KUCHING: Sarawak Golf Association (SGA) are optimistic of more state junior golfers taking part in future Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Satellite Tour which will provide them good exposure and experience.
Sulaiman Ibrahim (centre) posing with Hoan (4th left), Ron (3rd left) and other winners.
“We are encouraging our juniors to take part in the exciting event which is being held annually here with the good support from PGM,” SGA president Hoan Kee Hock said during the closing and prize presentation ceremony of this year’s event held at Kelab Golf Sarawak (KGS) yesterday.
According to him, two of the upcoming juniors Aaron Lau Zhun Min and Aziel Teo Ken Yi, both 16 years old, had participated in the three-day event as amateurs.
Aziel finished second on 238 (81-79-78) while Aaron carded a three-day total of 239 (85-79-75) to claim the third spot.
“They played well even though they were a bit nervous at the start of competition but nevertheless we are proud of their achievements despite playing as amateurs and were up against professional golfers like Sulaiman (Ibrahim),” said Hoan.
PGM Tour tournament director Ron Mahendran was also full of praises for the state juniors who were green horns to the event which offered PGM Tour cards to the winner and the opportunity of the life-time in playing in next year’s championship with lucrative prize monies of over RM6 million.
“We will definitely encourage more junior golfers to take part in the satellite tour and it is good for them to gain the exposure of playing along with top professional golfers,” said Ron while commending the juniors who carded not more than 15-over 231 over the three days.
Meanwhile, Sulaiman Ibrahim continued his fine form yesterday and carded a total gross score of 225 to emerge winner in the eighth leg of this year’s PGM Satellite Tour.
The professional golfer was the most senior among the competitors but he took his hat off to the state juniors who had shown good potentials of going further.
“I can see they were shaky in the beginning but in the end they played well. They have the potential to go further and hopefully we can see more of them in the near future,” he said on the juniors.
According to the pro from Miri, winning the event at KGS had given him the opportunity to compete in the PGM Tour for the next two years and he had been competing in the event the past few years together with two other Sarawakians, Sopian Kepli and his younger brother, Kelana Ibrahim.