Anson at Pinehurst for Kids Golf World Championship

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Anson Yeo in his element during the Malaysia’s leg of the 2014 Kids Golf World Championship held at Le Grendeur Golf Resort, Johor Bahru.

Anson Yeo in his element during the Malaysia’s leg of the 2014 Kids Golf World Championship held at Le Grendeur Golf Resort, Johor Bahru.

KUCHING: Sarawak’s upcoming junior golfer Anson Yeo Boon Xiang is one of the youngest and smallest participants competing in the 2015 US Kids Golf World Championship currently being held at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, US.

The event is organised by US Kids Golf with over 500 young golfers from worldwide competing in the prestigious championship which will end on July 25.

At only nine years old, the lad from Kuching created golf history of sorts for being the youngest from Sarawak, and possibly in the country, to compete in this year’s championship.

The Lodge School student earned the invitation to compete after winning the age 10-and-below category in Malaysia’s leg of the 2014 Kids Golf World Championship held at Le Grendeur Golf Resort in Johor Bahru.

According to his father Yeo Teck Khoon, competition is stiff because only the best juniors in the world were invited and Anson’s journey will not be a walk in the park in view of his bigger sized competitors.

“We are very proud of his achievements and despite the physical challenge, Anson is showing true Sarawak spirit on the international stage,” said Yeo in a press release.

Yeo said the journey to compete in the US was expensive and he thanked the state government through the Ministry of Social Development which agreed to sponsor part of the expenses.

Anson is accompanied by his businessman father and his trainer of three years, Mohamad Faizul.

“We also thank the Sarawak Golf Association (SGA) and especially the president, Hoan Kee Hock, who had recently submitted the request for support and sponsorship from the ministry … they were quick to respond and rendered assistance to fulfill Anson’s dreams of competing in the US,” he added.

Anson started golf at age six and had the experience of competing with his foreign peers during the annual Sarawak Chief Ministers’ Cup Junior Championship but now he is able to chalk first-hand experience in the US.

Members of the Sarawak Chinese Golfers Association recently gave Anson a rousing send-off at the Kuching International Airport and they urged the youngster not only to win but most importantly to enjoy the experience of competing with his foreign peers.