The winning Korean Girls Team
After three gruelling days of competition, Malaysia’s Boys’ Team A and Korea’s Girls’ Team emerged winners in the inaugural Selangor International Junior Golf Championship at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor.
Hariz Hezri (72, 78, 75), Nor Haqiem Hadi (75, 78, 79), Muhammad Ajmal Amin (81, 73, 76) and Syed Nor Ismail (78, 82, 78) cemented their top position with their total combined scores of 683, a whopping 22 strokes ahead of the Korean team who carded a total combined score of 705.
The Korean Girls’ team represented by Min Young Yu (80, 78, 85), Yeji Park (67, 73, 71) and Hyojin (72, 80, 75) claimed the overall Girls’ team title with total combined scores of 681.
The Malaysian Girls’ Team A represented by Foong Zi Yu (77, 73, 73), Wang Xin Yao (76, 84, 75), Ng Jing Xuen (73, 81, 75) and Alya Afza (84, 82, 79) fought hard on the final day but could only maintain their second place finish after carding a total combined score of 685, four strokes behind the leader, Korea.
The surprise finish was by the Malaysian Boys’ Team B, who managed to wrest second place from Korea. The Malaysian Team B, represented by Muhammad Adif Haikal (81, 86, 80), Nazran Shahrizan (77, 75, 82), Wan Hasnul Daniel (77, 75, 78), and Andrew Yap (85, 85, 77) carded a total combined score of 705.
Shairul Erwin Samsudin, Malaysia’s Team Manager, said, “I am happy that both Malaysia’s Boys’ Teams won first and second place against top juniors in the region. Kudos to the Malaysian girls’ team for their perseverance in winning second place in the team event.”
Wang Yixiang carded a final round three-under-par 69 to finish even-par 216, claiming the Boys’ individual title. Malaysia’s Hariz Hezri and Wan Hasnul Daniel finished second and third place, respectively, with nine-over-par 225 and 14-over-par 230.
Individual champion Wang Yixiang of China
“I would like to thank my parents. They are a big part of my journey, and I wouldn’t be here without them. I hope to be back here in the future for a third win,” said Wang Yixiang.
In the Girls’ individual category, Korea’s Yeji Park held on to her lead to win the Girls’ individual title after scoring a final day one-under-par 71 for five-under-par 211 total. Malaysia’s Foong Zi Yu jumped to second place after carding one-over-par 73 for 7-over-par 223.
“To get up there to the top and win one, it feels great”, said Yeji Park. “It’s a great experience to win on my first outing to Malaysia.”
Korea’s Yeji Park won the Girls individual title
China’s Wang Yixian won a slot at the Selangor Masters, while Yeji Park won an all-expenses paid entry (except airfare) to the 119th Malaysia Amateur Open.
The UUMISM Scholarship worth RM70,000.00 was won by Ng Jing Xuen and Wang Xin Yao for RM50,000.00 if they choose to enrol at UUMISM. The scholarship was awarded to the best local finishers.
“To see these teams come out and to see how much it meant to everyone involved is really something special,” said MGA President, Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor (R). “I think this event is an important part of the MGA’s fixtures. When you think about the future of golf, it is these players. Many of them will be playing in major events in the future, and we are happy to help prepare them for it with this event.”
The 72-stroke play tournament at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor was conducted by the Malaysian Golf Association and UUM International School of Malacca (UUMISM).
