Girl’s A champion Abigail Kedung Pearson receiving her prize from Mr. Takuya Ono, Managing Director, Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn.
It’s not often East Malaysians have the promise of a top-notch junior golf event landing on their doorstep, but the SRIXON Malaysian Junior Development Tour made a commitment to hold a stand-alone tournament there when they launched the 2023 Tour schedule.
A field of 90 players (64 boys and 26 girls) took up the challenge, more than three-quarters of them from East Malaysia, between June 13 to 15, all the while enjoying the professional feel of the occasion, from registration to set-up and scoring, refereeing to F&B, with a Masterclass on Trackman on Day 1 as good measure to aid personal development.
Understanding the need to make opportunities available to everyone regardless of location in Malaysia, Takuya Ono, Managing Director, Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn. Bhd., creator of the SRIXON Malaysian Junior Development Tour, brought the tournament series to the East Malaysian coast, instead of bringing the players to Peninsular Malaysia, as cost is a huge factor in the sport.
Girl’s A champion Abigail Kedung Pearson together with Mr. Takuya Ono, Managing Director, Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn, Miri Golf Club President, Committee Members, sponsors and tour promoter.
Being able to keep costs down by playing on home turf was a huge boon for many of the participants. It meant being able to be part of something they might not otherwise have been able to, and it could potentially make a huge difference in the future of many young talents dreaming of a professional golf future.
The climax of the tournament, offering WAGR points, saw the spotlight fall on the Girl’s A category. The top two contenders, Abigail Kedung Pearson, and Jeon Kyuri, were locked in a David and Goliath battle. Abigail, a local lass playing off handicap 9 who had started the tournament with a first round 84 that left her ranked fifth, against Jeon, a Korean player from Johor with a handicap of 12 who carded an opening 75 to top the leaderboard.
Round two saw Abigail return a 74 against Jeon’s 81 to leave just two strokes between them. Come round three, both finished regulation play on 233 after Abigail carded 75 against Jeon’s 77 and a playoff was on, much to the delight of the crowds lined up to watch.
YB Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Deputy Minister (Tourism) presenting the Boy’s A champion, Jonathan Paramananthan, with his prizes.
The girls returned to the par-5 18th and both players showed no sign of weakness, with both bogeying the hole surrounded by loud cheering and shouts of encouragement from the excited spectators ringing the green and lining the golfer’s terrace. They headed back to the 18th for the second playoff hole, this time it was Abigail who found her groove, two-on and two putts sealed her victory, as Jeon was four on and two putted, after disappointingly finding water in the right side of the green.
Greenside, the club president, committee, crowds of onlookers, close friends, best friends, and cousins waited in anticipation of the local lass and Miri Golf Club member claiming victory. She did not disappoint and was chased around the final green trying to avoid being doused in water as a shared celebration. Abigail was quick on her feet and outran everyone, only to be caught when she knew it was wise to give everyone their moment to celebrate with her.
Eireen Syafeeya Efizan (4) was third on 237 (81-81-75), Seo Ahreumnuri (7), fourth, on 240 (81-86-73) and fifth went to Priscilla Moh Xian Xien (16) on 258 (85-83-90).
Kenta Izawa (5) took the first-round lead with a round of 75 in the Boy’s A category, while Jonathan Paramananthan (3) trailed by a shot. A day two round of 73 saw Jonathan atop the leaderboard as Kenta tumbled down to eighth after an 84. Johannes Chang (7) sat in second with a 152 total (78-74) as Sri Raaam (4) and Yoo Seojoon (3) shared third on 154.
In the final round Jonathan’s 76 for a 225 total was enough to secure him victory. Second went to Sri Raam, three strokes behind on 228 after rounds of 78-76-74. Yoo took third on 231 after rounds of 78-76-77, Hazeem Yusoff (5) was fourth on 234 (77-77-80) and Mohamad Rafiz Anugerah Ali (7) took fifth (78-80-79) on countback from Johannes (78-74-85) when both had a 237 total.
Boy’s B was closely fought affair with a different leader each day. The first day Sun Woosung (1) and Anis Dylan Sinno (10) tied for the lead with 78s, while Azka Azfar Saiful Azhari (5) was a stroke behind in third. Come day two, Anis carded a 77 to take the outright lead, with Allen Kim Miyeon (9) jumping up to second on 158 (81-77), while Azka Asfar slipped into a tie for third on 159 after a round of 80, together with Sun Woosung who returned an 81.
