KUCHING: Participants of the 4th Samarahan Open vying for the Brian Chien Chai Ung Challenge Trophy from September 12-14 at the Samarahan Country Club in Samarahan are in for a prizes galore.
Topping the prizes is the Mercedez Benz C Class C200 Avantage worth RM258,592 with AMG Bodystyling sponsored by Vistawish Sdn Bhd as a hole-in-one prize at Hole 3 and RM10,000 for the first achiever.
Transview Golf is also sponsoring a Calloway golf set worth RM4,300 for hole-in-one at Hole 5, 15 and 17 over three days. If there are more than one achiever, the prize will be shared.
The champion will receive Brian Chien Chai Ung Challenge Trophy, RM3,500 cash voucher and World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
Sarawak’s top amateur golfer Lee Ka Tung from Sibu Golf Club is in the field and gunning for his third title.
Lee won in 2011 and 2012 but was denied by the narrowest of margins last year when he lost to club mate Lau Ching Leong by one stroke. This year, with an intention to enhance the level of play, the organising committee has set the handicap limit to 14 with no cut off to decide the champion over 54 holes.
The Nett champion will also be decided over 54 holes.
A two-man Team Event over 36 Holes for gross play has also been introduced with no restrictions on the combination.
“With some of the top amateurs from every golf club in the state participating, this tournament will see the crème de la crème of golf in Sarawak vying for the champion’s title. We have sent out special invitations to international affiliates,” said donor and sponsor of the championship Brian Chien.
“With this arrangement we envisage golf will be one of the main tourism’s attractions in Sarawak in the near future and Samarahan Open have received 2 entries from Nepal and awaiting others,” the Samarahan Country Club president said.
Chien also added that the Samarahan Open is one of 12 SGA-sanctioned tournaments in Sarawak and sanctioned by the Malaysian Golf Association beginning from 2014.
He hoped local golfers would take the opportunity to play at the Samarahan Country Club, the only 18-hole golf course located in the Samarahan Division.
“The overall standard of golf courses here has improved by leaps and bounds,” Chien said.
“Golfers who have not played at the Samarahan Country Club must take the opportunity to enjoy golf there,” he added.
Meanwhile, SCC tournament chairman Terence Chai said: “The Championship is open to all male golfers with an NHS Index of 12.9 (14 handicap & below).
The entry fee is RM300 which is inclusive of one practice round (excluding buggy fees), breakfast, lunch, buggy fees (for 3 days) and goodies. To date, we have received 100 entries for the tournament,” he added.
Other off-course activities during the tournament include golf equipment demostrations by Transview Golf, golf clinics for Juniors, Beginners and Adults conducted by Pro V Nelan and a lucky draw worth RM15,000 during the prize presentation ceremony.
The tournament was inaugurated in 2011 and the champion was decided over 36 Holes.
In 2012, it was increased to 54 Holes and last year it received the approval of the Malaysian Golf Association to be included into WAGR that is monitored by R & A Ltd, the governing body of golf.
To date this is the second tournament in Sarawak to be accorded with the WAGR status besides the Sarawak Amateur Open.