Geraldine’s dream of playing on LPGA Tour closer to reality

KUALA LUMPUR: National junior golfer Geraldine Wong Xiao Xuan's (pic) ultimate dream is to play on the United States' LPGA Tour.

And the 17-year-old believes she has taken her first baby steps towards the goal after securing a four-year scholarship to pursue a Degree in Communication at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA). She will also get to play collegiate golf in the US.

Geraldine hopes to follow in the footsteps of her coach Lim Siew Ai. Siew Ai enjoyed a successful stint with the University of South Carolina and went on to become Malaysia’s first-ever golfer to compete on the LPGA Tour in 1999. She played 10 seasons and recorded a career-best tie for second at the Kellogg-Keebler Classic.

“I’m pleased to be part of the UCA women’s golf team, who play in the top division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). I’m on the right track to realise my LPGA Tour dream,” said Geraldine, who will leave for the US on Aug 9.

Geraldine has registered a string of commendable results this year. She impressed with three runner-up finishes at the Kuala Lumpur Amateur Open, RSGC Junior Open and Singapore Junior Open and a third place in the Annika Invitational in China. She also finished in the top 10 at the Philippines Ladies Open and Taiwan Amateur Championship.

Geraldine was one of the 10 US-bound golfers who were present at the farewell hi-tea hosted by SportExcel at the Royal Selangor Club here yesterday. The others were B. Aaerishna Shahshty (Jacksonville University), Nur Syazani Amalia Mohd Shahzan (University of Cincinnati), Jocelyn Chee Yimin (California Baptist University), Siti Sarah Reizal Nor (University of Charleston), Siti Zulaikhaa Shaari (University of South Alabama), Warda Amira Abdul Rawof (East Tennessee State University), Junie Khaw Wen Jun (Tarleton State University), A. G. Devaki (University of Northwestern) and Jacqueline Nickels (Longwood University).

SEA Games-bound Galven Kendall Green, who is joining the University of New Mexico, was the only absentee.