Isaiah Ibit was the low Canadian on Thursday with a 2-under 70
SINGAPORE – South Africa soared to the top of the leaderboard following a collective round of 9-under on Thursday to take a five shot lead into the third round at the 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.
For the second straight day, South Africa was led by University of Texas senior, Christian Maas who post his second consecutive round of 6-under 66. Maas (no. 6 WAGR) not only ensured South Africa moved to the top of the leaderboard but also opened a four-shot lead for himself in the individual competition. After a bogey on No. 2, Maas responded with three straight birdies on Nos. 4 through 6 and went on to add four more on the day to move ahead of opening round leader Hiroshi Tai of Singapore. Daniel Bennett fired a 3-under 69 to help push South Africa atop the leaderboard; Charl Barnard’s 4-over 76 did not count towards the team total on Thursday.
Three teams trail the leaders by five shots including Australia, France and England (-9 under). First round leaders, Mexico are tied for fifth with Denmark at 8-under. Canada shot a collective score of 1-under on Thursday after an even par opening round and sits T18 with Scotland of the 36 countries competing in Singapore.
Canada was led by Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. who shot a bogey free 2-under 70 on Thursday. Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. closed with a 1-over 73 and Ashton McCulloch with a 4-over 76.
Individually, opening round leader, Tai shot a 1-under 71 to move to 8-under and is now solo second and four shots back of Maas. Oscar Couilleau (France) and Rintaro Nakano (Japan) are tied for third at 7-under. Filip Fahlberg Johnsson (Sweden) and Oscar Holm Bredkjaer (Denmark) are tied for fifth at 6-under. Ibit sits T39 at 1-over, McCulloch is T49 at 2-over and Matthews is T57 at 3-over of the 108 players competing.
Play was suspended for over an hour on Thursday due to dangerous weather in the area. The third round of the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship will begin at 7:15 a.m. locally (Singapore) on Friday and 7:15 p.m. EST Thursday. With teeing off at Matthews at 8:21 a.m., McCulloch at 8:32 a.m. and Ibit at 8:43 a.m. local time.
For team and individual leaderboards following the second round, please click here.
