Despite the heatwave enveloping the country, Malaysia’s junior golfers turned up in force to battle it out at the first leg of the 2023 Srixon Malaysian Junior Tour, played at Templer Park Country Club with the goal of finishing the series at the top of the Order of Merit.
Gross Category, Boy’s 16-18 winner Austin Gan Zi Ming with Mr. Takuya Ono, Managing Director Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn, Bhd
In the gross category, Boy’s 16-18 Austin Gan Zi Ming (0) took top spot with 221 total following impressive rounds of 75-73-73. Nazran Shahrizan (1) closed with a 225 total (71-78-76) for second, Wan Muhammad Danial Hafiz Wan Zain (4) took third on 228 (78-72-78), Ammer Aiman Mohd Fauzi (1) claimed fourth on 232 (78-75-79) and fifth went to Nathan Wong Tsen Jac (3) also on 232 (76-77-79).
A thrilling first round 67 set the stage for Kwak Minji (1) to claim the honours in the Girls 16-18 category. She went on to add rounds of 73-73 for a 213 total to beat Yan Yinuo (0) by four strokes. Yan carded steady rounds of 73-73-71 for her 217 total. 2022 Srixon Malaysian Junior Development Tour champion Sohniya Chandra Mohan (4) finished third on 221 with rounds of 76-72-73, Lim Ye Na (11) was fourth on 228 (78-75-75) and Nik Alicia Miriam Kamil Nik Fairuz Kamil (4) was fifth on 232 (79-76-77).
Andrew Yap Yung Cheng (1) started this season where he left off in 2022, with a win in the Boy’s 13-15 age group. He carded rounds of 72-77-73 for a 222 total. Kang Geon (John) (4) was second on 225 (71-80-74), Aiden Tai John Roberts (2), third on 232 (80-77-75), Lim Hao Yu (7) took fourth on 233 (77-79-77) and Ezekiel Riz Hafi Suzearitz (2) was fifth on 234 (77-76-81).
Nur Batrisyia Balqis Abdul Ghani (2) had a great start to defending her 2022 title win in the Girl’s 13-15 age group. She topped the leaderboard with a 226 total after rounds of 77-77-72. Her nearest rival, Siti Nur Husna Aina (5) returned a 236 total (80-82-74) to take second place. Wang Enxi (4) claimed third on 238 (77-78-83), Nur Alisya Qistina Mohd Zainurin (8) was fourth on 243 (80-83-80) and Nur Diana Syafiqah Abdullah (7) was fifth on 245 (83-83-79).
Muhammad Afham Othman (16) placed first in the Boy’s 10-12 age group when he carded rounds of 76-73 for a 149 total. Right there with him on 149 was Bae Jinhyuk (7) with rounds of 76-73 for second place. Liew Zun Xin (6) took third on 150 (76-74), while Darren Neoh Yee Jian (14) placed fourth on 152 (76-76) and Uwais Alqarni Shahmira (7) finished fifth on 153 (82-71).
Jane Sim snapped up first-place honours in the Girl’s 10-12 category with a 159 total (80-79) over second placed Deepikaa Ganesan (18) on 165 (85-80). Fatimah Zahara Iskandar Abdullah (19) took third on 170 (87-83), Lee Jiyeon (24) was fourth on 174 (89-85) and Ma Liwen (16) was fifth on 184 (92-92).
In the Nett Category, Boy’s 16-18 Zarif Halim Abdul Halim (17) topped the leaderboard on 204 (68-67-69) to beat Lee Sihyeon (10) also on 204 (65-68-71). Third went to Muhammad Syahid Husain (13) on 211 (68-74-69).
Siti Nurfarah Fasha Mohamad Hasan (7) claimed top spot in the Girl’s 16-18 group on 214 (74-71-69) over Arvinderjit Kaur (15) also on 214 (75-69-70). Aarthi Ganesan (7) took third on 217 (75-71-71).
The Boy’s 13-15 title was won by Ismail Adli (18) on 192 (64-70-58), while Hau Sheng Yi (21) was second on 206 (68-71-67) and Anis Dylan Sinno (10) placed third on 209 (66-68-75).
Gross Category Girl’s 16-18 winner Kwak Minji with Mr. Takuya Ono, Managing Director Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn, Bhd
In the Girl’s 13-15 group Rishona Fay Saravanan (18) placed first on 210 (64-74-72) over second placed Hiroka Yamamoto (15) on 211 (74-73-64) and third went to Iona Lyne Paterson (14) on 213 (73-70-70).
Lucas Kelvin Long Jin Eian (23) was tops in the Boy’s 10-12 group with a 115 total (58-57). Second went to Chin Jing Sheng (13) on 127 (62-65), while Arrjun Rudra Anilarasu (13) placed third on 134 (67-67).
Goh Wern-Hwei (36) took the victory in the Girl’s 10-12 category with a 138 total (72-66), while Wong Jo Yi (23) was second on 141 (76-65) and Ava Kanthata Yap (28) was third on 144 (67-77).
At the conclusion of the event, Mr. Takuya Ono, Managing Director Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn, Bhd., said, “These young players never cease to amaze me. They are growing in leaps and bounds and we sincerely hope that apart from the ‘Elite Experience’ the SRIXON Malaysian Junior Development Tour Provides them with, they will also take up and maximise the opportunity to play in Singapore, and in any future events we can secure places for them to develop their skills.”
Next up on the calendar for the Tour is a stand-alone tournament in Miri Golf Club, Sarawak, 13-15 June to encourage participating from East Malaysians, and then the Tour will return to Selangor, Kelab Golf Negara Subang, 4-6 July 2023.
