Kids World Championship proves a major success
Thailand juniors show their mettle in event with more than 25 countries taking part
THE seventh edition of the Kids Golf World Championship Malaysia at Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort in Johor proved another huge success and featured “some real top-class” performances.
That is the verdict of Sukumaran Balakrishnan, the founder and organiser of the annual event that drew more than 300 juniors to the three-day tournament.
“We are pleased to acknowledge that the tournament went off without much amiss and turned out to be another success,” said Suku.
“The competition, which has eight categories in the boys’ section and seven in the girls’, featured performances of the top level.
“But this has become the norm, given the quality of players who turn up at the tournament,” he added. “The event had players from more than 25 countries, including Australia, Botswana, Canada, Finland, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, the United States, Vietnam and Zambia.
“In the eldest age group at the event, for players between the ages of 15 and 18, Masaichi Otake of the Philippines came out tops in the boys’ section, while the girls’ title went to Singapore’s Rachel Maswi,” said Suku. “An din both instances, the standard of play was a top-class.
“In fact, through all the agegroups, the standard exhibited was a very good,” he added. “Some of the players have come here (to Malaysia) more than two or three times, playing in the different categories and each year the standard on display has risen a notch or two.”
The 13 to 14 category saw India’s Arjun Bhati secure the boys’ silverware, while Burberry Zhang, also of the Philippines, took the girls’ title.
Malaysia failed to land a gold or silver but did manage three thirdplace finishes.
Ezekiel Riz Hafi Suzearitz took the bronze in the boys’ nine-yearolds’ category, while Nicholas Mark Tay finished third in the boys 15 to 18 years and Ong Yen Xuan in the girls’ equivalent.
Thailand captured the most first place finishes - three in the boys’ and five in the girls.
In boys’ section, Thailand golds came from Chaipipat Phutthacharoenlap (7-under), Nithidpong Srichatphirun (9yrs) and Charongrat Jitnavasathien (10yrs).
Phannaphisar Kiatphonsiri took the eight-and-under girls’ title, while Namo Luangnitikul claimed the nine-year-olds’ crown, Chonpansa Tawinsang claimed the gold in 10-year age group, compatriot Tanjira Issaraphon did the same (11yrs) as did Sasikarn Luangnitikul, who rounded off their gold medal tally with the 12-year-olds’ trophy.
“We couldn’t have asked for anything better,” said Suku. “The championship had 312 young golfers, from as young as five years old, competing in a tournament that carries World Amateur Ranking Points (WAGR) and Junior Golf Scoreboard (JGS) points.”