Hiroshi Tai to be first Singaporean golfer to play at Masters after winning NCAA title

SINGAPORE: Golfer Hiroshi Tai will be the first Singaporean to play at the Masters, after the 22-year-old won the NCAA individual national championship on Monday (May 27).

Tai, a sophomore at Georgia Tech, finished at 3-under 285 for a one-shot win over five players at the La Costa North Golf Course in California. He survived a triple bogey in the 17th hole of his final round, to shoot 71 and close out the win.

He is the fourth player from Georgia Tech to win the individual title and Tai's performance means that his team will progress to the match play round to compete for the team title.

The win also means that Tai will compete at next year's Masters tournament at Augusta National and this year's US Open.

The Masters announced last year that the winner will earn an invitation to what is considered one of the biggest tournaments in golf and he will be the first Singaporean to do so, the Singapore Golf Association told CNA.

Tai was introduced to the sport at the age of four, after his parents brought him to the Bukit range at Singapore Island Country Club. He is currently 70th in the World Amateur golf rankings.