The skies were grey, but the brilliant golf shone through in the opening round of the fourth Selangor International Junior Golf Championship.
Korean Jung Ji Won and Vietnam’s Le Chuc An signed in the low rounds of the day, five-under-par 67s, to top the individual boys’ and individual girls’ standings respectively at Seri Selangor Golf Club.
Jung’s superb round included an eagle at the par-five 18th hole, five birdies and two bogeys. He leads the boys’ individual event by three shots from Singapore’s Keeshaun Tan (70) and Shinichi Suzuki of the Philippines (70), who was runner-up in the last edition. Malaysia’s Anson Yeo, Korean Kang Geon (representing UUM International School Melaka), Thailand’s Thanattasorn Supinraj and another Filipino, Miko Granada, are in joint fourth place after opening with rounds of 71.
The Philippines team, comprising Suzuki, Granada, Tristan Padilla (77) and Santino Pineda (79), leads the race for the boys’ team title with a combined score of two-over-par 218 (based on the best three out of four daily scores). They lead by one shot from UUM International School Melaka (UUMISM) A, made up of Kang, Kevin Sun Woo Sung, Muhammad Danial Nazari and Anis Dylan Sinno, and the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) quartet of Yeo, Nathan Wong, Andrew Yap and Ezekiel Riz Hafi Suzearitz.
Le Chuc An of Vietnam
The girls’ event meanwhile saw Le storm to the fore with seven birdies against two bogeys, her 67 being three shots better than Japan’s Mana Yoshizaki (70). Thailand’s Sarisa Pojanalai lies third following an even-par 72, one shot ahead of another Japanese, Yuka Nishina (73).
Yoshizaki and Nishina powered Japan to a commanding five-shot lead in the girls’ team event, combining with compatriots Rui Hatada (74) and Tsukiha Nakashima (74) for a one-over-par 217 first day score. The Thai team of Pojanalai, Chutimon Rujiranan, Satonkan Thiengsri and Krittiya Thanintomdamrongdej are second with a six-over-par 222 total, a massive eight shots clear of Team India (Saanvi Somu, Prarthana Khanna, Rashi Mishra, Aahana Kashyap).
Mana Yoshizaki of Japan
Boys’ individual leader Jung was elated at getting off to a good start, especially since this is his first time playing in Malaysia. “The golf course is difficult with a lot of hazards. I think the greens are the hardest part of this course as they’re really fast. My driver worked well today and so did my putter,” said the 16-year-old.
Fellow tournament debutante and 16-year-old Le, the girls’ individual leader, also voiced her respect for the Seri Selangor layout. “I think the golf course is really hard because the fairways are narrow. You have to keep your ball on the fairway and land in good spots on the greens, otherwise your ball will run off. My putting was good today and I managed to put my approach shots in the correct spots,” said Le.
This year’s championship boasts a record 127 participants from 14 countries/territories, who will compete over 54 holes in the World Amateur Golf Ranking event. The field includes players from Australia, Bangladesh, China, Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and, for the first time, Hong Kong (China) and Japan.
Shinichi Suzuki of The Philippines
The boys’ individual champion will earn a coveted spot in next week’s PKNS Selangor Masters, which is the season-opener for both the 2025 Asian Development Tour and domestic Professional Golf of Malaysia Tour, also at Seri Selangor. For the first time, the leading Malaysian boy will also earn a start in the professional event.
Organised by UUMISM in collaboration with the MGA, the Selangor International Junior Golf Championship is sponsored by the Selangor State Government with PKNS Golf Management Services acting as event promoter. The championship is a full-hospitality event, and participants are provided with accommodation, transfers and meals.
