Catherine Kwek and Maggie Koh make history by securing Singapore’s—and Asia’s—first-ever victory at the International Pairs World Final
After 26 years of anticipation, Singapore made a sensational debut at the International Pairs World Final, clinching Asia’s first-ever victory in the competition’s history. Held from 30 September to 4 October at Golf del Sur in Tenerife, Spain, the women’s division pairing of Catherine Kwek and Maggie Koh from Warren Golf & Country Club delivered a commanding performance that left their competition in the dust.
Kwek and Koh’s dominance was undeniable, finishing with a total net stableford score of 93 points—an astonishing 24-point lead over Italy’s Giulia Martinelli and Lorella Campi, the runners-up. Their triumph not only marked Singapore’s inaugural entry into the tournament but also made them the first Asian team to win any category in the event’s history.
The duo’s victory was made even more remarkable considering their challenging start. They arrived after a red-eye flight on Sunday at 2 in the morning and had only one practice round before the competition began. On day two, Koh battled through cramps from the hilly terrain but pushed on to help secure their final score of 47 points, topping their first day’s performance by one point. Despite the physical toll, Koh remained unfazed. “Around the 15th hole, I knew we had it in the bag,” she shared.
“I didn’t start well but Maggie saved us in the first few holes. After that, she told me to ‘wake up’ and go for it. At the turn to the back nine, we were going for broke, attacking every fairway and green; I played my usual consistent game and she went for every drive. At the 17th hole, she even drove the green.” Kwek said after the final round.
Speaking after their historic win, Kwek emphasised the significance of their achievement: “We wanted to make Singapore proud and show that we can compete on the world stage. I hope this inspires more women back home to take up the sport.” Koh echoed her sentiment, expressing pride in their groundbreaking achievement.
Benny Teo, official licensee of International Pairs Singapore, praised the pair for their performance: “The girls stole the show, both in Singapore at the National Finals and now on the world stage. They’ve not only proven the strength of golf in Singapore but have sent a clear message about the growth of the women’s game in our country.”
“In years to come, our name will forever be etched in the history of the tournament, and will inspire others to step up and follow their path to victory,” he continued.
In addition to the duo’s historic victory, Singapore’s strong performance extended to the Open Division, where Clinton Ang and Stephen King secured an impressive 11th place with 79 points. Meanwhile, Antonio Jo and Nina Um achieved a commendable fourth place finish in the Mixed Pairs Division, scoring 77 points.
Teo hailed Singapore’s first outing as an overwhelming success: “This is exactly what we aimed for—putting Singapore on the world map in amateur golf. Our players exceeded all expectations.” He also expressed gratitude to the sponsors, including Bespoke Golf and other industry partners, whose support ensured the team was fully equipped and confident going into the tournament.
Looking ahead, Teo outlined bold plans for 2025, including nationwide qualifiers across Singapore and the expansion of International Pairs competitions throughout Southeast Asia. With Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam also set to hold their own qualifiers, the region is gearing up for even greater representation at next year’s World Final in Sun City, South Africa.
“2024 was the dream start,” Teo concluded. “In 2025, we’ll bring an even larger and more diverse contingent from Southeast Asia to the global stage. Watch out, world—we’re just getting started.”