MGA pleased with showing at Glenmarie
Young amateurs looking good against the ol’ pros
THE Malaysia Golf Association (MGA) is more than delighted to have their young amateurs back in the thick of things, rubbing shoulders with the seasoned campaigners on the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour.
And for good measure, a few of them acquitted themselves with much distinction that left the hierarchy as pleased as ever.
Indeed, MGA secretary Datuk Zulkifli Ismail said they were now looking forward to another good showing towards the end of the month when the PGM Tour stages its Northport Championship at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club in Shah Alam, Selangor.
Glenmarie was the venue of the PGM MNRB Closed Championship last week, where Gavin Green and Aretha Pan won the men’s and ladies titles.
It also served as the tract where five amateurs featured rather prominently. There was one in the men’s top-10 and four in the ladies’ category.
Marcus Lim, who was co-leader after the first round, finished in sixth place, while Winnie Ng Yu Xuan was runner-up to Pan, with Foong Zi Yu tied for third, Zulaikah Nasser fifth and Angel Hii sixth.
“That was a decent display from our amateur players,” said Zulkifli. “Going in to the tournament we did not know what to expect because of the lock-down and extended period of inactivity. But the way our players performed was most heartening. These sort of results should stand the players in good stead in tournament golf in the future, but more importantly it will benefit the amateurs as they bid to improve and develop their game.
“Of course, this all would not happen if it were not for the kind gesture of the PGM Tour, who offered 10 slots to the MGA (five in the men’s and five in the ladies’). And we would like to extend our gratitude to PGM Tour chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid and his management team.
“It is obvious that they have the development of Malaysian golf at heart as much as we do, with a particular slant towards the amateur game.
“As you’re aware, there isn’t much tournament golf going on because of the Covid-19 pandemic and a number of our overseasbased students are stuck here at home. So for they to get the opportunity to play in events like the PGM Tour, it gives them a great chance to further their game and maintain a good sense of continuity,” said Zulkifli.
The MGA secretary added that they were looking at hosting a get together for their amateurs before the end of the year and that “details” of this were still being worked on.
“If we could, we’d certainly like to meet up with all our amateur players, those locally and overseasbased. A number of them have indicated that they might only be able to return to their studies overseas, mostly in the United States and Australia, in January, or thereafter.
“But like everything else these days, we will play it by ear and keep an eye on developments with regards to the health and safety protocols dictated by government,” he said.
For his part, 18-year-old Marcus Lim said he was “very happy” to have finished sixth in the pro tournament and felt “privileged” to have played the last round in the same flight as Green.
Marcus, who shot rounds of 68, 70, 71 and 75 for a four-under 284 total, said that was his best performance and that he would put an extra bit of work in preparation for the Northport Championship.
“I am very happy with how I played at Glenmarie, but of course I also feel that I could have done better, especially on the last day. But the good thing about it was that I got to play with Gavin and I learned a lot during the course of the 18 holes.
“I think the main thing was that I should be a little more patient... I have to work on that. My putting, though, was good I thought and that really helped me.”
Marcus had three rounds underpar before slipping up in the final round with the three-over effort.
“With the experience that I gained from Glenmarie, I am definitely hoping to do just as well, if not better,” he said, which would please his father, whom he said has had the greatest influence on his budding golf career.
Of course, the MGA would also be pleased, as they are now with their other amateur players too.