Ras Al Khaima, United Arab Emirates: Making a winning Bonallack Trophy debut for the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) would be the perfect present for teenage Indian golfing prodigy Kartik Singh.
Singh celebrated his 15th birthday yesterday in the UAE, preparing for the Ryder Cup-style match play event against the European Golf Association that tees-off at Al Hamra Golf Club on Wednesday.
To commemorate the occasion, APGC officials arranged a cake for him during a team bonding dinner.
“It was a nice surprise. I wasn’t expecting that,” said Singh, currently 127th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
“I’ve been looking forward to the Bonallack Trophy. It’s a unique format and it’s going to be an exciting week,” added Singh, already a seasoned tournament player who was a member of the International Team at last year’s Junior Presidents Cup.
Rishi Narain, the APGC team’s non-playing captain, is in no doubt that Singh will acquit himself well.
Narain said: “He may be the youngest member of our team here, but Kartik is an experienced player and a mature individual.
“On the golf course, he’s very focused and so consistent. I don’t think he’ll be at all overawed and will take things in his stride.”
For Singh, it will be his second appearance in the UAE having finished runner-up in last year’s Junior Dubai Desert Classic.
Among other notable performances in 2024, Singh won the Black Mountain Asian Junior Masters in Thailand, the Singapore Junior Championship and the All-India Juniors and had a top-20 placing at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan.
Away from Asia he also distinguished himself, finishing third in the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass and sixth in The R&A Junior Open in Scotland.
“My main goal for 2025 is to become a better golfer and to break into the top-100 in the WAGR,” said Singh.
