Sentosa, Singapore: Recent Asian Tour Qualifying School graduate Quincy Quek of Singapore aims to pass another test with flying colours when the SMBC Singapore Open gets underway at the Sentosa Golf Club next week.
The 28-year-old earned his Tour card by finishing inside the top-40 at Qualifying School in Thailand last week and has set his sights on a bigger assignment that awaits him when the storied event makes a welcome return after a three-year hiatus.
“The game’s feeling good, especially after securing my card at Qualifying School last week. It was a very tough test and to get through it definitely gives you a bit of confidence in your game.
“It kind of makes you look forward to playing in every event now and trying to score as low as possible,” said Quek.
Held at the Serapong Course at the Sentosa Golf Club, which is also the Home of the Asian Tour, the Singapore showpiece was last staged in 2012.
With its return from January 28 to 31, Quek, who emerged as the best amateur at the 2007 edition, is relishing the challenge of playing against many of the world’s best players and thrilling the home crowd again.
“I’m happy to have our National Open back. It used to be such a marquee event and it was a pity that they stopped. So, I’m glad the tournament is finally back.
“It is a very important one for us Singaporeans. It’s always nice to play on home soil and in front of your home crowd,” said Quek, who finished in a respectable 33rd place in 2007.
Quek will have the company of several of the world’s best players including world number one Jordan Spieth of the United States as well as Major winners including Asian Tour honorary member Y.E. Yang and Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, who recently captained Team Europe to victory at last week’s EurAsia Cup.
It is also going to be experience which Quek is eagerly looking forward to.
“It’s good to see some of the world’s best players coming to play in the same tournament. It’s going to be an interesting week.
The Singapore Open always attracts big stars. It will be a good opportunity to watch how these good players play and learn from them,” said Quek.
The SMBC Singapore Open will feature the top 60 players from the Asian Tour, top 60 from the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO), leading Singapore professionals and amateurs and invites including players from the top 50 in the world.
