Texas Tech University Athletics
Tan rallies to win Singapore Ladies Masters
July 08, 2023 | Women's Golf
Red Raider rising sophomore sank a birdie at the 18th Saturday to win prestigious international tournament
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech sophomore golfer Shannon Tan rolled in a bridie on the 18th hole Saturday to claim the biggest title of her still young career – the Ladies Masters in her native Singapore.
Tan, playing as an amateur against a field filled with professionals, signed for a 6-under-par 66 final round to conclude the three-day, 54-hole event at 10-under 206, one stroke better than Ji Yuai, who missed her own chance at birdie on the 18th to tie and force a playoff.
"It just hasn't really sunk in yet," Tan told the Straits Times after winning on the 18th. "I didn't know I had to make the birdie putt on the 18th (to win), and I just approached it like any other normal putt. This win probably validates what I've been doing (playing at Texas Tech) and shows I've made progress."
In the process, Tan became the first Singaporean golfer to win an international golf tournament since Mardan Mamat claimed the Singapore Masters in 2006, which was also held at Laguna National, the site of this weekend's tournament. She is the second Singaporean to win on the Chinese Ladies Professional Golf Tour (CLPGA), joining Amanda Tan, who captured the 2017 Beijing Heritage event.
Tan had to complete her second round to start her come-from-behind victory, finishing with an even-par 72 that left her three shots back of Pakin Kawinpakorn to start the third and final round. Tan made her move up the leaderboard around the turn later in the afternoon, birdying the No. 9, 11, 12 and 13 holes to move to 9-under for the tournament.
Tan drained a key 10-foot par putt on the par-3 17th island hole to stay at 9-under, falling into a tie with Yuai, who bogeyed the same hole a group back. Tan sank a similar 10-foot putt on the 18th, this time for birdie, before celebrating with a shower of water from many of her friends and family in attendance.
"That three-hole stretch, all my putts went in," Tan said. "I was having really good putting speed today, and I hit many fairways and greens (in regulation). I was just trying to hit as many greens as possible and make all my putts. But if (they) didn't, I would just move on. That was my mindset."
Tan's success on the international stage matched her impact as only a freshman this season as she helped lead the Red Raiders to the NCAA Championships for the fourth time in program history. Tan was Texas Tech's highest-finisher at the NCAA Pulman Regional after finishing 13-under for the week and in a tie for fourth overall.
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