Major bonus puts Go’s pro plans on hold

Lloyd Jefferson Go will hold off plans to turn pro if he emerges champion in the ongoing Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Singapore.

Go was all set to turn pro next week, something that he had worked hard for all these years, since he already completed college at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

But something bigger has popped out.

If he wins this week, Go will earn a spot in the Masters and British Open tournaments next year.

There is, however, a condition to those stints: He must remain an amateur.

“I was quite sure of turning pro next week but it’s going to be a different story if I win here because I’ll definitely stay as an amateur and wait for those two Majors next year,” said Go after completing a three-under-par 67 at oven-hot Sentosa Golf Club to vault into a share of the lead with Cheng Jin going into the weekend.

Not that the winner’s incentives at the Asia-Pacific Amateur are serving as distractions.

In fact, Go believes that it is even pumping his desire to play like a real pro.

Go joined the qualifying for the pro tour early this year and easily passed the test. In fact, he topped that 72-hole qualifying.

But he had to postpone his professional plans in favor of a stint in the recent Asian Games in Indonesia where he was seeded into the team, also by virtue of his world ranking.

“I am just surprised with the way things have gone the last two days but of course, I’m quite happy to be in the lead,” he said.