Yeji Park pf Korea
The Malaysian Boys’ Team A comprising Hariz Hezri, Nor Haqiem Hadi, Syed Nor Ismail and Muhammad Ajmal Amin, finished top of the leaderboard after the first round of the Selangor International Junior Golf Championship at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor. The Korean Girls’ team, represented by Yeji Park (67), Min Young Yu (80) and Hyo Jin (72), carded a total combined score of 219 to top the leaderboard.
Hariz Hezri (72), Nor Haqiem Hadi (75) and Syed Nor Ismail (78) combined score of 225 propelled them to the top of the leaderboard, four strokes ahead of the Korean team who carded a combined score of 229.
Foong Zi Yu (77), Xin Yao Weng (76), Ng Jing Xuen (73) and Alya Afza (84), who made up the Malaysian Girls’ Team A was second in the team event after carding a combined score of 226.
Hariz Hezri and Korea’s Beomgyu Kim tied for first place in the individual event after carding an even-par 72. Korea’s Bang Min U and Malaysian Nor Haqiem Hadi posted three-over-par 75 to tie for second place.
“I was off to a great start, and I knew that if I stayed consistent, the course would give me a couple of shots,” said Hariz Hezri, currently ranked No. 1 junior in Selangor. “It’s a tough course with narrow fairways and fast greens.”
In the Girls’ individual event, Korea’s players dominated the leaderboard with Yeji Park taking the lead with her brilliant five-under-par 67 score and Hyojin in second place with an even-par 72. Lucy Lin and Ng Jing Xuen shared third place after carding one-over-par 73.
“This is a difficult course, and I was happy that I managed to avoid making mistakes,” Yeji Park said. “I hope to keep the momentum going for the next two days.”
As a bonus to the winners, the overall boy champion will win a slot at the Selangor Masters, while the overall girl champion, a place at the 119th Malaysian Amateur Open. The organiser, UUMISM, has also generously offered a scholarship to the local champion and runner-up worth RM70,000.00 and RM50,000.00, respectively, if they choose to enrol at the UUMISM.
“It’s a very good day indeed to see a lot of WAGR-ranked players playing in the inaugural Selangor International Junior Golf Championship,” said Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor, President of MGA. “It augurs well for the development of junior golf in the country and the region.”
