January 22, 2024
SINGAPORE – At the Webex Players Series’ Murray River event last week, Shannon Tan got a taste of what life as a professional golfer would be like, with crowds and camera crew following the action at the Cobram Barooga Golf Club in Australia.
While she is still getting used to being in the limelight, Tan impressed on the course as she came in second after a final-round six-under 65 on Jan 21.
She was two strokes behind champion Kazuma Kobori of New Zealand (68).
In her first competition as a professional, she carded a 19-under 265 total, two strokes ahead of Kiwi Momoka Kobori (68) and Australians Aaron Wilkin (68) and Andrew Martin (69), who were joint third in the A$250,000 (S$221,600) New South Wales tournament.
The tournament is a mixed-field event on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, the main professional golf tour in Australia and New Zealand.
Noting the special experience of being part of a mixed field, she said: “Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at the event – great atmosphere, crowd and a lot of TV cameras around, which is something I’m getting used to.”
The 19-year-old’s campaign, which earned her A$25,000 in prize money, started with opening rounds of 68 and 69 before an impressive 63 in the third round.
“I’m happy to be in contention at my first event as a pro golfer,” said Tan. “I had a solid weekend and a bogey-free final round, but I also know there is a lot to learn.”