Five winners on the Toyota Tour will lead the challenge in the Fortuner Cup that tees off at Kelab Golf Sibu on June 25-27, making it the first time that this Sarawakian town of Sibu will be hosting a professional golf tournament.
Paul San, winner of Vios Cup (Photo by Ali Mufti / Toyota Tour)
The five include recent Vios Cup winner Paul San, three-time winner Galven Green, Daeng Rahman, Edven Ying and rookie pro Marcus Lim. Most of the field of 70 players including six ladies have not played at Sibu before.
Despite this being their first time, Kelab Golf Sibu are leaving no stones unturned to ensure that the tournament will be a great experience for the locals and the professionals as well.
“We are indeed honoured to be chosen as a venue for this grand Toyota Tour event,” said KGS president Wong Pak Cheng at a press conference at KGS today. “This is the first time we are hosting such a prestigious event as the Fortuner Cup and we would like to warmly welcome all the players to our club.”
“I am also happy to note that 40 of our youngsters will be involved in a Junior clinic organised by the Toyota Tour this Sunday afternoon. I understand some kids are coming from Bintulu. Engaging with pros will hopefully motivate them in the long run.”
The KGS layout is a par 70 that comprises six par 3s, four par 5s and eight par 4s. It runs to a length of 6,135 yards.
Out to make a victorious return to KGS is Malcolm Ting who last year won the Sibu Amateur Open, before turning pro. “I won’t be expecting too much but I will try my best, as I always do in all the Toyota Tour events. Having played there before and won, gives me that added confidence. I’m looking forward to returning to Sibu,” said Ting.
Amateur Ng Jing Xuen won the Ladies Championship at the Vios Cup24.
(Photo by Ali Mufti / Toyota Tour)
Paul San, who made the cut in the ongoing Selangor Masters at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor and is lying second on the Toyota Tour Order of Merit, said: “I haven’t been to Sibu in ages. I’ve played there once, as an amateur but can’t remember anything at all. But it’s going to be fun and I’m looking forward to returning to Sibu Golf Club.
The drawcard would be Green, who won the season-opening Tun Ahmad Sarji Trophy in February and the Corolla Cross Cup in Glenmarie GCC. He leads the rankings in the Order of Merit on the Toyota Tour which is organised by the Professional Golf Malaysia and delivered by MST Golf.
Meanwhile, Geraldine Wong will be the one to beat in the Ladies Championship. She was a winner in the Tun Ahmad Sarji Trophy at Saujana GCC but providing excitement and possibly drama, are top amateurs Mirabel Ting, Michelle Koh and 2023 Sea Games gold medallist Ng Jing Xuen, the Ladies champion at the Vios Cup in Templer Park CC.
Mirabel, the sister of Malcolm, was the 2023 Vietnam Ladies Amateur Open champion and also the first Malaysian to play her way into the Augusta National Women’s Amateur where she made the cut.
