Malaysia’s Ng Jing Xuen clinched top honours in the second leg of the EFG-CLPGA Q series when she posted a two-under-par 70 to end the two-day event at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club atop the leaderboard on Tuesday.
Singapore’s Aloysa Atienza finished in outright second place, four shots behind Jing Xuen after signing for a 72 and two-over-par 218 total while 13-year-old Sydnie Ng – playing in the final group with Jing Xuen, Atienza and Thailand’s Shi Benxing – closed with a 73 to take fourth place in the open division but emerged as the U16 champion.
Ng became the first Malaysian to win the SEA Games gold medal last year and recorded another significant milestone by being the first player from Malaysia to win the EFG-CLPGA Q series in Singapore. Hong Kong, China’s Arianna Lau had earlier won the first leg of the series in May.
“I’m pleased with how I have played the last two days here in Singapore. I didn’t hit some shots very well but I feel like my mental state has been good over the last two days.
“This win has given me the benchmark on where I stand and also the knowledge that I have the game. But having said that, I still need to improve as I keep an eye on turning professional,” said Jing Xuen.
Participants in the 54-hole tournament play 36 holes on the first day, with only the top 50 players and ties advancing to the third and final round on the second day.
The EFG-CLPGAQ series offers S$10,000 prize money to the top 10 players and ties, including amateurs and provides valuable World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
For ladies, it is also a qualifying pathway to the flagship CLPG Tour where former world No.1 and major winner Yin Ruoning, won her first three tournaments as a professional.
When asked to describe her two-day competitive experience, Sydnie - the Grade 7 student at St. Joseph’s Institution International – who compiled a 222 total said: “There are a lot of things which I need to work and improve on because some aspects of my game are still rusty. But by finishing near the top and as the U16 champion, it’s definitely a big confidence boost.”
Details of the next leg of the EFG-CLPGAQ series will be announced at a later date. But with two legs already completed, Albert Chiu, Executive Chairman of EFG Bank, Asia Pacific believes the competition can only get stronger.
“EFG Bank has been involved in the development of golf in Singapore for the last six years and we have a lot of passion in supporting junior golf.
“We have been very impressed with the quality of the players so far and it has attracted a very strong field. The organisation and running of the series have also been very impressive and we can only look forward to seeing what the next leg in the series brings,” said Chiu.
Lyn Yeo, founder of LLD Sports and promoter of the EFG-CLPGQ series, is pleased to witness the sterling performances of players like Sydnie and Jing Xuen as it underscores the mission she has long been championing for.
“I'm delighted to see young players like Jing Xuen, Sydnie and Passion doing well. This is the platform I want to provide for them so that they can achieve their Olympics dreams. They are now competing against top level players from the region on the challenging championship course. All these will prepare them well for the future,” said Yeo.
Kevin Kwee, Executive Director of Laguna National Golf Resort Club hailed the success of the ongoing series and said: “As the host venue, the facilities here are something which everyone is already very familiar with. But what makes the overall event a success is sponsors like EFG Bank getting their value and creating more playing opportunities for amateur golfers.”
Malaysian Olympian Ashley Lau finished tied for 13th at the Epson Tour's Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic in Alabama.
Lau had strong showings in her first two rounds, posting scores of 65 and 68, but closed with a 75, leaving her eight-under-par for the tournament and tied with five other players.
Sweden's Ingrid Lindblad captured the title with a two-shot win at 16-under-par 200, marking her first professional victory.
Lau, 24, has been competing on the Epson Tour since 2023 and currently ranks 63rd in the Race for the Card standings, where 15 LPGA Tour cards will be given at the end of the season. She will next participate in the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout, where fellow Malaysian Natasha Oon previously claimed the title.
Malaysia's Galven Green emerged as the top-performing Malaysian at The Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar & Nomura, held at Gunung Geulis Country Club, finishing in a tie for third place.
Green posted impressive rounds of 68, 64, and 68, ending the tournament six shots behind winner Tanapat Pichaikool. Pichaikool secured his first international victory with a commanding score of 19-under-par.
This result marks Green's best finish of the year on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), moving him to 15th in the Order of Merit (OOM). The top ten players in the ADT OOM will earn playing rights on next year’s Asian Tour.
Other notable Malaysian performances included Marcus Lim, Daeng Rahman, and Khor Kheng Hwai, who finished tied for 34th at four-under-par. Nasrullah Zulkifli was just one stroke behind, finishing in a tie for 46th.
