A spectacular, rain-free start as BT golf league returns with aplomb
Team Boss, led by a stellar showing by Jonathan Lee, take the first-leg honours at Sentosa Golf Course
THE brief drizzle midway through the first leg of The Business Times Corporate Golf League tournament on Thursday (Feb 9) was seen as a blessing.
The “chilli and onion” ritual on the first tee-box of Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course somehow worked, much to the delight of the golfers. The initial forecast of thunderstorms did not hold true and allowed the popular annual event, presented this year by Singapore Pools, to run smoothly.
The opening ceremony was short but breathtaking, with about 100 golfers witnessing the unveiling of the majestic trophy and the introduction of the 16 teams was done with a touch of flamboyance as the respective captains dropped golf balls into the cup.
The proceedings produced a warm and friendly atmosphere for the corporates. The venue – usually noted for tight competitions – was turned into a cauldron of camaraderie and plenty of fun and banter.
Among the golfers were Singapore Pools chief executive officer Lam Chee Weng and board member Lee Kwok Cheong, as well as former Cabinet minister Yaacob Ibrahim.
That most of the teams opted for the social section was indicative of the event’s foremost priority: to network and build friendships.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 2 pm
Lifestyle
Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.
The opportunities were many, with exchange of pleasantries at lunch, during the game, at the halfway house for snacks and during the free-seating sumptuous dinner that was spiced up with live music.
Yet, as in all corporate events, there had to be winners, the biggest of which was extracted from the competitive category.
It was no surprise that battle-hardened Team Boss – regular participants of the league before the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020 to disrupt the event for three years – stole the show in the first of the four-leg tournament.
On the modified System 36 stableford format, the team’s three leading players chalked up 111 points, nine ahead of Centurion, and sponsor Audi Sport in third.
Taking top honours was Team Boss’ Jonathan Lee (course handicap 11) who amassed 37 points to beat teammates Andre Huber and William Tay and Centurion’s Eugene Teo on countback, all with 37 points.
An 11.2 handicapper, Lee shot nines of 43-39 for a 10-over 82, buoyed by a birdie in the second nine on a par-four hole during which he sank a 10-foot putt.
The 42-year-old commodities trader, who had been introduced to the game almost three decades ago by his father Lee Swee Teck, plays only once every week but he is an accomplished golfer with a good all-round game.
With three of their golfers returning below-par scores, Team Boss stamped their authority on the first leg and will be the team to watch in the second leg at Tanah Merah Country Club’s (TMCC) Tampines course on March 3.
Star player Lee is likely to be fielded again by captain Terrence Yong on his home course at TMCC.
On a grand day with prizes galore, Lee was not the only one to take back some goodies. Team I-Kare topped the social section with 109 points spearheaded by 10-handicapper Dixon Ng who shot 86 (44-42) for 38 points, who also claimed the individual title.
Finishing second were Deloitte, only a point behind, with Singapore Global Trust which fielded former national sportsmen David Lee (goalkeeper) and David Lim (swimmer) in third with 106 points.
Other notable prize-winners were: Michael Ng of W Atelier for the longest drive of 247 metres, Tan Ching Khoon of Deloitte for Nearest To Line (0.3 metres) and Dan Cho of Olam Agri for Nearest To Pin (1.3 metres).
Bob Seth, the managing director of Golf and Leisure who was playing in the event for the first time, summed up the day best when he said: “The BT Corporate Golf League is a true platform for interaction and intermingling. In the end, I ran out of business cards.”
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
