Team Singapore started their title bid for the Espirito Santo trophy on Wednesday with a three-over-par total to head into the second round of the World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) in tied-16th position.
Team USA holds the lead with their eight-under total, while Korea is in second place (-7), followed by Spain in third place (-5).
The team score is calculated based on the two lowest scores from each team.
Chen Xingtong led Singapore’s challenge by posting a three-under-par 69 to take tied-fifth place on the individual leaderboard while Valencia Chang and Inez Ng signed for a 78 and 79, respectively.
16-year-old Chen stumbled early with a bogey on her back-nine 10. But responded with birdies on 12 and 14 to turn in 35.
The teenager then birdied the first hole after the turn, but dropped another shot on the third hole before picking up gains on holes five and six for an inward 34 on the Tampines course, Tanah Merah Country Club.
“I’m pretty happy with how I played today. I think today was just about staying patient because I didn’t start off well. I three-putted the first. But I was just trusting that I really know the course and I’ve played it like so many times this year. And I have a strategy and just stick to that and everything will work out here,” said Chen.
American Farah O’Keefe, who carded a five-under-par 67 to help propel the United States to the top of the leaderboard, expressed her excitement at representing her country at the WATC.
“It means a lot to be here wearing red, white, and blue and representing where I come from,” said O’Keefe, a 20-year-old from the University of Texas. “I didn’t even know this tournament was a thing until two years ago, when my teammate won it. So, now to be standing here representing my country, I just couldn’t be more excited. It’s the coolest thing in the world, and it means everything,” said O’Keefe.
Hosted by the Singapore Golf Association (SGA) and conducted by the International Golf Federation (IGF), the WATC is held every two years and is widely regarded as the pinnacle of amateur team golf.
The women will contest the Espirito Santo Trophy from October 1–4, followed by the men competing for the Eisenhower Trophy from October 8–11.
In total, 36 teams will vie for honours in each championship. This year marks only the fifth time the WATC is being staged in Asia, with previous editions held in Japan (2014), Malaysia (2002), the Philippines (1996), and Hong Kong, China (1984).
Click here for the 2025 WATC official tee times and scoring.
