100 of the top female amateurs from Malaysia and the region will battle for honours in this week’s 45th edition of the RSGC Ladies Amateur Open Championship at Royal Selangor Golf Club.
This year, the Category D World Amateur Golf Ranking event welcomes players from 12 countries including Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong and – for the first time – Australia. The players will compete for four coveted trophies – Tuanku Bahiyah (Gross Champion), Toh Puan Norashikin (Nett Champion), Datin Azian (Team Gross Champion) and Clarissa Lee (Team Nett Champion).
11 players in the field hold handicaps of zero and below. Some of the more prominent players include Australia’s Ashleigh Hall, Sarah Wilson and DeeDee Russel, India’s Hitaashee Baksh, Vietnam’s second-ranked amateur Hanako Kawasaki and Thai prodigy Mai Mai Wimonwan who is only 11 years old.
Geraldine Wong
The Malaysian challenge will be led by defending champion Geraldine Wong and the nation’s other leading amateurs such as Winnie Ng, Eireen Syafeeya, Warda Amira, Wang Xin Qi and JX Ng. Reigning RSGC ladies club champion Elaine Liew is also taking part.
The tournament’s official airline, Malaysia Airlines, is offering two return business class tickets to Tokyo as a hole-in-one prize. Each participant will receive a Pilot Parker teddy bear, the official mascot of the airline. The other hole-in-one prizes are a Mercedes-Benz A200 sponsored by NZ Wheels, a Tahitian diamond and South Sea pearl ring worth RM16,000 from La Putri and a Titoni timepiece from ATG Watch.
Over the last few years, the championship has also raised the bar for player hospitality in amateur golf. This year, participants will once again enjoy a designated players lounge, complimentary foot massages, professionally-led warm-up stretches as well as transfers via Kia Carnival MPVs.
MKH (Metro Kajang Holdings Berhad) returns as co-sponsor of the championship, as does Poh Kong as main sponsor. The other tournament partners are Impiana KLCC (Official Hotel), 100 Plus (Official Drink), Titoni (Official Timekeeper), Kia (Official Car), the Social Group, Agile, Senheng Electric and Love18.
