US collegiate golf is on the radar of Singapore’s top lady amateur golfer Shannon Tan, who will be heading to Texas Tech University next year on a full golf scholarship
The Texas Tech University women’s golf team, known as the ‘Red Raiders’, competes on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 as part of the highly-rated Big 12 Conference. Shannon plans to sign a Letter of Intent with Texas Tech this November for the 2022 fall intake, having already verbally committed to the university located in Lubbock, Texas.
“It will be a great experience playing in the top conference in the NCAA Division 1. Texas Tech fulfills all the criteria with a great coaching team, players, location and facilities,” said the 17-year-old, who won last week’s girls’ under-18 and open categories at the CarTimes Singapore Junior Development Tour (SJDT) Championship.
“They are in the Big 12 Conference which will help to build up my game and I hope I can help them to win the NCAA title. At this moment, I have not finalised my course but I am looking to pursue something related to the sports industry,” she added.
The Red Raiders’ best finish in the blue-ribbon NCAA National Championship is fifth place, which came during the 2014-2015 collegiate season. Texas Tech’s head women’s golf coach is former Oklahoma State standout JoJo Robertson, who is in her 12th season in charge. Robertson has turned the Red Raiders into one of the top collegiate golf teams, guiding them to nine NCAA Regional and two NCAA National appearances during her tenure.
Shannon, who is home-schooled, noted that she is looking forward to her American adventure. “I am looking forward to moving to a new environment and experiencing new types of golf courses and playing conditions, and the strong competition which I believe will help my game.
“I will miss my family and friends, especially my parents, who have been so supportive in my golf journey all these years.”
In the CarTimes SJDT Championship, Shannon closed with a superb 66 at Laguna National Golf & Country Club’s Masters Course to top the girls’ standings with a 54-hole total of seven-under-par 209. The victory earned her a start in the China LPGA-sanctioned Singapore Ladies Masters scheduled for this December.
“Now that tournaments are quite rare, it’s very nice to be able to play in one and even more special when you get to win it,” noted Shannon, who is currently ranked 198th in the women’s world amateur golf ranking which is the highest-ever position held by a Singaporean.
Sean Lee meanwhile carded rounds of 74, 72 and 77 to clinch the boys’ under-18 and open category titles. The 17-year-old edged his closest rival, Darryl Tan, by two shots.
“It’s great to win this tournament as I have not been playing well the past couple of months. It was a mental struggle out there for me because I didn’t bring along my ‘A’ game. But somehow, I managed to find a way to make it work so it’s definitely a confidence booster for my upcoming trip to the US,” said the ACS (I) student, who is heading to America this week to prepare for the US Junior Amateur in North Carolina on July 19-24.
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72 amateurs took part in the CarTimes SJDT Championship, which was sanctioned by SportsSG and is recognised by the World Amateur Golf Ranking and Junior Golf Scoreboard. It was the first golf tournament to be held in Singapore when activities based on Phase 2h restrictions were allowed to resume last week, and was supported by Ark Industries, adidas, Titleist, Everise, Big Fish Golf, clicgear, Golf & Leisure, Solyph and Fishball Story.
