Feature
REGION’S FINEST GOLFERS
Gather For 10 th Asia-Pacifi c Amateur Championship
- by Farzan Heerjee
’ve never been a frequent visitor to Singapore but the
lure of the majestic, iconic Marina Beach Sands Hotel, of
which I had heard so much about, made me look forward
this time round, to visit it again for the tenth edition of
the Asia-Paci¿ c Amateur Championship (AAC) to be
played at the New Tanjong course at Sentosa Golf Club
from 4th to 7th October 2018. Founded in 1974, the
Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore holds both a rich history
and a very modern outlook. Voted as the best golf club
in South East Asia, it offers phenomenal courses with scenic views
for golf a¿ cionados.
The small island state, just thirty miles across and seventeen
miles North to South did not disappoint me with its towering,
glinting skyscrapers, bustling streets, lovely gardens and amazing
food. Weather wise, being almost on the Equator, Singapore was hot
and sultry but it didn’t distract me from focusing on the game.
The AAC is an annual amateur tournament organized by the Asia
–Paci¿ c Golf Confederation
(APGC) in conjunction with
The Masters Tournament and
the R&A, organizers of The
Open Championship. It is
played at different location
throughout the Asia Paci¿ c
region and considered an elite
event by the World Amateur
Golf Ranking, in that the AAC
players, like players of the US
Driving Range
Amateur, British Amateur and
European Amateur are eligible
to be ranked. Another reason why the AAC gains signi¿ cance is
because the champion earns a direct entry/ invitation to the Masters
Tournament at Augusta and a place in The Open Championship. The
runner(s)-up gains a spot in The Open Qualifying Series. The AAC
has proved to be a springboard for players such as two-time Japanese
champion Matsuyama (2010 and 2011) and China’s Guan Tianlang,
the Winner in 2012 who went on to become the youngest player
ever to make the cut at the 2013 Masters at the age of fourteen.
The original idea of the tournament was to create heroes who would
make the region proud on the world stage, and the ACC has done
just that by creating exceptional champions each year. In fact, the
APGC Chairman, Mr Kei Muratsu remarked that the quality of the
¿ eld hosting and celebrating a decade of the ACC in Singapore just
showed how important the tournament had become for the region.
An evening to remember with the legendary Tom Watson
AAC Founding Partners reflect on the
Future of the game in the Asia-Pacific region
The 72-hole stroke play event at the New Tanjong course lived up
to its promise to be a real festival of golf in the special year of the
championship as it celebrated its 10th anniversary. The Founding
Partners of the AAC were very happy with the manner in which
44 G o l f P l u s
NOVEMBER
2018
Rayhan Thomas receiving the Runners up medal from
Taimur Hassan, Vice Chairman APGC of Pakistan