SINGAPORE – Fledgling woman golf professional Koh Sock Hwee has received a timely monetary boost from Sentosa Golf Club as the Singaporean prepares to pursue her dream of competing on the LPGA circuit.

Led by its president Low Teo Ping, the SGC organised a fund-raising dinner for its members two weeks ago to show their support for the 26-year-old. The event, which raised over $15,000, also marks the start of an ongoing fund-raising #RoadToProGolf campaign by the SGC for Koh.

Said veteran sports administrator Low: “It is an ongoing campaign, and we will sit down with her after the HSBC Women’s Champions tournament to discuss how we can help her for the year ahead.”

Before the campaign, the SGC has already been helping Koh by adopting her and providing her with free use of its golfing facilities.

Two months ago, TODAY had highlighted Koh’s difficulties in trying to raise the S$2,580 fee required by the Singapore Professional Golfers’ Association to become a pro golfer after the mathematics tutor had used up all her savings last August for the LPGA Q-school in California.

She finally managed to do so two weeks ago, and now the funds raised from the #RoadToProGolf campaign will be a valuable source of financial support when she starts competing on the LPGA Tour. She previously estimated that she needs around S$88,000 to fund her debut season as a professional golfer.

Koh, who has a degree in Project and Facilities Management from the National University of Singapore, also told TODAY that she has been touched by the outpouring of support from club members at this week’s HSBC Women’s Champions where she is Singapore’s only representative. “I see all these people - staff and members from the club - coming down to support me, and I am definitely very heartened,” said Koh who carded a four-over par 76 at the Serapong Course today (March 3) to finish joint-56th in the 63-strong field.

“I am very grateful for everyone’s support. I really feel like this is my home ground, and I feel the home ground advantage at this tournament.”

The winner of two bronzes at the 2015 SEA Games added that she is feeling a lot less nervous competing in the tournament this week compared to her two previous outings.

“I guess coming into this year, I feel like I really belonged out here. I am here to compete and put up a good performance.”

Koh, who is contemplating trying out for Q-school for either the Japan LPGA Tour, or the LPGA Q-School in California for a second time, and also playing in some tournaments in Thailand and Australia, said she is presently in sponsorship discussions with a few parties.

“Nothing is concrete at the moment... for now, I am focusing on the remaining days of the tournament,” she said.

Meanwhile, her result yesterday suggests the possibility of Singapore’s unwanted streak in the HSBC Women’s Champions coming to an end. In the nine-year history of the event, no Singapore golfer has managed to avoid finishing last.

Said Koh with a smile: “I am feeling comfortable and good. Things are looking better.”