Boy’s A winners with Joshua Rodrigues, Sales & Marketing Manager, Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn. Bhd.
The third leg of the SRIXON Malaysian Junior Development Tour took place July 4-6 at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf & Country Club, Sultan & Alam Shah nines, and it was truly a test of endurance that brought out the best in the young competitors taking on the challenge.
When the tournament series was first launched in September 2022 at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf & Country Club it was a revelation in the junior golf circuit as the level of professionalism was unheard of. The ‘Elite Experience’ promised was delivered in spades and the bar was forever raised.
Ten-months later the Tour returned to the inaugural venue. Having thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from the wide and varied experiences provided by the SMJDT – inclusive of all the added extras to hone the character and mature the games of those competing, thanks to professionalism on every level – familiar names flocked to fill the four-venue series offering Order of Merit points and generous opportunities and rewards for those who performed well.
It would come as no surprise then when the Boy’s A Gross Champion from 2022, Aiden Kei Ahmad Shaharuddin, took the opening round lead with a round of 72. In his previous victory he played off handicap two and posted rounds of 74-76-73 for a 223 total. This year he brought down his handicap to one and carded a 227 total off rounds of 72-78-77, holding the lead throughout all three days of competition, which resulted in him having a three-shot cushion over his nearest rival.
Second place went to Cayden Kong Ze Wen, playing off handicap three, as he recorded rounds of 80-76-74 for his 230 total on countback from third placed Nathan Wong Tsen Jac (3) 79-74-77 and fourth placed Lee Sihyeon (9) 77-76-77. Fifth went to Sri Raam Palana Subramanian (3) on 232 (78-76-78).
Girl’s A winners with Boy’s A winners with Joshua Rodrigues, Sales & Marketing Manager, Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn. Bhd.
In the second round Nathan Wong surprised everyone, especially himself, when he scored his first hole-in-one, on Hole 3 Sultan nine, and managed to move into second behind Aiden, three off the pace. He was amply rewarded with cash and certificates from the SMJDT and the golf club for the first Ace scored in the tournament series.
Yan Yinuo, also known as Isabella, secured the win in the Girls A category with a 217 total, playing off 0 handicap. She was also the top performer in the 2022 edition of the tournament playing off handicap one, and had a 222 total back then. This time around she opened with a round of 77 to sit second behind Sohniya Chandra Mohan (5) on countback, followed it up with a 72 to overtake Sohniya, who carded a 76, and then turned in a magnificent 68 that left her 15 strokes better than her nearest rivals.
Siti Nurfarah Fasha Mohd Hasan (7) took second with a 232 total (78-79-76) on countback from third placed Sohniya (77-76-79). Sohniya was the 2022 Order of Merit winner and is looking to repeat that again this season. Andrea Chin Yen Xing (6) placed fourth on 237 (81-80-76) and Alya Batrisya Sharri (8) claimed fifth on 247 (81-86-80).
Isabella Yan Yinuo, Girl’s A Champion, with Joshua Rodrigues, PR & Marketing Assistant Manager, Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn. Bhd
In 2022 the Boy’s B category was dominated by Andrew Yap Yung Cheng playing off handicap 5 when he claimed three of the four events on the schedule, and he would probably have taken the fourth, but then he was unable to compete in the third leg at Palm Resort Golf & Country Club. This season he has reduced his handicap to one and already has two titles under his belt, having finishing first in Templer Park Country Club and adding the win here with a 222 total (74-73-75). Six shots behind him in second was John Kang Geon (5) on 228 (75-82-71), third was Ahn Senghyun (10) on 233 (78-78-77), while fourth and fifth were decided on countback, with Muhammad Adif Haikal Md Hazan 236 (80-81-75) taking the higher ranking from Putera Hani Imran Halim (5) (81-79-76).
A new winner emerged in the Girl’s B category when Siti Nur Husna Aina (6) carded a 236 total (83-76-77) to finish two shots clear of Nur Batrisyia Balqis Abdul Ghani (2) on 238 (84-80-74). An exciting rivalry could be brewing between these two, as Nur Batrisyia Balqis is the reigning champion from last year who also claimed the first title in this year’s tournament series, while Siti Nur Husna was second to her in Templer Park and just pipped her to the victory at SAASGCC.
