Golf tourney leader laments
Wong is tops at SPH-WGC qualifiers, still he feels he could have done better
As he approached the 18th hole at the Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club yesterday, Jeffrey Wong shook his head and sighed.
"You came at the wrong time," he told The New Paper. "I'm not playing well."
Wong wasn't doing that badly, either.
The 60-year-old procurement officer carded a five-over 77 in the second and final qualifying round of the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) World Golfers Championship (WGC) yesterday.
Both Tan Swee Long (77, Division D) and Wong carded the joint-best score of the day, and their performance will likely send the duo through to the SPH-WGC Finals at Serapong next Tuesday.
The winners of the tournament's five handicap divisions - A (0-5.4), B (5.5-10.4), C (10.5-15.4), D (15.5-20.4) and E (20.5-25.4) - will represent Singapore at the WGC Finals in Durban, South Africa, from Nov 1 to 8.
Wong, who plays off a 2.2 handicap index, felt he could have played better if there were less delays during his round.
He said: "My advantage is that I'm a long hitter, and my putting today was alright.
"But my weakness is having to wait when there are hold-ups (on the tees), and there were quite a few earlier. That affects the momentum, and my game."
Despite the distractions, Wong, who has been playing golf for 25 years, managed his second-best score on the Tanjong Course.
He recorded a 76 at the same venue two years ago.
Next up for him is the less familiar Serapong Course next week.
"I prefer Serapong; it's more fun, more challenging," said Wong, who is a member of Singapore Golf Association-affiliated club, My Golf Kaki.
"I've played on all the courses around Singapore. My usual weekend game is at Orchid Country Club.
"I've only played Serapong three times before, and my best score there was 80... I will probably arrange a weekend game there this week to prepare."
There were 100 golfers who did battle in blazing conditions yesterday for the chance to represent Singapore at the WGC Finals.
Just like the first round of qualifiers last Tuesday, there was another ace yesterday.
Pauline Quah (15.9 handicap index) fired a hole-in-one on the 116-metre fifth hole en route to an 88.
The feat, however, was not achieved at either of the two pre-designated par-three holes that carried mega prizes.
Golfers stood to win a Lotus Evora courtesy of Richburg Motors if they could got a hole-in-one at the second hole, or a Switzerland holiday package courtesy of Dynasty Travel if they managed it at the 13th.
The leaders of the respective categories yesterday were Jeffrey Wong (77, Division A), Frankie Siow (79, Division B), Lee Meng Kit (78, Division C), Tan Swee Leong (77, Division D) and Vincent Tan (85, Division E).
The finalised results of yesterday's qualifiers will be announced in The New Paper tomorrow.
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