Dr George Chan (left) presents the prizes to Muas while Sarawak Golf Association president Hoan Kee Hock looks on.
KUCHING: Muas Sebli was crowned gross champion of the 26th Sarawak Senior Amateur Open Golf Championship that ended at Kelab Golf Sarawak (KGS), Petra Jaya yesterday.
It was a third time lucky for the 60-year-old KGS member who shared the first day lead with Herman Bulang with an eight-over par 80 and yesterday he carded a seven-over par 79 for a two-day total of 15-over par 159 to receive the Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam Challenge Trophy, a trophy and RM2,000 worth of goods voucher.
Two strokes further in second place was former winner Bernett Ling Soon Kiong of Sibu Golf Club while taking the third place was Peter Tan K F of Borneo Golf and Country Club, Sabah who returned a two-day score of 162.
The fourth and fifth placings went to Abdul Kadir Abdul Ghani of Pantai Mentiri Golf and Country Club and Dato Zamani Hamdan of KGS who scored 164 and 165 respectively.
Those completing their challenge in sixth to 10th placings were Wong Lay Hin (166 OCB), Phang Ted Hin (166), Col (rtd) Dato Harith Karim (167 OCB), Waili Abang (167) and Abu Bakar Kiprawi (168).
Edward Chin Ngian Hock completed a double honour for KGS as he bagged the nett title with 141 strokes, finishing three strokes ahead of Royal Brunei Golf and Country Club representative Lim Soon Bee.
Bajuri Jaujie of KGS took the third spot after beating Ahmad Hamdan on count back (OCB) as both had similar score of 145.
Finishing in fifth to 10th placings were Senior Golfers Society of Malaysia vice president Dato Wira AS Khamis (146 OCB), James Enjeng (146 OCB), Dardie @ Paul Sawal (146), Clement Chiew Pang Ming (147), Philip Osen Nicholl (149 OCB) and Joseph Lau Ka Hoo (149).
Event organiser and patron as well as president of the Senior Golfers’ Society of Sarawak (SGSS) Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam also finished on the podium as he was third in the Age Group 76 & Above nett category with a 161.
Leong Chin Chin Hin was the winner with 157 strokes while SGSS advisor and former SGSS president Ting Kuok Ing came in second on 160.
As for the Age Group 66-75 years net category, the top three placings were won by Mohd Zain Ibrahim (150), Yakop Jalel (152) and Lo Vun Lip (153).
The Age Group 55-65 years gross title was won by Dr Mak Met (149), followed by Annuar Idris and Loh Leh Goh (150) in second and third positions respectively. There was no winner for the hole-in-one prize of RM10,000, sponsored by Datuk Philip Ting, for the feat at any of the par 3 holes.
Former deputy chief minister Dr George Chan, who gave away the main prizes, said he was very happy with the overwhelming response to the event this year.
“We had 132 participants from Brunei, Sabah, Semenanjung Malaysia and clubs throughout Sarawak this year and it was unfortunate that some of the golfers were unable to play. However, we are planning a bigger competition next year with morning and afternoon sessions and we assure that you will enjoy a better competition next year.
“This is a very good tournament for us to come together every year to enjoy golf and each other’s company, share our experience and talk about things that we have done and not done before. I always appreciate the vision of our former president and former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Wong Soon Kai who started this tournament 25 years ago,” added Chan.