Singapore Pools stage strong fightback to claim BT Corporate Golf League title
Pro approach pays dividends for presenting sponsor; Global Trust also produces strong showing on final day
AFTER the first leg of The Business Times Corporate Golf League tournament in March, the team from Singapore Pools were second-from-bottom in the standings due to a poor performance.
But far from being dismayed, they turned their fortunes around in style with superb finishes in the next four legs to cruise their way to the trophy.
Their winning formula was a potent mix of players, sound preparation and the encouraging presence of chief executive officer Lam Chee Weng.
At the final leg at Laguna National on May 9, Singapore Pools – the tournament’s presenting sponsors – finished with a total of 473 points, seven ahead of runners-up Singapore Global Trust.
Singapore Pools saw consistent displays by their four golfers – Francis Wan (35 points), Tay Boon Khai (33), Kevin Pang (32) and former CEO Seah Chin Siong (32).
“We had a good mix of players. We wanted to use the tournament to spur ourselves to improve and play better,” said Tay, the team captain.
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“We were glad we could lend support in bringing corporate golfers together. We are happy to note that many companies have pledged to take part again next year.”
Singapore Pools’ score for the fifth leg, however, was insufficient to claim the final day’s honours, which went to Global Trust.
Buoyed by impressive showings from Winston Oh (37 points), Tan Ah Ee (36 points) and Jimmy Chong (36), Global Trust were winners on the day by six points with 138 points.
Oh, brought into the team because national players Chen Xing Tong and Aloysa Atienza were unavailable for the last two legs, responded with two resounding displays.
At Seletar, he was the leading player with 37 points (adjusted to 33 points after poor weather restricted play to 15 holes). At Laguna, he was joint-second with Hugo Boss’ Angelina Xiong, a point behind SPH Sultans of Swing’s Kelvin Choong’s 38 points.
Choong bagged two birdies in his immaculate round of 74 while Oh, hit by initial bad luck when his second shots on subsequent holes hit trees, sank a par-five last-hole birdie in his 76.
Choong helped SPH Sultans of Swing to third place in the overall standings with 456 points. Team Boss, which fielded an all-woman team, was fourth on 453 points.
At Laguna, Oh also won another Longest Drive prize, equalling his winning effort of 272 metres that he managed at Seletar.
Rick Chan won the individual honours in the social category, while the Singapore Golf Association claimed the team title.
The Business Times editor Chen Huifen said: “The BT Corporate Golf League is held to celebrate friendships, connect acquaintances and allow corporate and business leaders a common platform to have fun. It’s great to witness the camaraderie on and off the course despite the sometimes erratic weather. BT is honoured to have played a role in bringing many of our friends and networks together.”
The event organisers said the competition ran without a hitch and they thanked the teams including Performance Motors Ltd, CLA Global, adidas Golf, KPMG, OCBC Bank, Olam Global, ONERHT, Paragon Reit, Team I-Kare and Takashimaya for their participation.
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