Justin Matthews was the low Canadian on Friday with an even par 72
SINGAPORE – One day after soaring atop the leaderboard, South Africa strengthened its lead with a combined score of 12-under on Friday to enter the final round with an 11-shot lead at the 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.
South Africa is in search of its first Eisenhower Trophy and returning to the podium at the championship for the first time since earning silver in 1980. Christian Maas (no. 6 WAGR) led his country on Friday with a 7-under 65, for his second bogey free round of the championship. Teammate Daniel Bennett added an impressive 5-under 67 to put the leaders at 26-under, 11 shots clear of Australia and Mexico who are tied for second at 15-under. England sit in fourth at 12-under with France in fifth at 11-under. Canada is T22 with Wales and hosts, Singapore at even par of the 36 countries competing.
On Friday, Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. was the low Canadian, shooting an even par 72. Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont.’s 1-over 73 also counted towards the team total. Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. finished with an 8-over 80. Matthews and McCulloch are both sitting T48 at 3-over and Ibit is T85 at 9-over of the 108-players competing individually.
Following a third consecutive round in the 60s, Maas has opened a 10-shot lead in the individual competition heading into Saturday’s final round. The University of Texas senior grabbed four birdies on the front and added three on the back to record the second lowest round of the day. Michael Mjaaseth (Norway) and 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur winner, Declan O’Donovan (Australia) are tied for second at 9-under. Oscar Couilleau (France) is fourth at 8-under and Adam Bresnu (Morocco) is tied for fifth with Maas’ teammate, Bennett at 7-under. Eduardo Derbez of Mexico recorded the low round of the day on Friday with an 8-under 64. Derbez tallied six consecutive birdies on holes Nos. 3 through 8 and closed his round with an eagle on the par 5 18th to move up to T9 at 5-under.
The final round of the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship will begin at 7:15 a.m. locally (Singapore) on Saturday and 7:15 p.m. EST Friday. Ibit will be the first Canadian on the course, teeing off at 7:48 a.m., followed by Matthews at 7:59 a.m. and McCulloch at 8:10 a.m. local time.
For team and individual leaderboards following the third round, please click here.
