2 Wins for Marc in Annual MGA SGA Match

Marc Ong, the youngest member of the SGA Men's National Team collected 2 points for Singapore in the Annual Match against The Malaysian Golf Association held at the A'Famosa Golf Resort, Malaysia.

Marc and playing partner Kenji Cheung were defeated in their opening 4-Ball match but Marc bounced back in the Foursomes, pairing up with former Academy student and fellow Singapore Sports School golfer Gregory Foo to beat their Malaysian opponents 3&2. Marc then backed it up with another victory in his Singles Match after beating Low Khai Jei 2&1.

Although a great effort by young Marc, it was not enough to help Team Singapore retain the Annual Trophy with MGA winning 14 1/2 points to SGA 9 1/2 points.

Academy Teenagers Dominate Club Championships

15yr old's Marc Ong and Lim Jia Yi have claimed impressive victories in their respective club championships.

First it was SGA national squad member Marc Ong who took out the 2010 NSRCC Men's Club Championship played over 2 weekends at NSRCC's Kranji Sanctuary course. Marc opened his championship campaign with rounds of 71 and 69 for a commanding 13-shot lead. The 3rd day's play had to be abandoned due to poor weather and Marc then went on to the final round where he further extended his lead and claimed a brilliant wire-to-wire victory.

It was then another teenagers turn to upstage the adults, as Lim Jia Yi made it all the way through to claim victory in the 2010 OCC Ladies Club Matchplay Championship. Jia Yi had a gripping semi-final match against another Academy teenager, Cathleen Wong. The match was all-square coming down the 18th hole where Jia Yi was fortunate to make a 4 against Cathleen's 5 to win the match. Jia Yi then went on to win the final 3&2. Jia Yi's good fortune on the golf course did not stop there, a few days after claiming the Matchplay crown she joined me for a game at Raffles Country Club where she recorded her very first hole-in-one on the par 3, 3rd hole of the Palm Course. Congratulations Jia Yi!

Nicholas Wins Brisbane Amateur Championship

17yr old Nicholas Smits has fired a superb round of 67 at the Keperra Golf Club to take out the Brisbane Amateur Championship.

Nick trained as a junior golfer under my guidance at the Singapore Academy where he collected numerous international titles including the Asia-Pacific Junior Championship and a commendable 3rd place finish at the prestigous World Junior Championship. Realizing Nick's huge potential in the game, arrangements were made for him to continue his training and studies on the Gold Coast, Australia. It was a huge move and sacrifice for a kid of his age to leave his family and friends but Nick's determination, passion and talent for the game has helped make his time in Australia a huge success.

Nicholas now playing off an impressive +3 handicap, trains with Gary Edwin at The Glades Academy and is studying at the All Saints Anglican School, located just a few minutes down the road from the Golf Academy.

Nicholas has recorded some fine results in 2010 including 3rd at the Queensland Boys Amateur Championship, 2nd in the Greg Norman Junior Classic and 2nd in the Gary Player Junior Classic. He also claimed convincing wins in both The Glades and The Colonial Club Championships.

Congratulations Nick on a fine achievement!!

Wire to Wire Victory for Peter Senior

Peter Senior has won the 200 Handa Australian Senior Open title by 3 strokes over Sandy Lyle at the Royal Perth Golf Club.

Senior complete a hugely impressive wire-to-wire victory, compiling rounds of 65-70-72 to post a nine under par winning score to take the €54,498 first prize in what was the first event of the 2011 European Senior Tour season.

Senior, who narrowly missed out on claiming the title in 2009 after losing in a play-off to fellow Australian Mike Harwood, was delighted to finally get his hands on the Handa Australian Senior Open trophy.

He said: “It’s been a great week. The course was sensational and it’s been great to see the European boys out this week. “I would have liked to have played a little bit better coming down the stretch. I think I played a little bit safe, which is why I made a few mistakes, but nobody really came after me. “I’m really happy to finish on top, especially after what happened last year, when I let a lot of guys in. To win golf tournaments whether it’s Senior or the main Tour you’ve still got to play well to win. It still feels great winning tournaments.”

Former Masters and Open Champion Sandy Lyle secured second place on his own with a final round of 69.

Former British Open Champion and PGA Tour commentator Ian Baker-Finch, making his return to tournament golf also put together a solid performance finishing in a tie for 15th on even par. Finchy was on the Gold Coast early this year working on his golf swing with Gary Edwin in preparation for some Senior Tour events.

Congratulations Pete Senior on a well-deserved victory!!

Barr Tees Up with John Daly

Scott Barr has enjoyed his 3rd round of the UBS Hong Kong Open with playing partner and two-time Major Champion John Daly. Daly is always a crowd pleaser and was going along nicely at 2-under through 13 holes before a disappointing double bogey-bogey finish for a round of 71. Barr upstaged his long-hitting playing partner, dropping just one shot on the day for a round of 68.

Peter Senior Holds the Lead

Peter Senior will take a 3-shot lead going into the final round of the 2010 Handa Australian Senior open. Senior added a 2-under par 70 to his first round 65 to be at 9-under for the championship and 3 strokes clear of fellow Aussie Peter Fowler.

The lead could have been larger had it not been for two rare bogeys late in today's second round which will give hope to a suddenly hot chasing pack when it had once appeared gone.

"I played pretty good and had a lot of opportunities through the middle of the round," the Queenslander said. "I thought if I could pick up a couple (of birdies) around 10-13, I might spreadeagle the field and have a little bit of a coast tomorrow, but then a three-putt on 15 and a bogey from nowhere on 16 and it's still a contest."

Senior and Fowler have played many big tournaments together and Senior is convinced it would take something spectacular for one of them not to hold on today.

"Three shots is absolutely nothing. The guys at three under are really going to have to shoot a good score to get in front of myself and `Chooky' because I'm pretty sure that one of us will go ahead". Senior led by four shots heading into the final round of the Open last year at the same venue and was eventually beaten by Mike Harwood in a play-off. "It's there for me to win and there for me to lose ... but I don't want to let them in again" said Senior.

It has been a very consistent year for Senior who competed in his first season on the US Champions Tour in 2010, making the cut in all 25 events played and finishing top 25 in 18 of these tournaments. Senior ammassed US$821,666 in prizemoney in his rookie year on the Champions Tour, finishing 20th and securing his playing rights for the 2011 season.

Best of luck to Pete for tomorrow's final round!

68 for Scott Barr in Hong Kong

Scott Barr opened his UBS Hong Kong Open campaign with a round of 68 that included 5 birdies.

Fabrizio Zanotti who trains at the UK Academy with Luke Ringrose also played nicely with an opening round of 67.