Edwin Abit (left) hands over the SEDC Challenge Trophy to Roslan.
KUCHING: Most of the top local golfers are in the fray for the inaugural Damai Masters Amateur Open Golf Championship that will be held at Damai Golf and Country Club (DGCC) this weekend.
This was announced by DGCC general manager Roslan Mohd Salleh who said among the challengers are upcoming Sarawak junior golfers from the State Sukma XIX squad.
“The response towards the inaugural event is encouraging and had attracted the majority of our own local golfers who include Lee Ka Tung together with his siblings, Kah Ming and Ka Tiong,” he said.
This event is sanctioned by the Sarawak Golf Association (SGA) and open to those with NHS/USGA Handicap Index 13.2 and below.
The format is based on stroke-play and the overall champion will walk home with the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) Challenge Trophy.
According to Roslan, the largest number of entries are from Sibu and Bintulu where 11 of their top golfers are competing while those from DGCC, Kelab Golf Sarawak and Samarahan Country Club are also competing.
“We have a father and son team from Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore, one entry from Malaysia Golf Association (MGA) while there are six entries from Brunei who are competing here for the first time.
“They are eager to participate after getting to know us through the recent Asian Tour Sarawak Championship that was held here in early July this year,” Roslan added.
Among the local juniors who are competing are Steven Hii Tai Leong, Aziel Teo, Malcolm Tiong Siong Hung, Matthew Peregrine Ong, Elden Sim, Benjamin Ethan Ngelingkong while 13-year-old Mohd Hadif Fathely looks set to be the youngest participant to take part in the event.
Meanwhile, the handing over ceremony for the challenge trophy was performed by SEDC deputy general manager Edwin Abit who handed it to Roslan.
Roslan said the participants can expect fine weather throughout the event and the club’s course conditions are perfect for those aiming to record good scores at the end of their outing.