New match play format for golfers on the cards

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SPORTEXCEL is considering to include the match play format from the red tee for budding golfers in the boys’ Under-12 and girls’ Under-18 categories for next season’s Malaysian Junior Match Play competition.

Following the completion of the recent national junior match play held at the Rahman Putra Golf Club at the end of last month, SportExcel executive director Teng Mui Ngee said it would be a good idea to allow the youngsters in the two age groups to compete in tournaments with an interesting format.

“Usually, they only compete in stroke play in our junior open and premier-elite circuits lined up for them throughout the year. It will be a change for them to have a different feel going up against an opponent to advance to the next round of the knockout competition. The parents have requested that we introduce another section from the red tee. We are planning to expand the competition to a field of 16 competitors each in the blue tee and the red tee,” he added.

On song: Tam ended Jeremiah Kim’s gallant run with a 4-2 victory to emerge as the champion

Currently, only the top 24 qualifiers from the one-day premier-elite meet held earlier will earn their places in the match play.

The top 16 qualifiers will start from the championship pool with eight of the first round losers going into the plate section while the bottom eight players will battle in the bowl pool.

Teng said the top four finishers in the championship pool went according to the ranking from the premier-elite qualifier.

“Five players from the boys’ Under-12 section were also in the fray. The trio of Kiishaan Tharmalingam, Park Chang Uk and Chang Ervin joined the championship pool while the other two players - Aarishna Shahsthy Balakrishnan - were in action in the bowl pool,” he added.

From the recent Malaysian Golf Association (MGA)-SportExcel Malaysian Junior Match Play, defending champion Abel Tam Kwang Yuan featuring for the Johor Juniors retained his title in similar fashion.

This year, he came into the competition as the second-ranked qualifier again behind the third leg premier-elite boys’ Under-18 champion Mohd Hisyam Abdul Majid of Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS).

And Tam, who bagged the boys’ Under-18 title at the True Visions-Singha International Golf Championships at Rayong Green Valley Country Club in Rayong, Thailand this year, was forced to ward off the challenge coming from Tim Park Chan of Glenmarie Golf and Country Club before prevailing with a solitary hole advantage for a place in the final.

In the top draw of the semi-final, a younger competitor Jeremiah Kim of Monterez created an upset.

After completing the 15th hole, Kim sealed the victory against his senior Hisyam with an unassailable four-hole lead.

However, the more experienced Tam ended Kim’s gallant run with a 4-2 victory to emerge as the champion.

Meanwhile, the fourth leg of the premier-elite circuit resumed at Bukit Beruntung Golf and Country Resort on Saturday followed by the fifth leg at KGNS on Nov 8 before the grand finals at Monterez on Nov 20.

Strong show: Jeremiah Kim created an upset by beating Mohd Hisyam in the semi-final.

For the junior open circuit, the seventh leg is scheduled at Bukit Tinggi in Pahang on Nov 18 and 19 followed by the northern region tour at three venues - Bukit Jawi Golf Resort (Nov 30 and Dec 1), Taiping Golf and Country Club ( Dec 3 and 4) and Clearwater Sanctuary (Dec 8 and 9).

The 11th leg will be held at Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club in Sabah on Dec 13 and 14 as the juniors gear up for the next tournament incorporated as part of the Sabah Junior Masters from Dec 16-18.

They will wrap up the season with the junior open grand finals and international meet as well as the Asia Pacific Match Play for boys and girls on Dec 22-24 and Dec 27-29 respectively.

Teng said that they are expecting the juniors from several countries to compete in both tournaments at the Rahman Putra Golf Club.

“Besides the South Koreans based here, the Thais and Singaporeans will be joining the occasion. We are also inviting the juniors from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Australia and New Zealand,” he added.