Singapore, June 3: Perak Amateur winner Vivienne Chin was the best placed Malaysian after the first round of the golf championship at the third ASEAN Schools Games, which began today.
The 17-year-old Sabahan opened her campaign in the girls’ division with a round of 74 at the Seletar Country Club to trail leaderIka Woro Palupi of Indonesia by two strokes. Isza Fariza Ismail was fifth on 77 while Nur Duriyah Damian and Aretha Pan Herng both carded 79.
In the boys’ division, Thailand’s Kwanchai Kongtavee leads the way with a three-under-par 69 with Aditya Novianto of Indonesia in second on 71 ahead of local representatives Nicklaus Chiam and Thomas Tan, who managed 73. Malaysia’s Muhammad Afif Muhammad Razif was joint fourth on 74 while the trio of Jeremiah Kim, Low Khai Jei and Chan Tuck Soon are another stroke back.
Malaysia lead Thailand by two strokes in the girls’ division after a best-three haul of 230 today while the nation’s boys are six shots adrift of leaders Thailand in the five-nation championship.
In the second edition held in Kuala Lumpur last year, Malaysia swept three of the four gold medals on offer, missing out only on the girls’ team gold.
