Gavin inspires young golfers through junior event
PETALING JAYA: Giving back certainly feels good for Gavin Kyle Green.
The Malaysian professional golfer was motivated to produce the next generation of golfers and to do so, he initiated the Gavin GreenSportExcel Junior Amateur 2018, which ended yesterday.
Calling the inaugural three-day event a successful one, he was happy that the event turned out well for the junior golfers and their parents.
“It’s very satisfying when you put in the effort. I grew up playing SportExcel events and I felt it was important for me to work with them.
“I wanted the children to realise that golf is fun and hopefully it will motivate them to practice harder,” said the 24-year-old Malaysian golfer.
He, together with SportExcel founder Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar, gave away prizes to junior golfers who took part in the tournament at TPC Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Malcolm Ting Siong Hung won the Boys’ Group A, which pits golfers from the ages of 15 to 18 while Vinisha Gunaseelan bagged the Girls’ Group A trophy.
Both the amateur golfers will be competing in the Pro-Am at the Maybank Championship, which will be held in March.
There were four other groups – Group B (1314), Group C (11-12), Group D (8-12) and Group E (8 years and below) – for boys and girls in the tournament. In total, there were 219 participants.
SportExcel executive director C. Sivanandan said Gavin has been with them since the age of seven and it was heartening to see him and his family organise a tournament for junior golfers.
“It is good to see him help golf development in Malaysia.
“Among the current professionals from SportExcel, he is the first one to organise a tournament for the juniors.
“He should be an example to other sports personalities.
“This tournament certainly generated some excitement and it was also a good exposure for the juniors to play in the prestigious golf course,” he said.