Mirabel smiles with her Perak Amateur Open trophy last week.
KUCHING: Sarawak’s junior sensation Mirabel Ting Ern Hui made a historic breakthrough in her golf career when she became the youngest golfer to win an event sanctioned by the Malaysian Golf Association event last Sunday.
The 13-year old form one student of SMK St Joseph in Miri won the Ladies Open title at the 62nd Perak Amateur Open Golf Championship after defeating a senior opponent from Kuala Lumpur’s Junie Khaw Wen Jun by shooting a birdie at the first hole in the play-off.
Being the youngest competitor in the field of 60 golfers, Mirabel had carded a three-day total of 219 (73-73-73) for a tie in the first place with Junie who scored 71, 73, 75 over three days of golf at the Royal Perak Golf Club, the venue that will host the golf competition of Sukma XIX this September.
This is certainly a notable achievement as the youngster was competing alongside experienced amateurs from Hong Kong, Singapore and other states in Malaysia.
It also marked a new milestone for the lass who started playing golf at the age of four as it was her first victory outside Sarawak.
“OMG, this is the first time I have won a game outside Sarawak. Thank you SGA (Sarawak Golf Association) for bringing me and the rest of Sukma team to Perak.
“It was a great game with Junie Khaw, Zulaikah and Charlyne Chong. It was my first time playing in a play-off.
“I was very worried and just shot the first play-off with a birdie,” said Mirabel in the Facebook post.
Earlier this year, Mirabel scored numerous victories including the Sabah Amateur Open, SGCC Amateur Open, Sarawak Junior Amateur Open, Sibu Amateur Open, Sarawak Classic and the recent Sarawak Grand Championship at Damai Golf and Country Club in Santubong.
She is also be looking to do well in the 35th Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open Championship in Kuala Lumpur which commenced yesterday together with Sukma XIX teammate Ashley Lau.
Mirabel was actually in Perak for the exposure and to test the playing conditions at the Sukma venue with Zulaikah Nurziana Nasser, her brother Malcolm Ting Siong Hung, Matthew Peregrine Ong Zhen Lei, Aziel Teo Ken Yi, Steven Hii Tai Leong and Mohamad Amirul Fadlan Abu Bakar.
They were accompanied by Sarawak head coach Abdul Samat Abu.
Meanwhile, Zulaikah finished in fourth place with a total score of 221 while in the Men’s Open, Malcolm ended his campaign in 15th spot with a 224, Matthew was 31st (231), Aziel 42nd (234), Steven 49th (236) and Amirul 59th (248).