Local teenager Brayden Lee is set to compete in his biggest event to date next month, after qualifying for the Porsche Singapore Classic.
The 17-year-old amateur carded a one-over-par 73 to finish fifth at Laguna National Golf Resort Club on Tuesday and secure one of the three qualifying spots as the top Singaporean.
Thai professional Natipong Srithong won the qualifying event with a score of 69, while Japan’s Shinichi Mizuno secured the other qualifying spot after defeating fellow professional Jonathan Wijono of Indonesia and Hong Kong amateur Wang Ngai Shen in a three-way play-off.
“I’ve definitely improved from last year, but I think today I was able to just stay more composed and I tried to limit the mistakes,” said Lee.
“I guess I did enough this year to get myself a spot. I’m quite happy; I narrowly missed out last year so I’m just looking forward to playing in the Porsche Singapore Classic in March.
“The smaller goal is to make the cut. But if you look at the bigger picture, I just want to see how the guys from the better tours actually navigate their way around the courses, and in this case it’s the Classic Course at Laguna National.
“In terms of the World Amateur Golf Rankings, this will be (my biggest competition to date).
If I’m able to get some decent scores out and, in the worst case scenario I don’t make the cut, I think I’ll still have a little bit of a confidence boost. And I’ll be able to kind of ride that wave throughout the year, so hopefully that happens.”
Srithong played at Laguna National in 2015 prior to the course undergoing renovation and has set his sights on a strong performance next month.
“My target for the Porsche Singapore Classic is to try and finish in the top 20 or top 10,” he said.
Mizuno birdied the first play-off hole to secure his spot and is excited for a memorable week ahead.
“I was super nervous; even on the last putt I was shaking,” he said. “But to get to that point, I had to give myself credit already.
“If the result wasn’t going to end the way it did, I was still going to be happy, but I’m just glad everything was good.
“The mindset I had was that this is a step towards competing for the trophy on the DP World Tour, which gave me a little bit of calmness. I just want to play my best and see if I can compete with Europe’s best players.”
Porsche Singapore Classic Executive Championship Director Patrick Bowers said: “The Porsche Singapore Classic has consistently attracted some of the top names in golf and constantly strived to create the best experiences for visitors to our event.
"Beyond that, we are aware that an event of such high calibre has the power to further grow the sport in Singapore.
"This is something that has always been important to the Porsche Singapore Classic.
"We are proud to once again collaborate with Laguna National to create opportunities for deserving professionals and amateurs in Singapore to earn their place in the field.
"Congratulations to the three qualifiers and we look forward to watching you take on the Classic Course once again next month.”
The three qualifiers will join a stacked field that includes Ryder Cup star Robert MacIntyre and the DP World Tour’s most recent winner Li Haotong, who triumphed at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters earlier this month.
Other players who will feature at the Porsche Singapore Classic include 2024 runner-up and four-time DP World Tour winner Kiradech Aphibarnrat, young talent Ding Wenyi and Keita Nakajima, who won his first DP World Tour title last year.
The 2025 Porsche Singapore Classic, which kicks off the DP World Tour’s Asian Swing, marks Porsche’s second year as Title Partner. The luxury sports car brand is continuing to build on its long-standing relationship with the DP World Tour by expanding its global golf presence through this multi-year partnership.
The DP World Tour made its debut in Singapore in 1993, with Major Champions Sir Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam claiming the first editions of the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1993 and 1996. Singapore has also seen victories by fellow Major Champions Vijay Singh and Adam Scott, adding to the country’s rich golfing history.
Laguna National was also home to one of the most iconic moments of Singapore golf, with local hero Mardan Marmat delighting the home crowd by securing a one-stroke victory at the 2006 Singapore Masters.
Updates on the Porsche Singapore Classic can be found on the Porsche Singapore Classic website, as well as its Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.
To buy tickets to attend the Porsche Singapore Classic, please click here. Juniors aged 16 and under receive complimentary entry when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. The Porsche Singapore Classic spectator village will feature a multitude of activities, food and beverage, and entertainment options for golfers and non-golfers alike.
