Singapore: The World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) tee-off tomorrow with Team Korea ready to defend the Espirito Santo Trophy, while Singapore bids to put up a worthy performance on home soil.

The Korean contingent has arrived in Singapore as the team to beat, having captured its fifth Espirito Santo Trophy – and fourth in the last seven editions – at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club in 2023.

They finished four strokes ahead of Chinese Taipei and five clear of Spain to secure victory. This year, the Korean challenge is being spearheaded by Sung Ajin, Park Seo-jin and Oh Soo-min.

“I’m really excited to be part of the Korean team, trying to defend our Espirito Santo Trophy in Singapore. It’s an honour to represent my country, and we will do our best to put up a stout defence,” said 17-year-old Park.

Team Singapore will be represented by a youthful trio of Chen Xingtong, Inez Ng and Valencia Chang, who will look to take advantage of familiar conditions at the Tanah Merah Country Club’s Tampines Course and better their previous best finish of tied-20th in Abu Dhabi in 2023.

“We have the course familiarity and home support. Hopefully, this will give us an added advantage as we look to put up a strong showing at home,” said WATC debutant Chang.

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).

The men’s and women’s team lists for 2025 can be viewed here.