Singapore: Unity and unyielding trust in their team-mates will drive China’s bid for an historic maiden victory at the World Amateur Team Championships for the Espirito Santo Trophy this week.
With no fewer than seven victories on the CLPG Tour between them, it’s little wonder that Zhou Shiyuan, Ren Yijia and Xu Ying have such high hopes heading into the 31st edition of the championships at Singapore’s Tanah Merah Country Club (TMCC) from October 1-4.
Reflecting the self-belief of a team that is being captained by former world number one Feng Shanshan, Zhou said: “My team-mates and I already know each other very well. We all have long driving distances, accurate iron play, and precise putting.
“In team competitions, cohesion and trust are key to victory. I have full confidence in our team heading into the tournament – they are all exceptional players. We will give our best in every shot, enjoy the competition, and strive to achieve outstanding results.”
Zhou is currently the top-rated Chinese female at 26th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), while Xu is 30th and Ren is 77th.
All three have extensive top-level experience having played in multiple professional events on home soil, while Zhou and Ren were part of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) team that thrashed a powerful European Golf Association line-up to win the Solheim Cup-style Patsy Hankins Trophy in the United Arab Emirates in January.
Like Zhou, Ren, who captured the second CLPG Tour title of her young career in dramatic fashion, a final-hole birdie giving her a one-stroke win in the Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Challenge a fortnight ago, is in bullish mood about China’s prospects in Singapore.
She said: “I believe the key is to co-operate well with my team-mates and strive for a strong performance. We all know each other very well – we’re like team-mates who have each other’s backs. They (Zhou and Xu) are both very strong players, and we all have long driving distances.
“I trust them completely, and we’ll work hard together. Winning the Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Challenge has given me a lot of confidence. It motivates me even more. With good teamwork, I believe the World Amateur Team Championship will go smoothly for us.”
Xu added: “Since it’s a team event, the most important thing is unity – trusting our team-mates completely, believing in ourselves, and performing at our best level in Singapore. I am confident our team can achieve a great result. Both of my team-mates are highly skilled, and together, we’ve already won seven CLPG Tour championships. That really boosts my confidence.”
In their bid for top honours, nothing is being left to chance.
Zhou said: “My goal is to perform at my best and stand on the podium with my team-mates. I look forward to embracing the competition with strong mental and physical preparedness.
“Before the tournament, we’ll undergo targeted training tailored to the course conditions in Singapore – such as grass types, green speeds, bunker texture, and hazard layouts. Given Singapore’s hot climate, we must prepare in advance for heat prevention, cooling measures, and physical conditioning, as well as adjust our diet accordingly.
“Competing away from home, we may face different pressures and environmental distractions, so maintaining composure and staying focused on each shot will be crucial.”
Conducted by the International Golf Federation and hosted by the Singapore Golf Association, the World Amateur Team Championships are a biennial international amateur golf competition.
In the Espirito Santo Trophy, each team has three players, who each play 18 holes of stroke play over four days. In each round, the total of the two lowest scores from each team constitutes the team score for the round. The four-day (72-hole) total is the team’s score for the championship.
For the women, the Tampines Course at TMCC will be set up at 6,453 yards (5,897 metres) and will play to a par of 72 (36-36).
