Mohd Firdaus claims KGC Open Amateur Golf C’ship crown
KOTA KINABALU: Mohd Firdaus Mohd Sabri edged 113 players to emerge as the new champion of the 31st KGC Open Amateur Golf Championship that ended at the Kinabalu Golf Club in Tanjung Aru near here on Sunday.
Representing Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) at the tournament, the golfer from Danau Golf Club, Selangor totalled 225 to beat his nearest rival Safaruddin Abidin by three shots.
Firdaus opened with 76 and improved in the next two rounds to 75 and 74 to wrest the title from defending champion Lee Ka Tung of Sarawak.
Safarudin of Sandakan played 76, 78 and 74 for 228 while the joint leaders from Friday’s opening round Khalid Jikal of Kudat finished third with 230 (74, 79, 77).
Christopher Daniel James (77, 79, 75), Abdullah Dania (76, 78, 77) and Leduin Jordan Mobijohn (75, 78, 78) shared the fourth spot with 231.
Four-time champion Lee, who was eyeing a third straight title, could not come up with his trademark come-from-behind win this time around.
After opening with a poor 80, the seasoned campaigner followed with a 78 before closing with a much improved 74 but a little too late for a late comeback to share the seventh spot with Brandan Lai (74-81-77).
Mohd Zariq Suhaini (75-8375) and Casper Lo (78-80-75) accumulated identical 232 to complete the top 10.
President of KGC Datuk Abd Razak Walli presented the prizes to the winners witnessed by Sabah Golf Association (SGA) president Datuk George Bandusena, deputy president Valerian Hansen Petrus, KGC captain Chua Poh Guan as well as SGA and KGC supreme council members.