Joshua Rodrigues, PR & Marketing Assistant Manager, Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn. Bhd with Aiden Kei Ahmad Shahruddin, the Boy’s A Champion
Ngo Yi Belle (5) finished third on 239 (78-81-80), fourth went to Nur Diana Syafiqah Abdullah (8) (83-81-78) and Wang Enxi (13) took fifth on 244 (83-78-83).
Bae Jinhyuk (6) emerged champion in the Boy’s C category with a 152 total (74-78), having finished runner-up in the first leg. Ashton Te Chu Han (12) was four strokes behind him on 156 (79-77) in second, Liew Zun Xin (5) took third a stroke further back on 157 (79-78), a position he also held in the first leg. Fourth was claimed by Arrjun Rudra Anilarasu (12) on 158 (81-77) and fifth went to Chung King Loong (12) on 163 (86-77).
In the Girl’s C it was Jane Sim (13) who swept the competition aside, claiming top spot on 171 (85-86), a clear 10 shots better than second placed Deepikaa Ganesan (17) on 181 (91-90). Jane was also the winner in the first leg over Deepikaa. Lee Kiyeon (18) was third on 182 (92-90), fourth went to Mavis Chua (20) on 183 (93-90), while Fatimah Zahara Iskandar Abdullah (17) was fifth on 188 (98-90).
Nett prizes were also awarded to the Top-3 in each category.
First in Boy’s A was Liew Kuan Keat (15) on 214 (78-70-66), Jayden Ng (7) was second on 220 (73-77-70), while Wong Ju Hao (13) was third on 220 (73-73-74).
Girls A was claimed by Goh Ee-Hwei (12) on 229 (77-73-79), Natalie Jan Van Dort (8) took second on 232 (78-77-77) and third went to Qistina Damia Ahmad Fairus (8) on 237 (77-78-82).
Boy’s B went to Shunsuke Nakamura (10) on 211 (71-71-69), Ismail Adli (16) was second on 216 (68-75-73) and Anthony Lim King Seng (22) took home third on 217 (71-75-71).
Iona Lyne Paterson (11) took top spot in the Girl’s B on 219 (77-70-72), Hiroka Yamamoto (16) finished second on 221 (72-80-69) and also on 221, Nur Sakinah Ridzwan Woo (11) finished third with rounds of 77-72-72.
Darren Neoh Yee Jian (11) was the top ranked player in Boy’s C on 141 (72-69) over Muhammad Afham Othman (14) 72-69. Third went to Arrihan Rudra Anilarasu (19) on 144 (76-68).
Girl’s C was won by Gong Vedona (22) on 147 (71-76), Ma Liwen (19) was second on 150 (77-73) and third went to Goh Wern-Hwei (33) on 156 (83-73).
The whole event had an air of excitement and the feeling of a community forming around a familiar, all-inclusive activity. While every child who took part was from a Malaysian school, the ethnicity and origins of the children came from all over Asia, which ties in well with SRIXON global presence.
The commitment and enthusiasm of Mr. Takuya Ono, Managing Director Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia, to attending each event is inspiring, as he made sure to swing by and interact with the players for a short time on the final day, despite his hectic schedule.
Nathan Wong Tsen Jac scored his first hole-in-one, on Hole 3 Sultan nine, during the second round. He received his rewards from Dato’ Merina Gan, Vice President, Malaysian Golf Association
In his stead at the prize presentation to say a few words on his behalf was Joshua Rodrigues, PR & Marketing Assistant Manager, Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia Sdn. Bhd., “On behalf of Dunlop Srixon Sports Asia, I would like to thank all the sponsors, participants and parents here. Without this support we would not be able to make this event possible. Also, a big thank you to SAASGCC for hosting and providing a challenging course. Congratulations to Nathan Wong on making an ace today, the first for SMJDT and I hope for more to come. Congratulations to all the winners here today, and we look forward to seeing you all at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club in September.”
A Golfpreneur Masterclass was conducted on Day 2 after the completion of play and was open to all participants and their parents and guardians to join in. The Masterclass series, that runs throughout the season, was developed by by Dwi Emas International School, The World’s No.1 Entrepreneurial International School, and is designed to empower and develop skills, broaden young minds as well as tap into and enhance individual abilities.
The Ministry of Youth & Sports and the Malaysian Golf Association as well as generous support from Affin Bank, KIA, Dwi Emas International School, F&N and Eureka, continue to make the successful running of this tournament series possible.
The next leg will take place 19-21 September 2023 at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, Selangor, with the Grand Final slated for 24-26 October 2023 at Forest City Golf Resort, Johor.