Final Scores
Top 5 & Ties
194 (-1) Tanapat Pichaikool 68-64-62
197 (-16) Filip Lundell 65-66-66
200 (-13) Rory Hie 66-69-65, Galven Green 68-64-68
201 (-12) Witchayapat Sinsrang 66-69-66, Matthew Cheung 67-68-66, Thitipan Pachuayprakong 70-66-65, Lion Park 66-65-67
The United States team won the Solheim Cup for the first time since 2017, fending off a late European singles fightback to triumph by 15.5 points to 12.5 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.
Lilia Vu clinched the winning half point for the American team with a birdie at the closing hole to square her match with Swiss player Albane Valenzuela.
Following the 14-14 tie at Finca Cortesin in Spain last year that saw Europe retain the Solheim Cup as holders, U.S. captain Stacy Lewis lauded her 12 players for rising to the challenge on home soil.
“It was an amazing week from the start. We started the week off Monday going around D.C. and we had a great day. From the moment this team was together, they were together,” said Lewis.
“The vibe in the team room was amazing, the way they got along, the way they support each other. Our caddies were off-the-charts keeping the team room loose, making sure everybody had fun, and it showed. It showed in the golf that was played. I'm just so proud of them,” she added.
Team USA had led 10-6 heading into the Sunday singles, but the dogged Europeans refused to give up and made things interesting. With three matches left on the golf course, the Americans needed another half-point from Vu, Sarah Schmelzel or Jennifer Kupcho to ensure victory.
The Cup-clinching half point came from Vu, who bombed her drive down the 18th fairway and nailed her approach inside two feet. After Valenzuela left her long birdie attempt short, Vu tapped in to square the match and take her team’s total points tally to an unassailable 14.5.
Just five months ago, Vu had withdrawn from her title defence at The Chevron Championship with a back injury that put her out of commission for a few months.
“This week was kind of hard for me. I felt like I wasn't physically 100 percent, and I almost felt guilty taking that spot from someone else and felt like I was trying to find something out here on the golf course. Luckily, I have the best team around me and was able to find my game today. I'm pretty grateful to even be playing golf,” said Vu.
Four U.S. players went undefeated this week: Rose Zhang (4-0-0), Megan Khang (3-0-0), Lauren Coughlin (3-0-1) and Andrea Lee (2-0-1).
The 2026 Solheim Cup will take place at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands on September 11-13. Designed by renowned American architect Kyle Phillips, the championship course at Bernardus is a heathland design featuring challenging water hazards and a compact layout. The club has hosted three editions of the KLM Dutch Open on the DP World Tour (2021-2023).
Zulaikah Nasser claimed victory at the Toyota Tour Qualifying School 2nd leg with a closing bogey-free three-under 69 at Kota Seriemas Golf & Country Club.
Her three-day total of 214 put her five strokes ahead of Afif Fathi and amateur Chan Kai Zhane, earning her RM3,350 just in time for her 22nd birthday. “It feels great, knowing that I belong on Tour,” said Zulaikah. “I kept on practicing hard and played really solid today. I’m so proud I played bogey-free today.”
Zulaikah Nasser gets a winner's hug from her mother.
A total of 25 players, including eight amateurs and 17 professionals, finished at 15-over or better, securing their Tour playing rights for the next year and qualifying for the Harrier Cup at Kelab Golf DiRaja Pahang, the next event on the Toyota Tour.
The much-anticipated duel between Zulaikah and Liyana Durisic faded on the back nine, with Liyana bogeying three holes and finishing with a three-over 75. Both players, who turned professional on August 27, are now Golf Ambassadors for Kelab Golf Seri Selangor. Zulaikah, a graduate of Sam Houston State, is focused on starting her professional career strong, while Iowa State alumna Liyana prepares for the Maybank LPGA Championship against top names like Nelly Korda, Rose Zhang, and Lydia Ko.
The Qualifiers
214 (-2) Zulaikah Nasser (73-72-69)
219 (+3) Chan Kai Zhane (a) (78-70,71), Afif Fathi (76-71-72)
220 (+4) Liyana Durisic (75-70-75)
221 (+5) Afif Razif (75-76-70)
222 (+6) Rozaini Rosli (a) (75-74-73)
223 (+7) Syady Sheikh (74-77-72), Anis Helmi Hassan (75-76-72)
225 (+9) Sheikh Razak (77-75-73)
226 (+10) Maveen Kumar (77-76-73)
