Contenders in the senior boys and girls categories (from left) Mohd Amirul Fadlan, Bernard Yeo Chun How, Kim Gyeong Min, Teresa John Dines and Sharifah Aliysyah Tijan in jovial mood before the tee-off.
KUCHING: Anson Yeo Boon Xiang and Saxen Hii continue to carry the torch for Sarawak at the 17th Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup International Junior Golf Championship at Kelab Golf Sarawak yesterday.
Anson,9, and Saxen, 10, playing in Boys D category, completed the day’s round with a four-under par 68 and three-under par 69 respectively to save the host team the blushes as the much senior players struggled.
Anson is in the lead with a two-day total gross score of 137 while Saxen is a close second just one stroke adrift. Both are expected to dominate the top positions, with the closest contender Ritta Kaewangka from International Sports Federation (ISF) of Thailand a further 10 strokes behind.
Another youngster who also stamped her mark in this year’s event is 12-year-old Angel Hii who is currently in the lead in the Girls C category after she carded a 79 yesterday, identical to her first day’s score on Tuesday, bringing her two-day total gross score to 158.
Earlier in August this year, Angel created golf history in Sarawak after becoming the youngest player to win the prestigious 2nd Sarawak Grand Golf Championship at the age of 11.
Missing in action for this year’s event are the boys defending champion, Sangchai Kaewcharoen from ISF of Thailand and also the girls defending champion Siti Zulaikha Shaari from Malaysia Golf Association (MGA).
Yesterday’s rounds for the senior boys and girls categories were suspended after 3pm due to heavy rain. Play only resumed about an hour later with the results for the two categories coming in late.
A total of 131 participants from over 14 teams are competing this year including those from Cambodia, the Philippines, MGA, ISF of Thailand, Singapore, Sabah and various clubs from Sarawak where the golfers are divided into five age groups.