Group photo of participants of the tournament at Miri Golf Club.
MIRI: Phillip Saging emerged champion in the inaugural Malaysia Orang Ulu Golf Tournament held at Miri Golf Club last Sunday.
Patrick grossed 81 to come out top from a field of 200 competitors while in the women section Sharifah Aisyah Tijan (78 gross) was the champion.
In the team event OU (Orang Ulu) Miri was the champion with 730 point, while OU Kuching and OU Bintulu were place second and third with 786 and 791 points, respectively.
The prize giving ceremony was held during a dinner at Parkcity Everly Hotel.
The Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau who represented Minister of Public Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom gave away the prizes.
Dennis congratulated the organisers for holding the inaugural Orang Ulu national tournament.
“The Malaysia Orang Ulu Golf Tournament has served its purpose to foster the interest in golf especially among our younger generation.
“I hope that we will continue to organise this tournament as it is a good initiative to produce more talented Orang Ulu golfers, putting us on par with other golfers across the world in local and overseas tournament,” he said
Dennis also announced a RM10,000 grant approved by Rundi for the tournament organising committee.
The participants came from Orang Ulu communities in Brunei , Peninsular Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu, Labuan, Limbang, Lawas, Kuching and Bintulu but most reside in Miri.
Orang Ulu Golf Captain Kilah Deng said the tournament was also to raise funds for the needy in the community as well as to identify pool of golfers to represent the Orang Ulu team in any sanctioned golf tournament including the upcoming Sarawak Inter-Community Golf Tournament to be held in October this year.
During the dinner the guests donated a total of RM4,156 to victims of a recent fire incident that had gutted a 7-door longhouse and 1 unit single house at Long Seridan.
Also present were Orang Ulu Tournament director Tommy Jok, Chief Minister’s Office Administrative Unit head who is also Federation of Orang Ulu Association Miri Sarawak (Forum) president Antonio Khati Galis, Assistant Minister for Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, State PKR chairman Baru Bian, Deputy DUN Sarawak Speaker Dato Gerawat Gala, Baram MP Anyi Ngau, Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, Belaga assemblyman Liwan Lagang and Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon.