Kitty Tam's hopes of being selected for Hong Kong's Queen Sirikit Cup team were given a boost following her successful title defense at the Ladies' Close Amateur Championship, which was played from 4-6 February at Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club.
Tam, 17, held off the challenge of rising junior star Vivian Lee by closing with two late birdies to seal a narrow victory. Tam, who is headed to San Diego State University in the autumn, finished with a three-day total of 222 (nine-over-par), two ahead of 15-year-old Lee. Queenie Lai earned third place, a further four strokes adrift.
"It was one of the most exciting days I've ever had on the golf course," said Tam, who holed a three-foot birdie putt at the demanding par-5 closing hole to make sure of her second win in as many years. "I got off to a bad start and fell back into a tie for the lead with Vivian, but the birdie at the 15th gave me my confidence back."
The Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling will host the Queen Sirikit Cup, Asia-Pacific's premier ladies' amateur team event in late May, and Tam is hopeful of joining her friend Tiffany Chan, who has risen to 10th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, in the side.
"It would be a great to be selected for the team, especially as it will be played in Hong Kong," said Tam. "Hopefully I have done enough."
In the Mid-Amateur division, open to players over the age of 25, Felicia Louey defeated Alice Karr on the first play-off hole to take the title.
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