Winnie overcomes illness to share lead at M’sian Junior Open
PETALING JAYA: Winnie Ng Yu Xuan overcame illness to share the lead in the girls’ division after the first round of the 100PLUS Malaysian Junior Open golf championship.
The 16yearold withdrew from the AmBankSportExcel International Junior Championship after the first round last Tuesday due to dizziness.
But she showed no ill effect yesterday when she carded a fourunder 68 to set the early pace alongside G. Vinisha at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.
The duo are four shots clear of compatriot Mirabel Ting Ern Hui and Mikhaela Fortuna of the Philippines, who shared third place on 72.
Winnie could have ended the day with an outright lead but she bogeyed the 18th and final hole for her only blemish of the day.
“I had to pull out of last week’s tournament as I was not feeling well. I felt dizzy and also experi enced numbness and blurred vision,” said Winnie.
“I went for an MRI scan but was cleared of any health issue.
“I did fine today. I didn’t expect to do this well.
“I was just taking it one green at a time and I’ll do the same for the remaining rounds.”
Winnie has been on a fantastic run since October, emerging the best performing Malaysian at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia by finishing 64th among the 78 professionals.
She also claimed the Penang Amateur Open and Nilai Springs Amateur Open and she will be chasing her ninth title of the season this week.
In the boys’ division, South Korea’s Shin Taewon blasted a fiveunder 67 to snatch a threeshot lead from local K. Rhaasrikanesh.
Adam Arif Madzri, the winner of the AmBank tournament last week, opened with a 72 to lie joint third with Winnie’s twin brother Victor Ng Yu Kai and Singapore’s Donovan Lee.
Defending champion Muhd Afif Fathi could only manage a 73 for tied sixth.