Pang Hee Jie with the JGA committee members (from left) Yusri Isa, Ong Senf Kiat, Mohd Hairi, C.C. Boo, Goh Kuan Seng and Fadil Ami.
THE second Johor Open Golf Championship came to an end at Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club in Iskandar Puteri after it served up some top-quality amateur golf from some of the country’s brightest young prospects.
The three-day tournament for men and women, organised by the Johor Golf Association (JGA), turned out to be a huge success as South Korean Allen Miyeon Kim winning the men’s title and Johor’s Pang Hee Jie capturing the women’s crown.
Allen shot a final round 73 to go with the 75 and one-under 71 on the first two days to finish with a three-over 219 total – and an eight-stroke victory in the 54-hole event.
Hee Jie carded a last-day one-over 73 for a six-over 227 total. She won by nine shots.
Allen said he kept his emotions in check and played consistently to triumph on a course that had green speeds in the region of 11.5 on the Stimpmeter.
“The tournament was a big challenge with the course playing so hard, but at the same time it was also a good test of the abilities and skills of the field.
“I’m pleased with my game, as I kept it at a level where I was consistent,” said the four-handicapper, who hails from Seoul.
For Hee Jie, this effort was one that eclipsed last year’s showing by one place, as she assumed the top step on the podium.
The 22-year-old Hee Jie, playing off a two-handicap, saw Wang Enxi of China finish runner-up on 236, while fellow Malaysian Mavis Chua took third place with a 248 total.
Hee Jie said she was just happy to have done better than in the inaugural tournament and won it outright this time.
“I’m so very happy and excited to have won it,” the Tanjong Puteri Golf Club player said. “It was difficult, as the course played really tough.
“And so, for me to come through and win it, improving on how I did last year, is satisfying.”
Fourteen-year-old Wang, a six-handicapper, said she relied on her putting to get through to the podium finish.
“It was a big task,” said Wang, who has three SportExcel titles to her credit this year. “The greens were super-fast and that made it more difficult. But it was a good, tough challenge and I’m happy with how I played.”
Mavis said she felt she could have done much better, if only for a few mistakes.
“I made a few mistakes that I should not have,” said the 13-year-old, playing off an eight handicap.
A member of the national junior team who has played in Taiwan and Singapore, Mavis said she will use this event to learn from it and hope that it will help make her a better player in the future.
“I had a tough time out there, but I think I can learn from it and become a better player in some areas where I made a few mistakes,” added Mavis, who has a SporstExcel win under her belt and a couple of top threes as well.
Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, JGA vice-president C.C. Boo said they were pleased with how it panned out and were impressed with the standard of golf on display.
“We had a full field of 110 players and many more on the waiting list,” Boo said.
“The standard of play was at a high level, and that augurs well for the state and the country in general,” he added. “We also had a good number of foreign players in the field, which is also a positive for the tournament.
“Apart from the Malaysians, there was representation from Australia, China, Japan, Myanmar, Singapore and South Korea. It had a good international flavour about it,” he said.
The event, which carries World Amateur Golf Ranking points, is designed to enhance golf tourism in Johor and provide elite amateur players from around the country and beyond with a platform to sharpen their skills in preparation for their future endeavours, whether it be to turn professional or otherwise.
