Sweet Orchid Success for Navaporn and Morgan

Singapore: Thai Navaporn Soontreeyapas and Australian Lincoln Morgan have been crowned Singapore Open Amateur Championship winners.

In the ladies’ division, Navaporn signed off with her week’s best score of six-under-par 67 for a winning total of five-under-par 287 at Orchid Country Club’s (OCC) Aranda and Dendro courses.

In the male division, Morgan birdied the final hole for a closing 70 and an 18-under total of 274 to claim a one-shot success from Malaysian Marcus Lim and the Filipino duo of Aidric Jose Chan and Carl Jano Corpus.

Corpus and Vietnam’s Nguyen Anh Minh, who finished fifth on 279, are part of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation that will take on the leading European amateurs in next month’s Ryder Cup style team match play Bonallack Trophy in Spain.

At OCC, Navaporn, a member of the gold medal-winning Thai team at last month’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, fended off the challenge of compatriot Achiraya Sriwong, who had led for the first three rounds.

Navaporn’s 67 included eight birdies and two bogeys and left her four strokes clear of 14-year-old runner-up Achiraya.

“The course conditions were perfect and I’m glad I managed to take advantage of it. This victory is very special as I managed to win it against a strong field. Hopefully, I can continue this winning form,” said 17-year-old Navaporn.

Singaporeans Inez Ng and Hailey Loh closed with rounds of 77 and 74 respectively to end in a share of fifth place.

Winner of the NT Men’s Amateur two years ago, Victorian Junior champion in 2019 and the younger brother of LIV Golf player Jed Morgan, the 2021 Australian PGA champion, Morgan soared into contention on the back of a blistering nine-under 64 in round three.

That gave him a one-stroke lead heading into the final round where he overcame a nervy start to produce a clutch finish and record a one-stroke win.

He is the first Australian to win the men’s division since Tim Stewart in 2007 with the championship honour roll boasting Asian legends Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant.

Following the biggest win of his career, 20-year-old Morgan, who hails from Brisbane, said: “I haven’t been playing well the last few months. So, to be able to win this championship means a lot to me. It’s great to get the confidence back. I really wanted to win this one. This is definitely a big one!”