Current leader in the Ladies category Angel Hii (2nd right) flanked by Samarahan Golf Club ladies captain Daisy Kon (left), KGS ladies captain Pauline Gan (right) and South Korean Kim Mi Ra.
KUCHING: The Lee brothers sprung into the golfing limelight again yesterday when three of them, defending champion Ka Tung, Kah Ching and Ka Tiong were tied at the top of the leader board on the second day of the 2nd Sarawak Grand Championship at Kelab Golf Sarawak (KGS) in Petra Jaya yesterday.
Ka Tung, who is from Sibu Golf Club (SGC), carded a total gross score of 154 and the identical score was also achieved by younger brother Kah Ching of Kelab Golf Miri (KGM) and their elder brother Ka Tiong of Kelab Golf Bintulu (KGB).
Another brother Kah Ming of KGS carded a total gross score of 159 to stay in contention for the coveted Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Adenan Satem Challenge Trophy. On July 26, the quartet made golf history at the 27th Sarawak Classic Golf Championship by becoming the first siblings to sweep the top four positions in the men’s gross event.
Ka Tung was the champion, followed by Kah Ching, Ka Tiong and Kah Ming. Also sharing the top spot in the Grand Championship is Abdul Rahim Abang Abdul Rahman after he carded an identical score over the two days of golf. “This is interesting because there are three of us brothers in the joint lead and I hope the best man wins,” said Ka Tung modestly of his chances in retaining the championship title for the second consecutive year.
Ka Tiong stole the limelight of yesterday’s round after he returned the day with a one-under par 71 followed by Ka Tung who carded a four-over par 76. According to Ka Tung, there is a need for him to improve his putting game which was a letdown the past two days of competition. The hectic schedule of competing in back-to-back championships the past few weekends had also taken a toll on the 44-year-old golf ace.
“I am feeling the physical strain of taking part in back-to-back competitions in which I am also the defending champion,” said Ka Tung who had skipped other golf competitions held outside Sarawak such as the Kota Kinabalu Open Amateur Golf Championship in which he was the defending champion.
Meanwhile, one of the state’s upcoming juniors from Sibu Steven Hii Tai Leong upstaged his fellow peers when he returned the day with a total gross score of 157 while Aziel Teo Ken Yi trailed with one stroke adrift and Aaron Lau Zhun Min carded a 160. A KGM upcoming junior Lim Beng Keat carded a total gross score of 160 to upstage Bernard Yeo Chun How who was two strokes adrift while Samdrick Yeo carded a 165.
In the women’s category, 12- year-old Angel Hii from KGS continued to lead the rest of the field after she carded a total gross score of 170 and is right on track to claim the coveted Puan Sri Dato Jamilah Anu Challenge Trophy if the other contenders fail to up their game in the final round today.
Latifah Bujang and Christina Foo stayed in contention for the championship title after they carded a total gross score of 190 and 195 respectively. The Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Adenan Satem and his wife Puan Sri Dato Jamilah Anu are expected to grace the closing and prize presentation ceremony to be held later this afternoon.