YOUNG S. Sarfina Vinota has reason to be excited. The Sweden-born Malaysian has been given the privilege to attend a training stint at the PGA Tour Academy in TPC Sawgrass, Florida, United States.
The 15-year-old Sarfina, who will be leaving for the United States on Dec 8, said she was looking forward to the two-week stint.
“It is an opportunity for me to learn more about golf. I will be able to meet some of the star golfers and watch their practice sessions.
“I am looking forward to return with some valuable knowledge which will help me in improving my golf,’’ said Sarfina after a training session at the Bukit Jalil Golf and Country Club recently.
Sarfina earned the trip after going through a four-level CIMB Junior Golf Development programme. The programme was an initiative by the CIMB Foundation in conjunction with the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia played at the Mines Golf Resorts in Seri Kembangan recently.
Participants had to go through several tests including an 18-hole competition. And Sarfina, a five handicapper, was second in the competition.
“The camp was very informative and I had the chance to meet some of the top juniors from the Asean region,’’ added Sarfina, who has been involved in golf since she was nine years old.
Then she was based in Stockholm. She had the opportunity to watch some golfers hitting the ball at the driving range.
“I was quite curious and went to the driving range. It was quite interesting,’’ added Sarfina.
However, in Sweden, Sarfina had to go through a systematic one-year training programme, which included theory and practical sessions, before earning her handicap.
But in 2007, Sarfina’s father, K. Seretharan, who was running a restaurant in Stockholm, decided to return to Malaysia.
In Malaysia, Sarfina continued her training under Aaron Cole, a coach from New Zealand. Sarfina took part in her first competition in Malaysia in 2008.
And she made her presence felt when she was runner-up in the Under-12 age group of the SportExcel junior circuit at the Bukit Beruntong Golf and Country Club.
Sarfina said she did not expect to be on podium as she was playing against the boys.
“I was happy with my result. I was also motivated to train more diligently,’’ said Sarfina.
However, she was without a coach after Cole decided to take a coaching opportunity in Indonesia. For the next months, Sarfina was training under different coaches.
But Seretharan was not happy with the coaching programmes and decided to take charge of his daughter’s training programme.
“I am not a qualifed coach but I have done a lot of research on golf. Every day I go through the ‘net to look for information on the tactics and techniques involved in golf.
“My daughter was also receptive of my coaching programme,’’ said Seretharan.
Under the guidance of Seretharan, Sarfina has progressed a lot. Following her impressive results in local competitions, the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) selected Sarfina for the Back-up squad.
This year, she was on podium in the girls Under-15 category in all the legs of the SportExcel Junior cicuit. She was the nett champion in the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open and third in the girls’ Under-16 age group in the Faldo Series.
Although she aspires to be a professional golfer, Sarfina, a Form Three student at the SMK Taman Yarl, Kuala Lumpur, wants to excel in her studies also.
“I want to do well in my studies. I don’t think being involved in golf will disrupts my plans to get a degree,’’ said Sarfina,
FACT FILE
Name: S. Sarfina Vinota
Date of Birth: Aug 5, 1996
School: SMK Taman Yarl
Handicap: Five
Home club: Bukit Jalil Golf and Country Club
Hobbies: Reading and playing the violin
Ambition: Professional golfer
Favourite Sports Personality: Annika Sorenstam
Coach: K. Seretharan
Most memorable moment: Being selected for a training stint in the US.
LINK : http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/11/29/central/9978583&sec=central
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