Kuala Lumpur: The 12-strong Malaysian team participating in the 51st South East Asian Amateur Team Golf Championship for the Putra Cup, which teed off today at the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong, will be keen to impress the national team selectors ahead of the 26th South East Asia (SEA) Games in Jakarta in November.

The Putra Cup tournament will be part of a competitive series of tournaments used to gauge the performance of the men’s team while the fourth edition of the Santi Cup will be used as a barometer to finalise the team for the biennial Games. The men’s team will also see action in the Asian Amateur Championship in Singapore later this month and the Sri Lankan Amateur Open before the final shortlist of players for the SEA Games squad is announced.

Malaysia are represented by Kenneth De Silva, Azman Basharuddin, Hisyam Abdul  Majid and Abel Tam in the Putra Cup with Isza Fariza Ismail, Vivienne Chin, Nur Durriyah Damian and Hilferah Tan leading the charge in the Santi Cup. Experienced juniors Jeremiah Kim and Low Khai Jei will spearhead the challenge in the Lion City’s Cup alongside Paul San and Mohd Afif Mohd Razif.

Putra Cup team manager Low Teck San was confident that team will put up a good showing in Hong Kong. “We will definitely target to improve on our performance in the last edition and hopefully, grab a podium finish or two. This tournament will be a very good warm-up for the players ahead of the SEA Games, which will be played at the Jagorawi Golf & Country Club in Bogor. The Clearwater Bay course is similar to Jagorawi  – it plays short with a lot of wind coming into play and this is will definitely be a good playing experience for the boys and girls.”

Malaysia last won the Putra Cup in 2001 and have yet to lay their hands on the Santi’s Cup or the Lion City Cup, which is in its third and fifth edition respectively. Thailand will defend the men’s and women’s title while the Philippines will look to continue their reign in the junior category.