Lee Ka Tung (fourth right) with the other six qualifiers, Sarawak Golf Association president Hoan Kee Hock (fifth right), PGM Tour tournament director Brig Gen (rtd) Ron S Mahendran (sixth left) and officials giving the thumbs up after the prize presentation of the PGM Development Qualifying School Circuit at Kelab Golf Sarawak (KGS) yesterday. — Photo by Teo Chi Wei
KUCHING: Sarawak’s top golfer Lee Ka Tung has earned his licence to play in professional golf tournaments after winning the PGM Development Qualifying School Circuit at Kelab Golf Sarawak (KGS) yesterday.
The Kelab Golf Sibu golfer fired a three-day total of even par 216 (75-68-73) to finish four strokes ahead of club mate Lau Ching Leong and Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman of Damai Golf and Country Club who were tied for second.
Ka Tung, a scratch player, received RM3,000 cash voucher while Ching Leong and Rahim each received RM2,160.
An elated Capt Norazlee Idris was fourth on 227 while Lee Kah Ming from KGS carded 229 to finish in fifth spot, followed by Mohd Lokman Mustaffa (230) and pro Abdul Samat Abu (231).
All seven golfers will be given a certificate that qualifies them to play in PGM Tour events after attending a course right after yesterday’s competition.
Meanwhile, Wong Tung Ann of Sibu finished in eighth spot with his score of 235 and the youngest participant 16-year old Steven Hii, also from Sibu, missed the cut by only five strokes.
The qualifying mark for the PGM Tour card is 231 strokes.
Ka Tung, 45, said at a press conference that he was very happy to have won and gained his Tour card yesterday.
“Three years ago, I was considering going pro and it did not materialise because I didn’t take part in the qualifying school but today I have achieved what I have wanted to do,” he said.
“I think Alex Tiong, who gained his pro card last month in Johor, was the person who motivated me most in this competition and now we can accompany each other in future PGM Tour events,” he added.
Alex was also thrilled for Ka Tung when the latter called him to relay the good news.
“I hope my success will inspire more golfers from Sibu to go pro and more youngsters to take up golf as a sport,” said Ka Tung.
He is planning to play in the PGM Tour in November after undergoing mental and fitness training.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Golf Association president Hoan Kee Hock shared Ka Tung’s joy, saying that it was a great achievement for Sarawak golf, having six local golfers qualified for the Tour card out of the 11 Sarawakians who took part in yesterday’s competition.
Abdul Samat was the only participant from Semenanjung Malaysia.
“This is the first time that PGM Development Qualifying School Circuit has so many participants and that we have the biggest numbers of qualifiers for the Tour card,” he said.
Kah Ming, Ching Leong and Lokman had also earned their Tour card in 2013.
“They have shown the way for our golfers and I would like to thank PGM for conducting the qualifying school here and give our golfers the chance to turn pro,” added Hoan.
Sarawak now has nine players who are eligible to play in the PGM Tour, including Sofian Kepli, Kalana Ibrahim and his brother Sulaiman Ibrahim who are all from Miri.
“I also hope that Ka Tung’s success will motivate and encourage more young people to take up golf in Sibu and I will ensure that more juniors will be coming up,” said Hoan.
PGM Tour tournament director Brig Gen Ron S Mahendran said there are now more young tour card holders in Malaysia.
“We have 153 tour card holders now and out of the top 30 golfers, 15 are below the age of 20. The PGM Development Qualifying School Circuit is a good opening for local golfers and we don’t have too many pros in Sarawak,” he said.
He is also hoping that more Sarawakians will take the opportunity to join the qualifying school next year.