Chen Xingtong makes US Girls' Junior C'ship final, first S'porean golfer to achieve the feat
SINGAPORE – Chen Xingtong made history on July 18 by becoming the first Singaporean golfer to reach the final of the US Girls' Junior Championship.
The 16-year-old will face Canada's Aphrodite Deng in the 36-hole championship match on July 19, after upsetting American top seed Grace Carter 1 up in the semi-finals.
At the Atlanta Athletic Club's Riverside Course in Johns Creek, Georgia, Xingtong had to dig deep against Grace in the semi-finals, as she lost 1-up and 2-up leads.
But she reclaimed the lead after parring the par-three 17th, which Grace bogeyed, maintaining the advantage as both golfers birdied No. 18.
Meanwhile, Aphrodite, 15, continued her fine form to earn her spot in the final after beating the United States' Rayee Fang 2 and 1 in their semi-final match-up.
She is chasing her third major junior victory in 2025, after wins at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley and the Mizuho Americas Open.
Xingtong told the United States Golf Association website: 'It's unbelievable for me. I didn't even dare to imagine it when I came here to play US Girls'.
'I'm just so grateful for this opportunity, to be able to come to the US, it's so far away from Singapore. It's my first time here, so I'm really grateful for this opportunity to play my best.'
The teenager booked her berth at the US Girls' Junior Championship after winning a qualifying event in June, joining compatriot Guo Junxi, who had already earned her place through a top-two finish at an earlier competition.
In Georgia, Xingtong entered the matchplay round as the fifth seed after finishing two rounds of strokeplay at five-under 137 alongside three others and a stroke behind leader Grace. Junxi also advanced to the matchplay round, placing joint-45th in the strokeplay round with a four-over 146.
A 6 and 5 defeat by Canada's Clairey Lin saw Junxi exit the tournament in the round of 64. In the meantime, Xingtong marched to a historic spot in the final with victories over America's Macie Rasmussen (2 up), Australia's Amelia Harris (6 and 4), and the US' Mia Clausen (3 and 2) and Katelyn Kong (4 and 3), before eliminating Grace in the semi-finals.
An appearance in the final guarantees both Xingtong and Aphrodite a spot in the Aug 4-10 US Women's Amateur Championship, with the winner also exempt for the 2026 US Women's Open.
The first 18 holes of the final will start at 8.15am (8.15pm, Singapore time) on July 19, while the next 18 holes will be contested from 3pm (July 20, 3am, Singapore time) after a lunch break.
The US Girls' Junior Championship has been a stepping stone for many of the world's top players, including two-time LPGA champion Rose Zhang, Australian triple Major winner Minjee Lee, as well as former world No. 1 and two-time Major champion Ariya Jutanugarn and South Korea's Olympic gold medallist Park In-bee, who has won seven Majors.
This is Xingtong's first appearance at the tournament. The world No. 291 amateur has made strides in her fledgling career, clinching her first international title at the 2023 Selangor Amateur Open.
At the 2024 Singapore Open Amateur Championships, she became the youngest player to win the women's title at 15.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
42 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Gotterup inspired by European blood to finish third in Open
Jul 20, 2025; Portrush, IRL; Chris Gotterup tees off on the first hole during the final round of The 153rd Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Portrush. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland - American Chris Gotterup did think about winning the British Open on Sunday when Scottie Scheffler made a double-bogey in the last round but it did not last long. Scheffler failed to get out of a bunker on the eighth hole and racked up only his fourth blemish of the tournament while leading by seven shots to give the chasing pack hope. "I saw it briefly, and then I followed it up with a bogey," Gotterup said. "So that ended pretty quickly. I really wasn't too worried about it. Like I said yesterday, I knew Scottie was going to go out there and put a good round together." Gotterup, the world number 49, won last week's Scottish Open before shooting rounds of 72, 65, 68 and 67 at Royal Portrush to finish third. "I really did everything well, and I was really proud of how I started. I felt like I had a good head on my shoulders all day and really was trying to focus on being present in my round." Gotterup, 26, made three birdies on his front nine and two more after the turn, a bogey on the 11th the only blemish in his final round. He has Danish blood with his grandfather born in that European country. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi "I expected to play well, but I don't think I expected quite this well. I don't know what's going on over here, but maybe my European blood in me a little bit has come to life," he said. He does not, however, speak the language. "My dad's got good Danish. I've got zero," he said. "I've been to Denmark, though, I can say that." REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
The point is, Scottie, you are simply the best
