Lee Ka Tung (fifth left) and Ashley Lau Jen Wen (fourth left) hold their challenge trophies as they pose with Hoan (fifth right) and members of the organising committee from Bintulu Golf Club (KGB) and Sarawak Golf Association (SGA).
KUCHING: Defending champion Lee Ka Tung retained his title at the 46th SGA Sarawak Amateur Open Golf Championship at Kelab Golf Bintulu (KGB) last Sunday.
The golf ace from Sibu Golf Club (SGC) was seemingly unstoppable and continued with his fine form throughout the final round, ending the day with a par game of 72 which made him the overall champion with a total gross score of 220.
Sunday’s final round was, however, delayed by more than an hour due to heavy downpour and the golfers only tee-ed off after 9am after some of the flooded fairways and bunkers were declared playable.
Lee, who have won the championship back-to-back since 2012, brought home the coveted Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min challenge trophy which was presented to him by Sarawak Golf Association (SGA) president Hoan Kee Hock during the closing-cum-prize giving ceremony.
“I just played my usual game and tried my best to win,” said the elated Lee who will be bidding to secure a tour playing card in next month’s Professional Golf Malaysia (PGM) Development Tour at Kelab Golf Sarawak (KGS) from May 18-20.
Lee has no regrets in skipping this year’s Sabah Open even though he is the defending champion because of the prestigious 113rd Malaysia Amateur Open Golf Championship which is also being held at KGS from May 21-24.
According to him, the prospect of playing alongside with 44 top golfers from 22 countries in next month’s Malaysia Open is exciting and it gives the once in a lifetime opportunity to compete against future world champions.
Meanwhile, Lau Ching Leong also from SGC finished second in the men’s section with a total gross score of 222 while Lee Kah Ming from KGS finished third with a gross score of 224 on count back (OCB). The winner of men’s nett category was Ngui Yong Pang from Bintulu Golf Club (KGB) who scored 139 while Sim Khee Hian from KGS finished second with just two strokes behind and Jordan Hng Chin Cheh surprised himself after finishing third with a score of 143 OCB.
The tussle for the overall champion in the women’s section of the 27th Sarawak Amateur Ladies Open Golf Championship was between national junior squad teammates Ashley Chua Jen Wen from Miri and Nur Eliana Ariffin from Selangor.
Ashley, who is only 14 and playing with zero handicap, won her first local major senior title after carding a total gross score of 224 to beat Nur Eliana by four strokes.
Junior golfers dominated the women’s section of this year’s championship and entries were received from Malaysia Golf Association (MGA), Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak.