Sarawak GA president Hoan Kee Hock (second left) posing with the golfers on his same flight prior to the start of the 47th SGA Sarawak Amateur Open at Kelab Golf Sarawak in Petra Jaya yesterday. — Photo courtesy of KGS
KUCHING: Sukma VIII golfers from Johor Irfan Syahmi and Chong Yong grabbed the lead on the first day of the 47th SGA Sarawak Amateur Open and the 28th SGA Sarawak Ladies Amateur Open at Kelab Golf Sarawak (KGS) yesterday.
Irfan, playing under the Johor GA banner, posted a four-under 72 to lead Sabah Sukma XVIII golfer Suzairi Iqmah by two strokes.
A stroke further back in joint third were Safarudin Abidin of Sandakan GCC, Nordin Yahaya of Protellus Golf Team, Sarawak’s Sukma golfer Paul San, Sibu GC’s Lau Ching Leong, Muhammad Daniel Faidz of MGA and Lee Kah Ming from KGS.
Sarawak’s top ace and defending champion Lee Ka Tung failed to get off to an ideal start, only returning the day’s score of 78 to share joint fifth spot with Hassan Rahmat of Miri GC and Mohammad Lokman Mustaffa of KGS.
The 112 men golfers will be trying to make the cut today for the top 36 spots for Sunday’s final while the 12 top finishers in today’s ladies competition will advance to the final. Chong Yong hit a two-under 74 to lead the ladies’ field, with Nur Syazani Amalia Shahzan of MGA and Janice Ling from the Royal Perak GC in joint second with similar 78s.
Noraishah Alisa Che Omar of Danau GC was third on 79 while another Sukma golfer from Johor Nuridyana Aqila Khalim took fourth spot with an 80.
Best finishers from Sarawak were Sukma players Eliza Mae Kho (81) in joint fifth, Zulaikha Nurziana (83) in joint sixth and Tan Chlo-Wee in seventh spot.