The second edition of the EFG International Golf Challenge (EFG IGC) concluded at the prestigious Tanah Merah Country Club, with Team Asia emerging victorious against Team Europe. This spirited two-day competition, held on 21-22 August, brought together top junior golfers from across Asia and Europe, promoting sportsmanship and fostering young talent.
Building on the success of the 2023 competition, this year’s EFG IGC delivered a thrilling experience, showcasing a strong line-up of young talent from both continents. Over the course of two days, Team Asia and Team Europe competed fiercely in various formats, including foursomes, four-ball, and singles matches. More than just a competition, the EFG IGC provided a meaningful experience for all participants, fostering friendships and sportsmanship while promoting the values of perseverance and teamwork.
Ministers, ambassadors, and dignitaries from the countries represented at the IGC attended the 21 August opening ceremony and welcome dinner. Gracing the event was Guest-of-Honour Mr. Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth & Trade and Industry.
Other notable attendees included Ms. Michelle Liem, Honorary Consul of the Consulate of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Singapore; Mr. Marc Schmidt, President of the Luxembourg Golf Federation; Mr. Emmanuel Markianos, First Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of Greece in Singapore; Mr. Patrick Ramsey, Head of Continental Europe and Middle East at EFG International; Her Excellency Iwona Piórko, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Singapore; Mr. Owin Fung, Director of the Hong Kong Trade & Economic Office in Singapore; Mr. Kitjawat Tachareon, Counsellor of the Royal Thai Embassy; Mr. Ivan Chua, Vice President of the Singapore Golf Association; and Joshua Ho, General Manager of the Singapore Golf Association.
Representing Team Asia were Arianna Lau (Hong Kong), Isaac Lee (Hong Kong), Anson Yeo (Malaysia), Winnie Ng (Malaysia), Parin Sarasmut (Thailand), Parat Sukanant (Thailand), Brayden Lee (Singapore), Ryan Ang (Singapore), Chen Xingtong (Singapore) and Troy Storm (Singapore).
Facing them were the talented golfers from Team Europe, Emma Lahaije (Luxembourg), Ella Miserini (Luxembourg), Marie Baertz (Luxembourg), Domitille Das Merces (France), Alexandre Dorier (Luxembourg), Maxime Morn (Luxembourg), Arnaud Castellana (Luxembourg), Emilios Philippos Tsiridis (Greece), Konstantinos Tsantsarakis (Greece) and Gabriel Guerreiro (Portugal).
Team Asia excelled in the morning foursomes on day one of the competition, winning all five matchups decisively. Notably, Chen Xingtong and Arianna Lau both delivered outstanding performances, scoring an even-par 72 and winning 9 and 7 against their European opponents, Domitille Das Merces and Ella Miserini, setting the tone for a successful day.
Team Asia maintained their strong momentum in the afternoon fourball matches, winning all their pairings. The standout performance came from Winnie Ng and Arianna Lau, who displayed exceptional teamwork and skill. They secured a solid 7 and 5 victory over Domitille Das Merces and Marie Baertz, finishing with an impressive score of 6-under-par 66. Despite the outcome, the matches were closely contested, showcasing the competitive spirit of both teams throughout the afternoon.
On day two, Team Asia once again demonstrated their prowess during the morning’s men’s and women’s singles matches, winning all the pairings they competed in. Chen Xingtong delivered the most outstanding performance of the day, securing a decisive 9 and 7 victory over Domitille Das Merces.
Team Asia emerged victorious, concluding the EFG IGC 2024 competition with 184 points, while Team Europe finished with 104 points. During the awards presentation, Team Asia was honoured with the winner’s trophy, with Team Europe receiving the runners-up trophy. Parat Sukanant was named the Most Valuable Player for Team Asia for her strong performance on the course as well as for her positive sportsmanship demonstrated throughout the event, and Arnaud Castellana earned the Most Valuable Player title for Team Europe for his strong leadership qualities exhibited throughout the tournament. The overall Most Valuable Player award, recognising the highest individual points scorer, went to Arianna Lau, who accumulated an impressive 41.5 points throughout the competition.
The EFG IGC ended with an awards presentation and a fundraising lunch, successfully raising funds for the Singapore Golf Association, the EFG Young Athletes Foundation in Hong Kong, and the Luxembourg Golf Federation. This achievement underscores EFG Bank’s enduring commitment to nurturing young athletes globally.
Albert Chiu, Executive Chairman Asia Pacific of EFG and Chairman of the EFG Young Athletes Foundation, remarked on the success of the event: “We were thrilled to witness the remarkable talent and sportsmanship displayed by these young golfers. The second EFG International Golf Challenge has once again showcased the incredible potential of the next generation of golfing stars. I have seen first hand the sacrifices these young athletes make in order to bring sporting glory for their countries and cities. EFG is proud to journey with these athletes from the very beginning and we are even prouder of the tremendous amount of support we were able to collectively pull together 20 corporate donors all to support youth sporting excellence.”
