Kuala Lumpur: Defending boys’ champion Amir Nazrin Jailani will lead a strong field of domestic juniors in the forthcoming 100PLUS Malaysian Junior Open, which will be held at the challenging Sabah Golf and Country from Sept 11-13.
Amir, who won the title by two strokes last year, is among 15 players to be named by the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) for the ninth edition of this tournament, which will be once again anchored by sports drink giants 100Plus.
Other leading juniors in the field include Ervin Chang, Galven Kendall Green, Bryan Teoh Wiyang, Alvin Hiew, Muhd Naquiddin Mohd Fuad, Mohd Daniel Faidz Jazmi and Daeng Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz.
In the girls’ division, Nur Eliana Ariffin, Kelie KanKah Yan, Ashley Lau Jen Wen, Siti Zulaikha Shaari, Natasha Andrea Onn, Geraldine Wong Xiao Xuan and Winnie Ng Yu Xuan will carry the nation’s challenge.
While the Malaysians will be aiming to sweep both the titles this year, they will face fierce competition in the form of top juniors from 12 Asia-Pacific countries, with Singapore, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Bangladesh, Korea and Nepal having indicated their interest to date.
Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) president Admiral (R) Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor expressed his gratitude to Sabah Golf & Country Club and the Sabah Golf Association for agreeing to host the premier junior event.
“On the back of the successful hosting of the 2010 event by Karambunai Golf Resort, our executive committee felt that it was right to return to Sabah again and we are delighted that Sabah Golf & Country Club have agreed to host this prestigious tournament and making available this facilities for our use,” said Mohd Anwar, alluding that the initial idea to bring the event to Sandakan Golf & Country Club was dropped due to increased security concerns in eastern Sabah.
“The championship has certainly gained regional recognition, judging by the increased number of participants from abroad and I hope that our juniors will rise to the challenge and keep the trophies on home soil,” he added.
F&N Beverages Marketing Sdn Bhd Cariessa Goh reiterated 100Plus’ support for the tournament, stating that the tournament has become an important platform for the nation’s top juniors to prove their worth.
“We are delighted with our long-standing association with the Malaysian Golf Association in delivering a high-quality and competitive national junior meet.
“The 100 Plus Malaysian Junior Open has not given birth to future Malaysian champions such as lady professional Kelly Tan and world number 15 amateur Gavin Kyle Green but also gives us a valuable opportunity to unearth raw talents, which can be absorbed by the MGA into their national set-up in the coming years,” she noted.
The championship will be followed by the eighth edition of the Sabah International Junior Masters from September 15-17, allowing juniors to play back-to-back World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) counting events.
