Following the success of last year’s inaugural EFG Singapore Junior Masters, Swiss-based global private banking giant EFG Bank has committed to being the title sponsor of the event for the next three editions. It will continue to be staged at Laguna National Golf & Country Club, with this year’s tournanent taking place on November 29-December 1.
Albert Chiu, Head of Asia Pacific Region of EFG International, said: “We are extremely pleased to continue our support of this world-class sports event and be the title sponsor of Singapore Junior Masters for at least another 3 years until 2023. This shall allow us to continue our work in young and talented athletes’ development in Singapore. It is our goal to inspire youngsters and create a lasting impact in the Singapore community.”
Chiu, who flew in specially to witness the inaugural event last December despite having to spend 14 days in quarantine, reiterated their commitment to developing young athletes.
“We have a long tradition of nurturing young athletes, especially in the Asia Pacific Region. EFG Bank was honoured to be the inaugural title sponsor of this fantastic event in 2020, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of our Singapore branch,” he said.
In committing to a three-year sponsorship with the event organizer, LLD Sports Management and Development, Chiu hopes to replicate the success Hong Kong’s LPGA player Tiffany Chan in Singapore.
“EFG is proud to partner with organisations that place emphasis on the development of homegrown junior athletes. We have a rich history of doing this through sponsorship of golf in Asia and our extensive ambassador program featuring one of the top lady golfers worldwide, Tiffany Chan, who is now competing in the LPGA for the fourth consecutive year. We are sure that the Singapore Junior Masters will create an excellent opportunity and generate long-term recognition for young golf talents in Singapore and the region,” said Chiu.
The last-minute closure of the travel bubble with Singapore prevented Hong Kong players from competing in the inaugural event at Laguna National’s championship Masters Course. This year, highly-rated junior Arianna Lau will fly the flag for Hong Kong. The 14-year-old Lau has garnered 13 international tournament wins so far and has won 60 local tournaments.
Lau and other leading players such as Samantha Marie Dizon from the Philippines will surely test Singapore’s finest junior golfers, including last year’s open girl’s division winner, Shannon Tan. The 17-year-old Tan is Singapore’s top amateur and is ranked 97th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
2020 EFG Singapore Junior Masters open girls’ champion Shannon Tan
“The arrival of Arianna Lau and Samantha will test our girls at this year’s EFG SJM. Shannon will be looking to defend her title at Laguna National, but she will have to bring her ‘A’ game with the field tougher this year,” said Lyn Yeo, managing director and founder of LLD Sports Management and Development, organiser of the EFG Singapore Junior Masters.
Irish American James Jay Healy will also be returning to defend his open boys’ title against a field that includes CarTimes Singapore Junior Development Tour champion, Sean Lee, and other high-ranked Singapore players such as Eng Wei Jin, Daryl Low and Ethan Lim, as well as Atkish Gupta and Jayaditya Saluja from India.
The event is open to players aged 19 and under as of January 1st, 2021, and is expected to draw a field of over 70 players from Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, China, India, USA, UK, Germany and South Korea, and 14 WAGR ranked players. A Super Junior Division for players aged 13 and under has been added for this year’s tournament.
2021 Tournament Details:
Date: November 29 to December 1
Location: Masters Course, Laguna National Golf & Country Club
Format: 54-hole strokeplay
Divisions: Open (19 years and under), Junior (15 years and under),Super Junior (13 years and under)
