Laguna National Glory for Croker and Widjaja

Singapore: Australian Quinnton Croker and Indonesian Elaine Widjaja claimed contrasting victories in the inaugural LLD International Amateur Championship, the first truly mixed junior golf championship to be staged in Singapore.

While 19-year-old Croker swept to a 12-stroke win in the Boys' Open division over the Masters Course at Laguna National Golf Resort Club, 15-year-old Widjaja eked out a tense one-stroke success in the Girls' Open division.

For both players it was the first time they’d won a tournament outside their home country.

“This is my first time being out of Australia playing an event. It’s pretty good to come away with a win. I’ve won a couple of events in
Australia but this is definitely one of the biggest ones I’ve won,” said Croker, 602nd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) at the start of the week.

“I came here playing pretty well. This week I swung it good and putted well. The greens are similar to home so it didn’t feel too
unnatural. I played some really good golf and the scores showed that,” said Croker, who posted rounds of 67, 66, and 74 for an aggregate of nine-under 207.

Second place on 219 went to Singapore’s Daryl Low, who held off strong challenges from Indonesian Randy Bintang and Thai Polakrit Pawichai. 

As Croker was strolling to a wire-to-wire success, Widjaja, 408th in the WAGR, was pushed all the way by Thai Pimpisa Sisutham.

A two-handicapper who only picked up the game five years ago, Widjaja followed rounds of 73 and 67 with a closing even-par 72 to finish one ahead of Pimpisa, who made a birdie to the Indonesian’s bogey on the final hole.

“It feels awesome to be able to represent my country and win a tournament,” said Widjaja, the leading Indonesian at last week’s 42nd Queen Sirikit Cup at the same venue.

The LLD International Amateur Championship attracted 63 overseas players representing 11 countries – Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand.

Lyn Yeo, founder of LLD Sports Development and Management, also the organiser of the event, said: “Congratulations to all the winners. The course was quite challenging. Thanks to the players for making the inaugural LLD International Amateur Championship a success.”