High Praise for Leow's Act of Selflessness

Manila, Philippines: James Leow harbours no regrets about foregoing individual glory in a courageous attempt to earn team success for Singapore at the 29th Nomura Cup.

Playing in the final flight, the 25-year-old was locked in an intriguing tussle with Japan’s Yuta Sugiura for both team and individual honours in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Team Championship.

Heading to the tee at the par-five 18th in the final round, Leow was one stroke in front of his rival in the individual standings, but trailing in the team event.

For the Singapore trio of Leow, Ryan Ang and Brandon Han to pull off one of the greatest shocks in Nomura Cup history by defeating regional powerhouses Japan, Leow required a miracle turnaround at the last hole.

Leow, Southeast Asian Games individual gold medallist in 2019, might easily have adopted a safety-first approach in a bid to finish atop the individual leaderboard. However, after a brief discussion with Singapore national coach Matt Ballard, Leow went for broke.

The history books will tell us that the gamble did not pay off with Leow hitting into a water hazard en route to running-up a double-bogey seven. With Sugiura making birdie, the three-shot swing meant top individual honours went to the Japanese, 32nd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, while Leow finished second.

In the team event, Japan secured the country’s 10th Nomura Cup crown, although the final seven-stroke margin of victory from Singapore did not tell the whole tale. For their part, Singapore’s second-place finish bettered their previous best Nomura Cup finish of fourth in Abu Dhabi in 2015.

Reflecting on the week, Leow, who now intends to turn professional, said: “Double silver in the Nomura Cup is not easy, especially against the top Asia-Pacific countries. This is a big milestone for Singapore golf and the Singapore Golf Association.

“I am proud of the team for fighting hard to the very end. We carried ourselves like championship players and gave it a run. It was my pleasure and honour to play my final amateur event representing Singapore golf.”

Coach Ballard added: “I could not be prouder of the team. This is our best-ever result in the Nomura Cup. We were within one shot of the lead with nine holes to play. They played as a team all week, as displayed by James being a selfless team-mate for his country on the last hole of the event.

“When on the 72nd hole leading the individual, he asked me: ‘How many shots are we behind Japan?’ We were three behind. James was faced with going for green in two on the last hole to bridge the gap with Japan or lay-up and protect his lead in the individual event.

“He put the team and country ahead of his individual result. He decided without hesitation he needed to make eagle and go for the green in two. He never hesitated and never considered laying up. Not the result he wanted but this moment was what this team event is all about. I will never forget this moment. I am proud to be their coach.”