Azka Azfar Saiful returned the lowest round on the final day, a 75, to claim the win with a 234 total. Anis slipped back into second after an 84 left him on 239. Joshua Lim Zhi Xing (4) moved up two places to third with rounds of 84-80-77 on countback from Sun Woosung (82) when both finished on 241. Allen dropped to fifth with a round of 85 that left him with a 243 total.
The top-two contenders in the Girl’s B duked it out daily in the closest of battles. Jamie Tan Huan Ying (15) led by a shot over Iona Lyne Paterson (16) after day one. On day two Iona’s 81 topped Jamie’s 84 to leave them on 160 to 162, in first and second. The final round saw Iona hold off Jamie when she returned with a round of 80 to finish on 240, against Jamie’s 79 that left her on 241. Nayomi Sim Le Ee (13) took third on 255 (86-85-84), Livia Lau Kiew Lin (14) secured fourth on 259 (90-79-90), while Kezia Kyreen Kennedy (16) was fifth on 260 (86-84-90).
Sebastian Zaine Fong Shan Zie (11) was the runaway winner in the Boy’s C, age 10-12. His first round 76 left him three shots ahead of his nearest rival Muhd Dani Mikal Jimsbon (7) on 79. He combined that with a second day 69 for a 145 total that saw him win by 13 shots from Jayden Liew Zhong Heng (10) on 158 (80-78). Muhd Farish Abdullah (11) moved up to third on 161 after rounds of 85-76. Muhd Dani’s final day 83 left him on 162 for fourth and Jayden Png Jun Yen (19) was fifth on 174 (89-85).
In the Girl’s C it was the first-round score that determined the eventual winner, with Park Siyeon (16) carding a 77 against Bernice Hwang Ee Xuan’s (25) 79. Day two they both returned with 80s and Park took the honours with a 157 total over Bernice’s 159. Goh Wern-Hwei (36) finished third on 191 (92-99), fourth went to Zoey Ting Ning Xuan (27) on 197 (96-101), while Chrysmi Chan Man Man (36) secured fifth on 213 (109-104).
YB Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Deputy Minister (Tourism) spoke to the junior golfers about thankfulness towards their parents.
All the winners received a trophy and certificate in recognition of their achievements, while the gross winners in the A, B and C categories in the received Srixon golf equipment and the nett winners were rewarded with a Srixon bag.
Boy’s A Nett was won by Alvern Shayne Hector St. on 213, while Kulleh Tajang was second on 214 on countback from Nathan Kok Yung Siang who took third. Ho Yunxi won the Girl’s A on 219, second went to Angelina Hwong Hutchin on 220 and Goh Ee-Hwei was third on 228.
Dylan Zayden Darius took top spot in the Boy’s B Nett on 201, Anthony Lim Jing Seng was second on 204 and third went to Amirul Hishamudin Rosla on 205.
In the Girl’s B Nett Kok Jo Lih topped the list on 210, Myra Lisa Mohamad Morhadie was second on 225 while Esther Chong Jia May finished third on 236.
Adams Hendry was the Nett winner in Boy’s C on 140, Marcus Ting Zhong Sing was runner-up on 144 and Muhd Fauzan Niza Shahrul Azril Niza took third on 145.
Fairuz Iqbal won the Girl’s C on 223, Annerly Chong Yu Fei took second on 241, while her sister Annabelle Chong Yu Hue was third on 242.
The honourable YB Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Deputy Minister (Tourism) went out of his way to attend the prize giving ceremony and had words of encouragement for the youth present.
Mr. Takuya Ono, Managing Director, Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn.
At the conclusion of the event, Mr. Takuya Ono, Managing Director, Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn, Bhd., said, “This is the first time we have ventured outside Peninsular Malaysia and it has been a wonderful experience. The level of co-operation from the club, officials, parents and participants have been so rewarding and made the whole experience a resounding success for all involved. I personally hope we have inspired these gifted young talents to continue to pursue their golfing dreams and wish them success on bigger stages.”
By all accounts the successful staging of the tournament in Miri Golf Club might have set the stage for a return visit in 2024.
Next up on the calendar for the Tour is the Kelab Golf Negara Subang leg from 4-6 July 2023.