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Golf - The 153rd Open Championship - Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Northern Ireland, Britain - July 20, 2025 Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. celebrates on the 18th green after winning The 153rd Open Championship REUTERS/Paul Childs PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland - Scottie Scheffler created waves before the British Open when he questioned the meaning of his success in a press conference, repeatedly asking what was the point of his relentless pursuit of golfing glory. After cruising to a four-shot victory at Royal Portrush on Sunday, the world number one American pumped his fists in celebration. "Thanks to the fans for all the support," Scheffler said after lifting the Claret Jug. "I know I wasn't the fan favourite today so I appreciate you guys coming out to support. Overall, it's been a great week, the fan support was tremendous. It was a really fun week to be able to play in front of such a great crowd." Scheffler's son Bennett fell over as he tried to run to his dad on the green before the British Open champion scooped him up and held him alongside the trophy. "Thanks to my wife and son - I love you very much and can't wait to get home and celebrate," Scheffler said. "To my parents and the rest of the team, I can't thank you guys enough. I've got the best support team. Everyone does such a great job of working together." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi There was a strong sense of inevitability about Scheffler winning his fourth major title and second of the year. Three early birdies sent him seven shots clear and even when he double-bogeyed the eighth hole, failing to escape from a bunker at the first attempt, there was no panic. NERVELESS PUTT Scheffler birdied the ninth with a five-foot putt, reverted to his risk-free strategy and picked up another shot at the 12th with a nerveless eight-footer. Six pars followed and he finished the week with only three bogeys alongside his late double. Watching him celebrate his victory, it was hard not to think about his pre-tournament comments. "This is not a fulfilling life," he said. "It's fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment but it's not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart," the 29-year-old said. Scheffler has dominated golf since 2022. He won the Masters in 2022 and 2024, and the Olympic gold medal last year as whispers in golf have likened his dominance to that of 15-times major champion Tiger Woods in his prime. His rivals are in no doubt about his quality. "I played with him the first two days, and honestly I thought he was going to birdie every hole," 2019 Portrush Open champion Shane Lowry said. "It was incredible to watch." American Bryson DeChambeau, the twice U.S. Open champion who finished tied 10th at Portrush, played against Scheffler many times during their youth. "I knew at college he was going to be a good player, but not this good. He's setting a benchmark we all want to get to," DeChambeau said. "Scottie's in a league of his own right now. He's incredible. He really is. "I don't think we thought the golfing world would see someone as dominant as Tiger come through so soon, and here's Scottie sort of taking that throne." REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
R&A discussed holding British Open at Turnberry with Eric Trump
Find out what's new on ST website and app. R&A CEO Mark Darbon said he met with Mr Trump's son, Eric, and representatives from Turnberry 'a couple of months ago'. – R&A chief executive officer Mark Darbon confirmed on July 16 he recently had a 'really good discussion' with Eric Trump about hosting a future British Open at Turnberry, owned by United States President Donald Trump. The course in South Ayrshire, Scotland, owned by Trump's organisation since 2014, has hosted the Major four times but not since 2009. 'It's a somewhat hypothetical question in that unless we address the logistical challenges, it's difficult for us to go back,' Darbon told reporters at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, site of the 153rd Open, which teed off on July 17. He said he met the American leader's son, Eric, and representatives from Turnberry 'a couple of months ago'. Logistical issues include the fact that only 120,000 spectators attended the last Open at Turnberry, compared to the 280,000 expected this week and the 250,000 at Royal Troon in Scotland in 2024. 'We had a really good discussion,' Darbon said. 'I think they understand clearly where we're coming from. 'We talked through some of the challenges that we have, so we've got a good dialogue with them.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi Meeting a member of the Trump family continues the thaw in what had become a testy relationship between the R&A and the current occupant of the White House. After Mr Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol in January 2021, then R&A boss Martin Slumbers said there were no plans to restore Turnberry to the Open rotation 'in the foreseeable future'. 'We will not return until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself and we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances,' Slumbers said at the time. That stance has softened since Mr Trump's election to a second term. Darbon, who replaced Slumbers in July 2024, said in April that he 'would love' to see the tournament return to Turnberry. 'We love the golf course but we've got some big logistical challenges there,' he said on July 16. 'We've got some work to do on the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure around Turnberry. 'We've explicitly not taken it out of our pool of venues, but we'd need to address those logistical challenges should we return.' Darbon also said the R&A has had an ongoing dialogue with the British government about staging a Major at a Trump-owned property. 'We've spoken to them specifically about Turnberry and I think they've made it clear that the decision around where we take our championship rests with us,' he said. Meanwhile, Oakmont Country Club has banned 2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark from the property after the American caused damage in the locker room at June's US Open there. A letter from club president John Lynch to members this week that revealed the punishment was obtained by Golf Digest, ESPN and Golf Channel. The 31-year-old damaged his locker after missing the cut at the US Open, later apologising for the incident, the results of which were shown in photos on social media. REUTERS
