Paris last year.

The 20-year-old, on a leave of absence from Texas Tech University, received a sponsor’s invite to play at the HSBC Championship.

Champions galore

The major champions in this year’s field at Sentosa include four of the five winners from last year – Yuka Saso (US Women’s Open), Amy Yang (KPMG PGA Women’s Championship), Ayaka Furue (Amundi Evian Championship), and Lydia Ko (AIG Women’s Open). 

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Last year’s HSBC winner Hannah Green returns to the scene of her famous victory last year, when she stunned the field with a clutch 27-foot birdie putt on the final hole, outlasting France’s Celine Boutier to win by one shot.

“Being a defending champion is always quite difficult. I’m making sure that I enjoy this journey, and I hope I can hit the first tee shot in the fairway,” she said.

“For me, it’s my first tournament in the Asia Swing. Some girls played in Thailand, and even Saudi the week before, so they might be a little bit more tired. That’s why I didn’t play (in Pattaya) last week. I just wanted to give myself the best opportunity for a title defence.”

Other notable names in Singapore include Brooke Henderson of Canada, Australia’s Minjee Lee, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, and Japan’s Hinako Shibuno.

One of the players to watch is American Angel Yin, who won the Honda LPGA Tour title in Thailand last Sunday, having edged out Akie Iwai of Japan by one stroke.

And if there’s one golfer who can upset the apple cart, it would be China’s 22-year-old Yin Ruoning, currently the world No 4.

“Ronni”, as she is popularly known, turned professional only in 2020, but has already had five LPGA Tour victories. In 2023, she won the Women’s PGA Championship, becoming just the second woman from her country to win a Major.