Nothing amateurish about teen golfer Mirabel’s attitude
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian teenager Mirabel Ting bagged another junior golf title but the precocious golfer has both feet firmly on the ground.
The 13-year-old emerged champion in the girls’ 12-14 age-group at the Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World championships in Jakarta on Thursday to make it her fifth title in her young golfing career.
The Australia-based Mirabel carded a one-under 71 in the final round at the Damai Indah Golf and Country Club for a five-over 221 total. She shot 78 and 72 earlier.
Thailand’s Natachanok Tunwannarux was second on 222 while Eagle Ace Superal of the Philippines came in third on 223.
Malaysia’s Jayden Ng carded a 10-over 226 to finish third in the boys’ 12-14 age group – eight shots behind winner Pongsapak Laopakdee on Thailand.
Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) junior champion Zubair Firdaus failed to retain his boys’ 15-18 age-group title after finishing16th with nine-over 225 while Malcolm, Mirabel’s brother, was the best-placed Malaysian in 10th spot with 220.
Mirabel’s win is impressive as her total score placed her joint-second in the overall girls’ standing, which included competitors from the older age class (15-18) and stands her in good stead ahead of the Malaysian Amateur Open from June 18-23.
“It feels really good to win as I prepare for the Malaysian Amateur Open. I hope to do well in my debut,” said Mirabel.
On finishing above some of her older rivals, Mirabel described it as nothing special.
“I don’t really feel anything special because every golfer goes to the course with the equal aim of doing well. I gave my best in each shot.”
In March, Mirabel had impressed by anchoring Malaysia to an eighth placing in the AsiaPacific Women’s Team Championship, also known as Queen Sirikit Cup.
She finished joint sixth in the individual competition despite being one of the youngest players in the field.
That performance convinced the APGC to pick her as one of the four golfers to compete in the prestigious European Young Masters.
Mirabel first burst onto the local golf scene when she became the youngest-ever golfer to win a tournament sanctioned by the Malaysian Golf Association event last year with her triumph at the Perak Amateur Open in August.
She also claimed the Sabah Amateur Open, AmBank SportExcel International Junior Championship and Sarawak Chief Minister Cup.