Anwar (seated third left) with Abdul Karim (centre) and (from left) Zulkifli, Hoan, Snowdan, Hii and Ong with the SGA and MGA officials and organising committee members.
KUCHING: The Malaysian Amateur Open has gained international recognition with the increasing number of participants from Asia Pacific countries each year.
This year, 140 male and 80 female golfers from more than 30 countries are expected to participate in the world’s second oldest amateur golf competition hosted by Kelab Golf Sarawak from June 20 to 23.
“Our top amateur player Gavin Kyle Green won the coveted title in 2012 and I hope that this feat will be repeated this year.
“It would indeed cement our standing in the public’s eyes,” said Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) president Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor at the press conference for the 117th Malaysian Amateur Open at Bangunan Baitul Makmur in Petra Jaya on Monday.
“On behalf of the MGA, Anwar thanked the Sarawak Golf Association (SGA) for rising to the challenge to host this premier amateur event.
“We are also grateful to Minister Of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth And Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah for his support and generosity in enabling SGA to host this event successfully,” he added.
Anwar said the organising committee felt that it is only fitting that the 117th edition be held in Kuching at the challenging and matured Kelab Golf Sarawak, which indirectly reaffirms MGA’s policy of rotating the hosting of its blue-ribbon events throughout the country.
“This edition is also special as we have re-introduced a ladies division as part of the Malaysian Amateur Open.
“This year would be the fourth edition of the inclusion of a ladies event in the championship,” said Anwar.
He also thanked the SGA headed by Hoan Kee Hock, KGS team headed by captain Henry Chuo and MGA team led by MGA secretary Dato Zulkifli (Ismail) for ensuring that this event will be run smoothly.
According to Anwar, MGA and the other Southeast Asia countries will be participating in the SEA Games to be held in the Philippines in November.
“As part of our preparation for the Sea Games, this championship will gauge how our players will fare in the sea games in November.
We shall field our top players to ensure a more successful outing,” said Anwar.
Also present at the press conference were Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth And Sports Hii Chang Kee, Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee and SGA president Hoan Kee Hock.