Twins sit atop MGA rankings
Winnie and Victor have been in good form and it shows on the Order of Merit
Our studies always come first but we also practice golf a lot – it’s just as important. Winnie Ng
IN what is reportedly the first in the history of the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA), the national governing body has twins at the top of both its men’s and women’s amateur Order of Merit standings – Winnie and Victor Ng.
Since bursting on the local junior scene as nine-year-olds, Winnie and Victor have gone on to distinguish themselves as teenagers who have much promise to go on to bigger and better things.
The twins, who turn 17 this month, have had a good and telling season so far and committed themselves to doing as best possible over the second half of the year.
Winnie recently had a couple of highlights that will take some matching by any of those on the Order of Merit.
With a massive 32-point cushion at the top of the MGA standings over second place, Winnie has tallied 75 points. And a good measure of that was borne of a matured performance at the EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open and the Singapore Junior Golf Championship, where she emerged triumphantly.
Playing in the pro event in Hong Kong, where she featured on a sponsor’s exemption, Winnie was joint leader after the first round, shooting a career best five-under 65.
That outstanding effort had nine
birdies in it, another milestone for her. It also left her to declare that the experience in the Hong Kong Ladies Open was the highlight of her career.
At the end of the week Winnie finished tied for 16th place. Her one-under-par 215 total was the best result by a Malaysian and a position shared with compatriot Aretha Pan.
As a 16-year-old Winnie also finished as the best-placed Malaysian at the 2017 Sime Darby LPGA Tournament, another pro event where she showed glimpses of the potential talent she has.
The win in Singapore, which came courtesy of a six-stroke winning margin, did her confidence no harm at all. And that left her 600th on the world amateur golf rankings – her best placing yet.
Winnie is also up to 864th in the Rolex women’s world rankings. That’s the fourth best by a Malaysian.
Speaking of her season, Winnie said: “I’m pleased with the first half of the year and I’m looking forward to trying to do even better over the next six months.
“The EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open in May was the highlight so far for me,” she added. “I enjoyed it and played well to share the lead after the opening round.
“I had never made nine birdies in a round or led a women’s pro tournament before, so it was new to me and I think I stumbled after that because I did not concentrate on the right things.
“But I learnt a lot in that week and I hope I can use some of the experience to help me further my own game and achieve my goals.”
Turning to her goals, Winnie said she hoped to make the grade and get an overseas golf scholarship, possibly by the end of next year.
Presently she studies at Kolej Tuanku Jaafar in Mantin, Negri Sembilan, on a scholarship, along with Victor.
“Our studies come first,” she said. “But we also practice golf a lot. And so far as this is concerned, I will try to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.”
Victor, too, said his main focus was on is studies and also added that golf was a huge part of his life.
“I won 10 SportExcel events in the season when I was nine years old,” he pointed out. “And ever since then I have played the game to the best of my ability.”
A golfer who now consistently hits the ball 300 yards off the tee box and once blasted it more than 400 with the help of a downhill roll, Victor was the best-placed local player at the recent Malaysian Amateur Open Championship with a top-10 showing.
He finished with a creditable one-over 289 total in eighth place and said he was more than happy with the way things went.
“Playing in a field of about 130 players from all around the region, I learned a lot at the Malaysian Amateur Open, and was happy with where I finished.
“For me, one of the main things that I learned that week was to go out and enjoy the game. I noticed that the Thai players, they are always so relaxed during the tournament and yet they played well too.”
Like his twin sister Winnie, Victor said he had a lot to thank coach Koe Lai Yin for.
“She has had a big influence in helping me to deal with the mental aspects of the game,” said Victor. “I can say now that this helped my game get better.
“I also have a good understanding with my swing coach Jean Daniels. He has helped me tremendously and if it was not through him, I don’t think I would be enjoying my driving off the tee as much as I do.”
Indeed, should Victor and Winnie continue with the hard work they are putting into practice they might remain atop the MGA Order of Merit for a while, particularly if they get to perform as well as they have in recent weeks.