Ashley Lau wins Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin golf tourney

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BINTULU: Ashley Lau Jen Wen was crowned as girls’ champion in the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Golf Challenge staged at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club, Shah Alam from Dec 5 to 8.

The 13-year-old golf ace from Bintulu edged the more experienced SEA Games-bound Nur Durriyah Damian after trailing by two shots but staged a good fight back over the last nine to clinch the season ending golf title.

“It was really tight for both of us but I managed to stay composed and probably that was my lucky day indeed, “she said when met after arriving from Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

She carded a total score of 290 to beat the much fancied Durriyah by just one stroke.

She pocketed RM70,000 worth of golf scholarship as well as RM3,500 worth of vouchers and most importantly the opportunity to tee-off at Jakarta’s Indonesian Ladies Open and Thailand Ladies Open as well a berth in Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) Santi Cup and Espirito Santo squads next year.

“I started golfing at nine-years-old and was introduced by my father who is an avid golfer and from then I started to fall in love and continue playing,” she said when asked about her golfing background.

Currently the SMK Bintulu student is training under Australian coach Paul Brian in Miri where she goes to once a month accompanied by her father Cecil Lau.

“I am very happy with the result in the last tournament, and hope to play better golf…I want to go to a golf college, get scholarship, if my golf keep improving, I will turn pro one day, but if my performance declined, maybe I will be looking for something else to do,” said Lau whose favourite player is Paula Creamer of the USA.

She will be competing in the Sport Excel Grand Final at Kota Permai Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur from Dec 18 – 20.

She has also played in HSBC China Junior World 2013, Singha Thailand Junior World 2013, Enjoy Jakarta World Junior Golf Championship 2013, Bintulu Amateur Open 2013, Sarawak Amateur Open 2012, Sibu Amateur Open 2012 and SGCC Open 2013.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Solomon Emilio Rosidin from Sabah emerged the winner in the boys’ category and received RM90,000 worth of golf scholarship, RM3,500 golf vouchers.