Chen Xingtong fends off Atienza’s late charge to secure spot at 2025 HSBC Women’s World Championship
(Photo credit: HSBC Women’s World Championship )
JANUARY 9, SINGAPORE – Chen Xingtong held off a late charge by Aloysa Atienza to clinch a spot in next month’s HSBC Women’s World Championship after topping the National Qualifying Tournament by one shot at Sentosa Golf Club on Thursday.
Despite a challenging second round, where she posted a seven-over-par 79, Chen’s two-day total of five-over-par 149 was enough to secure her victory on a blustery day that she described as a struggle.
“I struggled today, and it was definitely a grind out there,” said Chen, who is currently enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Programme at the Singapore Sports School.
Starting the day with a three-shot lead on the Tanjong Course, Chen’s advantage quickly evaporated after bogeys on holes two, three, five, and six during her front nine. After turning in 40, she dropped additional shots on 11, 13, and 16, allowing Atienza to tie her for the lead on the 17th hole with a birdie.
The contest came down to the final hole, where Chen saved par while Atienza made a bogey, securing the victory by a single shot.
“I was definitely super nervous on 18 as I knew I had to stay calm. I told myself I could do it as I’ve been in such high-pressure situations before. I managed to save par and got the job done by one shot,” said Chen.
With her place in the US$2.4 million tournament assured, Chen, who also won the national qualifying tournament last year, is determined to improve on her 62nd-place finish at the previous edition.
“I’m trying to be a better version of myself every day. I have the experience of playing in my first HSBC Women’s World Championship under my belt. But now, it’s time to do better, especially with the experience I’ve gained over the last 12 months,
competing under the Singapore flag for the Singapore Golf Association at local and regional tournaments,” said Chen.
The 15-year-old, a multiple winner of the HSBC-sponsored Singapore Golf Association Youth Golf Challenge, added: “We do not have many opportunities to qualify for a big tournament like the HSBC Women’s World Championship, and I’m thankful to HSBC for giving us this chance to try to qualify and compete against the world’s best players.”
Kee Joo Wong, CEO of HSBC Singapore, echoed Chen’s excitement about her second appearance at the prestigious event: “We are proud to celebrate Chen Xingtong earning her place to compete amongst the world’s best golfers at the HSBC Women’s World Championship. This achievement underscores the vital role of creating opportunities for homegrown talent to break through on the global stage. HSBC remains steadfast in our support for women athletes in reaching new heights, and we look forward to seeing Xingtong rise to the occasion and inspire others through this remarkable opportunity.”
The 72-hole stroke play HSBC Women’s World Championship will once again be played on the renowned Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, which hosts its 12th edition of the tournament.
For more information on the HSBC Women’s World Championship and all the latest news, please visit the tournament website at https://www.hsbcgolf.com/womens.
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About HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of HSBC, is headquartered in London. HSBC serves customers worldwide from offices in 60 countries and territories. With assets of US$3,099bn at 30 September 2024, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations.
HSBC opened its first branch in Singapore in 1877. A qualifying full bank serving the international needs of individuals, corporate and institutional clients, HSBC offers a
comprehensive range of banking and financial services including retail banking and wealth management; commercial, investment and private banking; insurance; forfaiting and trustee services; securities and capital markets services. In May 2016, HSBC subsidiarised its retail banking and wealth management business in Singapore and established, HSBC Bank (Singapore) Limited. HSBC in Singapore was recognised by Euromoney as “Best International Bank in Singapore” in 2024 and was conferred the Champion of Good by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre.
About HSBC Golf Sponsorships
HSBC’s global commitment to golf encompasses all levels of the game, from grassroots to elite. HSBC has been proud title partner of the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore since 2008, renowned as ‘Asia’s Major’, the event brings the world’s best golfers to the global hub of Singapore. HSBC is also a Patron of The Open Championship, AIG Women’s Open and title sponsor of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Underpinning these flagship events is a longer-term ambition to create a legacy through sponsorship of youth development and grassroots initiatives. In China, the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Programme is a long-term structure upon which the future of Chinese golf is being built. In Singapore, HSBC’s partnership with the Singapore Golf Association (SGA) plays an important role in helping to encourage golf in the country at all levels. The HSBC Youth Golf Challenge (HYGC), in partnership with the SGA, has helped nurture home talent.
About Sentosa Golf Club
Sentosa Golf Club is recognised as one of the most established golf clubs in Singapore and Asia, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024. With two world-class championship golf courses, The Serapong and The Tanjong, it sits among the most challenging and exciting in the region. Situated on the premier island of Sentosa, with a breathtaking backdrop of Singapore’s iconic cityscape, the Club regularly receives world-class accolades and is enjoyed by 1,500 distinguished members. Off the golf course it offers exceptional practice facilities, a contemporary clubhouse, excellent meeting, and banqueting facilities for corporate networking, as well as high-end dining options.
As well as its thriving reputation, the Club has played host to several high-profile professional events over the last two decades, including Barclays and SMBC Singapore Opens, as well as LIV Golf Singapore in 2023 and 2024, welcoming many of the world’s best golfers and Major champions to compete on The Serapong for Asia’s largest ever golf prize fund. The Club is also home to the HSBC Women’s World Championship, the marquee LPGA Tour event
dubbed ‘Asia’s Major’. Sentosa Golf Club is also renowned for its ground-breaking sustainability agenda, having become the first golf club in the world to sign the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Initiative in 2020.
The Serapong also collected two prestigious accolades at the 2024 World Golf Awards – ‘Singapore’s Best Golf Course’ and ‘Asia’s Best Golf Course’, while the Club was awarded ‘Asia’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility’. Since current General Manager, Director of Agronomy and Resident Golf Course Architect, Andrew Johnston, joined the Club in 2010, the Club is ranked in the ‘Top 150 Golf & Country Clubs’, and ‘Top 50 Golf & Country Clubs of Asia-Pacific’, by Platinum Clubs of the World. Whilst The Serapong occupies the top spot in Golf Digest’s latest biennial rankings for ‘Singapore’s Best Courses’, which it has done for over a decade. The Tanjong is placed third. At the Asian Golf Awards in 2023, The Serapong also captured the accolade of ‘Singapore’s Best Golf Course’ after being named ‘Best Championship Course in Asia-Pacific’ in 2022.
About IMG
IMG is an industry-leading global sports marketing agency, specializing in media rights management and sales, multi-channel content production and distribution, brand partnerships, digital services, and events management. It powers growth of revenues, fanbases and IP for more than 200 federations, associations, events, and teams, including the National Football League, English Premier League, International Olympic Committee, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, ATP and WTA Tours, the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (Wimbledon), EuroLeague Basketball, DP World Tour, and The R&A, as well as UFC, WWE, and PBR. IMG is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company.