Wafiyuddin, Aretha storm back for Sabah Am victory

L to R: Sabah Golf Association president George Bandusena, Wafiyuddin, Sabah Governor Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, Aretha, Datuk Peter Pang and MGA vice-president Low Teck San
L to R: Sabah Golf Association president George Bandusena, Wafiyuddin, Sabah Governor Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, Aretha, Datuk Peter Pang and MGA vice-president Low Teck San

Kota Kinabalu: Mohd Wafiyuddin Abdul Manaf underlined his growing stature on the domestic amateur scene, claiming the men’s crown at the 25th Sabah Amateur Open in dramatic fashion on Sunday.

The highly-rated Universiti Utara Malaysia undergraduate overcame a four-shot deficit on the final day, mixing four birdies with five bogeys for a one-over 73 to force a sudden-death playoff with national Muhammad Afif Razif (75) after both had finishes on 226 at Sabah Golf & Country Club.

The 21-year-old Kedahan then parred the par-four ninth to seal the victory, joining local favourite Aretha Pan Herng, who dished out a comeback of her own to emerge triumphant in the ladies’ division by a single stroke.

The 19-year-old Aretha, who is eyeing a move into the paid ranks next month, usurped 36-hole leader Michelle Koh (76) with a strong front nine display of three birdies against a bogey on the second hole to come home with a round of two-under 70. Aretha totalled five-over 221 to claim her second home victory in 2013, having lifted the 25th SGCC Amateur Open a fortnight ago.

Chan Tuck Soon and Nur Durriyah Damian settled for third in the men’s and ladies’ division respectively.

Leading final round scores
Men’s
226 – Mohd Wafiyuddin Abd Manaf 76-77-73, Muhd Afif Razif 73-78-75
(Mohd Wafiyuddin wins on first extra hole)
227 – Chan Tuck Soon 77-72-78
228 – Solomon Emilio Rosidin 76-76-76
229 – Paul San 76-79-74
233 – Mohd Thaznim Hamdan 77-79-77
234 – Yash Majmudar 75-81-78, Fazley Ahmad Chua 77-77-80, Khalid Jikal 75-79-80, Ahmad Zahir Abd Ghani 74-78-82

Ladies’
221 – Aretha Pan 76-75-70
222 – Michelle Koh 69-78-75
223 – Nur Durriyah Damian 73-76-74
228 – Nurul Syahirah Afiqah 74-77-77
234 – Dianne Luke 81-79-74
236 – Hilferah Tan 79-78-79
244 – Nur Musfirah Ilham 83-84-77, Tham Soot Yuet 81-84-79
251 – Rokiah Yusof Daud 84-82-85