A well-deserved round of applause could be heard as Team Singapore earned the bragging rights as this year’s winners of the highly coveted 22nd World Amateur Golfers Championship Team Trophy at the Awards Gala Dinner & Prize Giving, held at the Tsogo Sun Elangeni Hotel. The Championship was played in KwaZulu-Natal from the 22-29 October, where Team Singapore could be seen leading the field from round one.
They outclassed the competition on every stroke across 72 holes of KwaZulu-Natal’s finest championship courses: the country clubs of Durban, Beachwood, Kloof and Victoria. Team Singapore ultimately finished on 1,121 Nett, 27 shots ahead of Team Vietnam, who claimed second place on a hard-earned 1,148 Nett. Team Malaysia were not without their own display of skill, trailing just one shot behind Team Vietnam finishing on a 1,149 Nett. Just off podium was Team South Africa who finished in fourth place on 1,157 Nett and Teams China and Indonesia who tied fifth, both finishing on 1,158 Nett.
In the Invitational, Team Vietnam A won podium in claiming first place on an impressive 430 Nett, followed by Team Malaysia 1 who held their own on a 435 Nett while Team Indonesia 1 claimed 3rd finishing on a 436 Nett. In the Championship Individual flightings, Erwyn Rui Lam from Singapore stole the show, playing a consistent game throughout to stay ahead of the competition and claim first place in the 0-5 handicap group finishing on a 290 Nett.
Nils Nordh, Chairman & CEO of World Amateur Golfers Championship, in his address gave special thanks to the HRH Princess Birgitta of Sweden for her ongoing patronage and support of the Championship. He further extended his thanks to the players, the golf courses management, Tsogo Sun and the event producers, World Golf Events SA, organisers Flagship Events and World Golfers Championship Ltd for making this year’s 22nd World Final an absolutely unforgettable experience. In his closing address, Nils announced that next year’s World Final will be hosted by Malaysia.
This year’s Sven Tumba Spirit Trophy was awarded to Team Spain who really showcased a great energy of camaraderie and sportsmanship throughout the Championship. The team held true to Sven’s vision for the World Amateur Golfers Championship of forming new friendships and creating new business opportunities.
The Championship ended on a high note for two amateur golfers, Ignacia Diaz Gonzalez from Spain and Wolfgang Schwietzke from Germany. Both Ignacia and Wolfgang managed to score big by obtaining hole-in-ones during the Championship on the 2nd hole at Beachwood Country Club and the 9th at Victoria Country Club, respectively.
‘It has been an unforgettable week of golf with over 200 golfers, representing 27 countries in the Championship and 23 countries in the Invitational, coming together to compete in an all-out battle for a 22nd World Final Trophy and Title. However, championships like these are not possible without the support of sponsors and as a result a special thank you must be extended to SMG BMW for their support in making sure our team always had the drive to arrive at our destinations not only on time, but in style as well. Furthermore, a big thank to Tsogo Sun, who really outdid themselves as this year’s accommodation and hospitality host by providing exceptional five-star service. Lastly, I would like to thank Tourism KwaZulu-Natal for the incredible support they and the leadership of the province have given the event over the years since the Championship was first played in KwaZulu-Natal in 2011,’ said Craig Clay-Smith, tournament spokesperson for the World Amateur Golfers Championship.
In closing, Craig congratulated Team Malaysia on taking over the banner of hosting the 23rd World Amateur Golfers Championship and wished all the players a safe journey home and hoped that all the golfers could walk away with a little bit of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in their hearts.
CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER BOARD: Final Results
TEAMS
1st Singapore 1121 Nett
2nd Vietnam 1148 Nett
3rd Malaysia 1149 Nett
INDIVIDUAL
0-5 Flighting
1st Erwyn Rui Lam 290 Nett
2nd Farizuan Che Hamid 291 Nett
3rd Stefano Remedi 295 Nett
6-10 Flighting
1st Matjaz Kavnik 287 Nett
2nd Liu Wenju 288 Nett
T3rd James Smith 289 Nett
T3rd Puguh Sosiantoro 289 Nett
11-15 Flighting
1st Mohd Fazli Ramlan 276 Nett
2nd Clara Ang Jia 280 Nett
3rd Dinh Toan Do 284 Nett
4th Marius Jacobs (SA) 286 Nett
16-20 Flighting
1st Qin Wensheng 282 Nett
T2nd Colin Siak Hwee Tan 289 Nett
T3rd Pierre Heyneke (SA) 289 Nett
T3rd Truong Giang Nguyen 289 Nett
21-25 Flighting
1st Kian Lee 275 Nett
2nd Tran Tuan Ho 282 Nett
3rd Stefan Baumgartner 285 Nett
INVITATIONAL LEADER BOARD: Final Results
TEAM
1st Vietnam A 430 Nett
2nd Malaysia 1 435 Nett
3rd Indonesia 1 436 Nett
INDIVIDUAL
0-5 Flighting
1st Ignacio Diaz Gonzalez 223 Nett
2nd Jon Ealther Jensen 224 Nett
3rd Jose Andrades Torrecillas 227 Nett
6-10 Flighting
1st Randy Bryant 223 Nett
2nd Marco Poulsen 230 Nett
3rd Hans Lichtenberg 231 Nett
11-15 Flighting
1st Budaya Bin Abdullah 204 Nett
2nd Dean Baharin 222 Nett
3rd Mihail Reznikov 223 Nett
16-20 Flighting
1st Van Hai Than 210 Nett
2nd Wan Kamal Wan Ismail (O.C.O) 216 Nett
3nd Arthur Mzimela (Team SA Captain) 216 Nett
21-25 Flighting
1st Irwan Widjaja 214 Nett
2nd Hung Son Hoang 220 Nett
3rd Nirwan Santosa 222 Nett
26-30 Flighting
1st Denis Viklinskiy 230 Nett
2nd Tuula Ukkonen 231 Nett
3rd Majda Nahtigal 232 Nett
