KUCHING: Golfers from Kelab Golf Sarawak (KGS) got off to a roaring start in the Sarawak Grand Championship on the first day of competition at the Damai Golf and Country Club (DGCC) in Santubong yesterday.
Former Sukma golfer Zulaikah Nurziana Nasser fired a four-under 68 to lead the Ladies category, finishing three shots ahead of Mirabel Ting Ern Hui of Kelab Golf Miri (KGM) and 12 strokes ahead of KGS teammate Angel Hii, the defending champion.
Noor Afrina A’in Ibrahim was in fourth place while with a 82 and Aisha Nabeela Abdul Rahman was four shots further back in fifth spot. Occupying the sixth to 10th positions were Lia Rajemah Shahminan, Nicole Wong Yen Ping, Eva Puyang Deng, Angelie Jerembai Ong and Amber Tho Eu Mei.
Meanwhile, in the Men’s Open, Lee Kah Ming grabbed the early lead with an opening par-72 and Aziel Teo Ken Yi was just one stroke behind him.
The title was thrown wide open yesterday with the unexpected withdrawal of defending champion and Sarawak’s top golf ace Lee Ka Tung due to knee injury
Sharing the third spot were Mohd Nazeem of Kelab Golf Bintulu (KGB) and Muhammad Lokman Mustaffa who both posted a first day score of 75 and four golfers – Daniel Yeo Thian Chai, Lee Kah Ching and Macolm Ting Siong Hung (KGM), Albert Goh Han Siang (KGB) and Harry Chung Chun Fui – Sabah Golf Club all returned a similar score of 76 to share the fourth spot.
This year’s event organised by the Sarawak Golf Association and hosted by DGCC attracted golfers from Sabah, Brunei, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu and Kuching.