Angels unveiled

Kelly, Michelle and Ainil confirm spot in LPGA Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: Rio Olympic-bound duo Kelly Tan and Michelle Koh, together with Ainil Johani Bakar, have been unveiled as the first three “Malaysian Angels” for the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia golf championship.

The trio have received exemptions to compete in the US$1.8mil (RM7.3mil) event at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) from Oct 27-30 by virtue of being the top three-ranked women golf professionals in the country.

The trio are also graduates of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Development Programme.

The seventh edition of the tournament could also see the biggest number of Malaysians in action, with as many as eight of them likely to make up the 78-woman field.

Two berths are up for grabs in the national qualifiers in late September while two more spots will be allocated under a new category called “Amateur Juniors”, which is meant for the nation’s top two junior amateur-ranked golfers.

As it stands, the two United States-based golfers – Loy Hee Ying and Vivienne Chin, who are ranked 338th and 376th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) – could make their debut in the prestigious championship.

Depending on how Kelly performs on the LPGA Tour in the next two months, there’s a possibility of another spot being available should the 22-year-old break into the top 60 of the LPGA Tour Official Money List.

Now ranked 76th, Kelly is very much in the running to qualify for all the six limited-field lucrative Asian Swing events – including LPGA Malaysia.

So, world No. 159 Kelly may not need an exemption to play in her fifth home appearance. Last year, Kelly was Malaysia’s best finisher in 61st spot.

Michelle, whose best result was joint 49th in 2014, is delighted to be given another opportunity to rub shoulders with the world’s best.

“A big thanks to Sime Darby for the playing opportunity once again,” said the 26-yearold Michelle, a one-time winner on the China LPGA Tour.

Ainil will be out to prove a point after failing to impress in all her five previous outings.

World No. 25 and four-time LPGA Tour winner Jessica Korda has confirmed that she will be back to defend her title.

Local hope: Kelly Tan is one of three Malaysian golfers to have received an exemption to play in this year’s LPGA Malaysia in October. The other two are Michelle Koh (above) and Ainil Johani Bakar (below).