Foreign golfers can add spice to Sarawak Amateur Masters — DCM
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing is hoping to see more golfers from outside the state compete in the 10th Sarawak Amateur Masters Open Golf Championship at Kelab Golf Sarawak ( KGS) from Sept 29 to Oct 1.
He said by having more players from Peninsular Malaysia and other countries, the championship would become more exciting and competitive.
“I hope that this tournament will get more people from outside who are very, very skillful. So far, it has been the golfer from Sibu who always win this title,” Masing told reporters after a sponsorship presentation at a local hotel yesterday.
For the record, Sarawak’s top ace from Sibu Lee Ka Tung has won the championship in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016 while Kalana Ibrahim won in 2011 and Aziel Teo Ken Yi won it last year.
“I would like to thank the sponsors for the Harley Davidson, Toyota Fortuner and the two watches we have, and hopefully the golfers will get it.
“It is my hope that Dato Sri Thomas ( Lau) and his company will keep on sponsoring this kind of tournament,” said Masing, who is the event’s patron.
In answering the question whe ther the venue o f the championship would be shifted to Miri or Sibu from year to year, the Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation said: “It will be held in Kuching only.
“We will shift the venue from KGS to Damai Golf and Country Club and Samarahan Country Club.”
Masing said the five hole-in- one prizes worth more than RM310,000 are offered at the championship vying for the challenge trophy in his namesake.
They are one unit of Toyota Fortuner 2.7 SRZ four-wheel drive car worth RM180,000; one unit of Harley Davidson Street 750 big bike worth RM80,000; one unit of Tag Heuer Carrera GMT Grand Date worth valued RM15,000; one unit of Oris Big Crown Propilot watch worth RM15,900 and Golf Equipment worth more than RM18,000.
Apart from that, other hole-inone prizes are a set of Callaway Apex Iron, a set of Callaway XR Steelhead NSPRO, a set of Fourteen PC555 Iron and a set of Maruman TW Pro with Shimada Iron.
Goodies worth over RM40,000 are also offered for the Open and Invited Guest categories.
There will be 12 prizes for threeday gross overall and eight prizes for two- day nett overall with the overall prizes valued at over RM40,000.
One hundred and twenty players will compete in the Main Open with the top 36 qualifiers to be awarded qualifier medals.
Over 300 golfers from Taiwan, Brunei, Sabah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and all over Sarawak will be competing in the Main Open and Invited Guests categories.
Entry fee for Open is RM300 inclusive of buggy fees and GST and closing date is on Sept 18 at 5pm.
At the sponsorship presentation ceremony, Able Automobile Sdn Bhd, represented by its senior manager Polycarp J Garston, handed over a mock key of the Harley Davidson to Masing, who then handed it to KGS captain Dr David Sylvester Ling together with the challenge trophy.
Among those present were Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Snowdan Lawan, Assistant Minister of Native Laws and Customs Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Julau MP Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum and Thomas Lau.