Friday June 19, 2009

Kelie has a knack for emulating and picking the right swing

By NG WEI LOON

RISING STAR

BUDDING golfer Kelie Kan Kah Yan had a knack for emulating and picking the right swing even at a very young age.

Her father Jantsonn Kan said they were impressed with Kelie’s instinctive ability when she displayed her natural talent at driving the ball two years ago.

“We discovered that she had hidden potential purely by chance when she started swinging the clubs. From then on, it was her own interest that drove her to improve her game,” he added.

She showed her promise in the junior tournaments after having taken up the game for only two months.

Physical fitness: Gym instructor Ben Wong (left) keeping a watchful eye on Kelie during her workout.

Besides emerging as the Kuala Lumpur Schools Sports Council (MSSKL) girls’ Under-12 champion last season, Kelie also took the second spot in the girls’ Under-11 category at the 100Plus Malaysian Junior Golf Open.

She went on to bag the fourth Sabah International Junior Golf Masters girls’ Under-10 title to complete her season on a perfect note.

“Last year, she went through the correction phase under two coaches (Dean Hartman and Koe Lai Yin) at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club Pro-Tour Golf Learning Centre.

“Koe is also her mental trainer as it is easier for a woman instructor to communicate with a girl trainee.

“Currently, she is polishing up her approaches to enhance her accuracy on the green with a one-on-one session with Hartman every Sunday,” Jantsonn said.

Kelie is also complementing her training programme by working out for up to two hours in the gymnasium twice a week, to beef up her endurance and to strengthen her lower body with cardiovascular and light resistance exercises respectively.

This year, the 11-year-old SK Convent Bukit Nanas 1, Kuala Lumpur pupil began her campaign by retaining the MSSKL girls’ Under-12 title and chalking up a respectable run in the girls’ Under-12 section of the SportExcel Junior Open Circuit.

The 15-handicapper was the winner in four of the six legs, clinching the two opening meets as well as the last two legs thus far.

“It was a memorable outing at the recent leg at the Serendah Golf Links. I carded identical scores of 78 in each of the two rounds of 18-holes. I pulled away with a 11-stroke lead on the first day and extended the advantage to 12 strokes ahead of the closest challenger,” Kelie recalled, adding that her immediate aim was to stamp her mark at the 100Plus Malaysian Junior Open scheduled to be held at Bukit Jawi Golf Resort in Penang from Aug 11 to 13.

At the Maybank Malaysian Open this year, Kelie was very persistent in hunting down an autographed cap from Thai ace Thongchai Jaidee and her determination eventually paid off.

“I worked up the courage to go up to him to request for the cap on the second day of the tournament. He told me that he had another day to go in the competition and promised to give it to me after the final day.

“I have been wearing it to compete in most competitions because it is my lucky charm,” she said.

FACT FILE

Name: Kelie Kan Kah Yan

Date of Birth: April 23, 1998

Ht: 1.45m Wt: 38kg

School: SK Convent Bukit Nanas 1, Kuala Lumpur (Year Five)

Hobbies: Nintendo DS games, watching television, golf

Ambition: Professional golfer

Favourite Sports Personalities: Annika Sorenstam, Paula Creamer, Lorena Ochoa.

Coach: Dean Hartman, Koe Lai Yin (Glenmarie Golf and Country Club Pro-Tour Golf Learning Centre), Ben Wong (Joyfit Fitness and Gym instructor)

Achievements

2008