India’s 15-year-old Kartik Singh, pictured here at Al-Hamra GC, is the youngest player on the Asia-Pacific All-Star Team
As the three days of matches gets underway at the 12th edition of the Bonallack Trophy featuring the 12-member All-Star Asia-Pacific Men’s Amateur team going head to head in the Ryder-Cup style match against the European All-Stars, non-playing captain of the Asia-Pacific team and 1982 Asian Games Gold Medallist – Rishi Narain is seeking a record breaking 3rd consecutive victory at Al Hamra Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Held biennially, the Bonallack Trophy, along with the ladies’ Patsy Hankins Trophy, pits teams representing the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) against the European Golf Association (EGA). Narain, a seasoned leader, is aiming to leverage the hard-fought lessons from Spain in 2023, where the Asia-Pacific team held off Europe to claim the trophy after a span of 4 years, as the team targets a successful Bonallack Trophy defence at the Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE, from January 8-10.
This year’s Asia-Pacific team is a mix of seasoned campaigners and emerging stars. Returning players Joshua Bai of New Zealand and Vietnam’s Nguyen Anh Minh, who debuted in 2023, bring valuable experience to the lineup. Complementing them are experienced golfers like Thailand’s Phichaksn Maichon, Singapore’s Hiroshi Tai, the Philippines’ Enrique Dimayuga, and Japan’s Rintaro Nakano—players who bring maturity and composure to steady the younger faction of the squad.
Adding youthful dynamism to the team are rising talents such as India’s Kartik Singh, who recently celebrated his 15th birthday, Thailand’s Thanawin Lee, and China’s Zhou Ziqin, currently a freshman at UC Berkeley.
The Al Hamra Golf Club, a venue renowned for hosting the DP World Tour’s Ras Al-Khaimah Championship, offers a challenging 18-hole championship course. Its coastal location promises dry, fast, and firm conditions with unpredictable winds, demanding precision and adaptability from the players, and the course’s stunning scenery, framed by the Al Hamra Marina, further adds to the allure.
With a well-rounded team, an experienced captain, and a strong sense of purpose, the stage is set for another thrilling chapter in this celebrated competition.