Singapore, July 6: The Malaysian boys team succesfully defended their titles after claiming both gold medals on offer in the boys’ division at the golf championship of the third ASEAN Schools Games.
Led by the steady hands of Chan Tuck Soon who claimed the individual gold medal, the Malaysian boys’ team comprising of Jeremiah Kim, Muhammad Afif Muhammad Razif, Low Khai Jei and Gwee Lee Jun were judged the best team on countback after finishing tied with regional powerhouse Thailand on 1185 at the Seletar Country Club. Indonesia were a distant third on 1214.
The double haul saw Malaysia improve to 18 golds in total to finish fifth overall in the medal standings in the annual seven-nation meet, which came to a conclusion today.
Chan closed with a final round of 74 to claim the gold with a four-day total of two-over par 290, five strokes ahead of teammate Kim (73). Itthipat Buranatanyarat of Thailand edged past three other participants to claim the bronze on countback after the quartet finished level on 296.
The Malaysian girls’ team (Vivienne Chin, Aretha Pan Herng, Nur Durriyah Damian and Isza Fariza Ismail) delivered a silver medal in the team event, finishing 14 strokes off the pace set by gold medal-winning Thai quartet.
Singapore’s Jennifer Yan Jing brought some cheer for the host nation by claiming the girls’ individual gold with a total of 292 ahead of Indonesia’s Ika Woro Palupi (297) and Thailand’s Sherman Santiwiwatthaphone.
