While Malaysia’s Genevieve Ling is assured of progressing into the third and final round of the inaugural China LPGA Singapore Ladies Masters, the fate of her compatriot Aretha Pan remains uncertain she hangs at the edge of cutline which could go either way for her. However, the journey has ended for the third Malaysian player, young Lana Aswadi who carded a two-day 16-over-par 160 score.
The second round of the tournament halted due to heavy downpour and lightning activity at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club at 4.35 pm and, later, was suspended for the day due to dwindling daylight, leaving half the field to return on Saturday morning to complete the second round. All three Malaysians played in the morning session.
Aretha Pan, who had a respectable one-over 73 on the first day, struggled with her putting and could only manage a five-over 77. Six bogeys marred her round, and she only managed one birdie on the 13th hole. It remains to be seen if she makes it into the third round.
Lana Aswadi showed improvement from her previous day’s performance, carding a six-over 78 compared to her opening score of 82. However, her card was tarnished with six bogeys and one double-bogey.
Genevieve had an impressive second round, making four birdies on the front nine, specifically on holes two, three, five, and nine. She continued her strong performance with another birdie on the 15th hole, resulting in a four-under 68 for the round. Her only setback came on the 17th hole when her ball found the bunker, leading to a dropped shot. After the morning session, she was tied in fifth place with Thailand’s Sherman Santiwiwastthanaphong, posting a total score of four-under-par 140, two strokes back from clubhouse leader Prima Thammarak of Thailand.
She said, “I made four birdies on the front nine but missed quite a few opportunities on the back nine. Overall, the putts were rolling well, which was important, but they weren’t going in on the back nine.
“Ball striking was better today than yesterday, which made it easier to have the birdie opportunities. It was pretty warm out there today, and I got the putter pretty warm out there as well.”
The only blemish on her scorecard was the bogey on the 17th par 3, where she faced a challenging bunker shot.
“Although I executed a good shot, I had a long putt left and ended up with a bogey,” said the golfer playing on a sponsor’s invite
Overall, she acknowledged that she hit some good shots but just couldn’t convert as many putts on the back nine. Expressing satisfaction with her game plan, Genevieve believes that her strategy for the course is solid as she focuses on placing her shots in advantageous positions off the tee. In addition, today, a few pins offered opportunities for aggressive play.
She said, “I don’t necessarily have to hit it as far as possible every single time with every shot; instead, I put myself in a good position and then attack the pins when possible while playing safe when needed.”
Genevieve, primarily focused on playing in Asia, including Taiwan, China, and Thailand this year, hopes to return to the Ladies European Tour (LET) next year, but financial considerations may play a role as travelling to Europe for tournaments can be expensive.
“I would love to play on the LPGA. It’s good that it has returned to Malaysia, so hopefully, that will be the first step,” she said.
Reflecting on her rookie year on the LET, she emphasised the significance of playing alongside experienced and talented players who provided valuable learning opportunities.
She took the opportunity to observe different approaches to the game, especially from players who have been on the LET for nearly two decades. She added that European courses offered unique challenges, allowing her to develop quicker adaptability.
Genevieve, also known for her YouTube channel called “Genevieve Ling – Golfing with Gen”, acknowledged the importance of social media platforms like YouTube but highlighted the time and effort required especially considering the demands of constant travelling.
However, she recognises its significance for attracting sponsors and connecting with fans and increasing her presence as a professional lady golfer.
“I think it is important for the game and us as professionals to have some kind of presence if we want to get anywhere,” she concluded.
