FINAL PREPARATION: The SJGFA players posing with Chih (eighth left) at SJGFA golf course at Petra Jaya yesterday.
KUCHING: The Sarawak Junior Golf First Association (SJGFA) will be fielding 14 players in the 15th Sarawak International Junior Golf Championship at Kelab Golf Sarawak from Nov 19-21.
Team coach Chih Ching Chuang said this is the first time that SJGFA is sending players to the state’s biggest junior golf tournament.
The players, aged between 6 and 13 years, are entered for the Boy’s C, D and Girl’s C, D categories.
Chih is not expecting his players to win anything but hope they can finish among the top 10 in their respective categories.
“Our main objective is to get exposure for our juniors and give them the opportunity to compete with juniors from other clubs in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand,” he said.
“Through this competition and interaction, they can compare their playing skills with other juniors. Hopefully, they can gain more experience and work harder to achieve greater heights in their pursuit for success.”
Chih also took the opportunity to thank SJGFA for sponsoring the players’ kit and a corporate body for sponsoring some goodies. The players are Victor Siew Wei Yu, Donald Ho Guan Hui, Adam Muzaffar Abd Rahman, Ahmad Adib Ridhwan, Tristan Fong Tze Wei, Gerrick Hii Ru Siong, Kulleh Tajang, Nurhazim Fikri Muazamir, Nurhaqim Fikri Muazamir, Muhammad Hadif Fathely, Caleb Teo Ming Zhi, Reuben Julian Julin, Martiana Chia Yun Ying and Nicole Wong Yen Pin.
Apart from SJGFA, 117 players from 23 other clubs in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand will vie for the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup.
Among the leading contenders for the boys is Paul San Weng Yau of SGA who will be seeking to win the event for the third time after emerging champion in 2011 and 2012.
The participating clubs are KGS, Kelab Golf Bintulu, Kelab Golf Miri, Kelab Golf Sibu, SGA, MGA Juniors Club, Seremban International Golf Club, Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Malaysia, Johor Golf and Country Club, Danau Golf Club and Kota Permai Golf and Country Club.
Other participating teams include Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia, Glenmarie Golf and Country Club, Penang Golf Resort, The Mines Resort and Golf Club, Awana Golf Club, Bukit Jalil Golf and Country Club, Pusat Latihan Edu Golf, Malaysian Golf Association, Malaysian Ladies Golf Association, The Keppel Club Singapore and the International Sports Federation Thailand.
The championship will also serve as a platform to select the best state junior players for the Sukma XVII shadow team and also the Sukma 2016 back-up team.
The categories for competition are Boy’s/Girl’s Special (18-21 yrs), A (15-17 yrs), B (13-14 yrs), C (11-12 yrs) and D (10 and under).
Registration commences at 9am tomorrow after which the players shall have their practice rounds.