Twelve Singaporean golfers will be in action at the Singapore Open presented by The Business Times when the tournament tees-off on The Serapong at Sentosa Golf Club, 23-26 April.

Singapore’s Nicklaus Chiam [main picture], who recently won the Selangor Masters on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), headlines a list of 10 players from the Singapore Golf Association – that utilises the Official World Golf Ranking.

The others are Ryan Ang, Gregory Foo, Dengshan Koh, Qiwen Wong, Dennis Lim, Joshua Yap and Marc Ong, while the country’s amateur stars Brayden Lee and Troy Storm complete the list.

James Leow, another recent winner on the ADT, at last year’s Aramco Invitational, and Mardan Mamat, the country’s most decorated golfer, will also compete.

Leow enters through the Asian Tour category for those who finished in the top-10 on the ADT Order of Merit last season, while Mardan qualifies through the Asian Tour’s Career Earnings exemption.

James Leow. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Chiam, whose victory at Selangor was his first in the professional game, said: “I’m very honoured to represent Singapore as the top ranked Singaporean golfer but that also comes with pressure. I’ll continue to focus on my processes and do what I can to replicate that success I had when I won in Malaysia.”

Said Leow: “Everybody, even all the Singaporean players will look forward to the Singapore Open. And with two available spots to The Open, that’s a very big opportunity for all of us. I like to compete against the best and see where I get myself.”

National squad member Storm, aged 17, is relishing another opportunity to prove his worth again on home soil after making the cut in the Singapore Open last year.

“Playing in the Singapore Open means a lot to me, especially after last year’s experience which was one of my best memories on the golf course,” said Storm.

“Being able to represent my country and compete in front of my friends and family makes the tournament even more special. I’m really looking forward to this year’s Singapore Open and can’t wait to get back out there and enjoy every moment.”

Troy Storm.

Last year Lee finished at the leading Singaporean after tying for 50^th, while Storm ended equal 63^rd. It was a remarkable performance by the duo who represented Singapore on home soil at the World Amateur Team Championship, also known as the Eisenhower Trophy, the month before.

For the second year in a row the US$2million Singapore Open will be part of The International Series – the upper-tier level of events on the Asian Tour that provide a pathway to the LIV Golf League via The International Series Rankings.

The tournament is also one of the Open Qualifying Series events this season, with the top two players not otherwise exempt earning spots in The Open at Royal Birkdale, scheduled from July 16–19.