Winnie, best amateur of the tournament
NOT only did Winnie Ng walk away as the best Malaysian finisher at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, she was also named as the best amateur of the tournament.
Winnie, 16, closed her campaign at 64th after playing to nine-over-par 293 with her closest compatriot four shots behind on 67th.
The once Faldo Series Asia Malaysia winner closed her last round with one double bogey, six bogeys and a birdie but was otherwise happy that she met her target to finish on a single digit.
“I was telling myself not to play double digits, so a nine-over is pretty okay even though I don’t expect myself to play like that and I wanted to play better,” said Winnie, who also won the 2015 Kelanatan Amateur Open.
The tournament, that was suspended for a little more than an hour due to lightning threats, affected Winnie’s game slightly as her glove was wet which led to double bogey on the 18th.
“For the first shot, my glove was a bit wet so I slipped my drive and quite far, I thought it was okay but I felt right to my second shot and during my practice swing I felt weird,” said Winnie.
“It’s golf so you can’t always play well, mistakes will still happen so you just have to learn to accept it and move on.”
National Qualifying tournament winner Natasha Andrea Oon ended her campaign on 67th after playing to 13-over-par 297.
The 16-year-old managed to collect three-consecutive birdies on the first nine but it was a little too late, leaving her frustrated not to have achieved her target.
“Sometimes I just tried too hard that I forgot to enjoy the game. That’s what I learned this week,” said Natasha.
“Also, if you don’t reach your goal, that doesn’t mean that you didn’t achieve anything. You achieved something, which you learn from it.”
After Winnie and Natasha, Michelle Koh finished on 68th (15-over-par 299), Kelly Tan and Aretha Pan on tied 70th (17-overpar 301), Sea Games bronze medalist Nur Durriyah Damian at 73rd (20-over-par 304), Liyana Durisic at joint 74th (24over-par 308) and Zulaikah Nurziana Nasser in the final spot (38-over-par 322).
American Cristie Kerr emerged as the champion of the eighth Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia at 15-under-par 269.