Kota Kinabalu; June 2: The inaugural two-day Sabah Junior Amateur Championship played at the Sutera Harbour Resort here concluded today with Abel Tam emerging the overall champion ahead of stablemate Albright Chong.

Firing two consecutive rounds of 70 for total of four-under-par 140, Tam, who is the reigning Sutera Habour Amateur Open champion, proved a touch too strong and experienced for the 14-year-old local lad Chong. Chong closed with a round of 70 for a two-day score of two-under-par 142.

Kota Kinabalu-based coach Duncan Moodie was delighted with the 1-2 finish by two of his junior academy’s top players. “I am very pleased with Chong’s performance, it was always going to difficult to run down  a player of Abel’s ability when he is 2 shots in front, given that Abel is 5 years elder. I’m pleased that both players shot very solid scores,” he said in an email interview.

“Let’s not take anything away from Abel, shooting four-under on any course is good going and I am pleased that Abel put together two good rounds to win this inaugural championship,” added Moodie.

Another of Moodie’s youngsters, Suzairi Iqmah, also emerged as the boys’ under-12 division champion with rounds of 82 and 78.