Malaysia triumphant in CM’s Cup

KUCHING: Although Thailand failed to defend their boys and girls overall champion titles, they still managed to grab a lion’s share of spoils as 13th Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup International Junior Golf Championship ended at Sarawak Golf Club (KGS) yesterday.
The golfers representing International Sports Federation of Thailand (ISF) walked away with ten top prizes, winning the Boys Special, Boys B, C and D as well as Girls C titles.
Malaysian Golf Association’s (MGA) Paul San Weng Yau and Aretha Pan Herng of Malaysian Ladies Golf Association (Malga) ensured the overall champions stayed in Malaysia, breaking the dominance of the Thais who have won in previous years.
Paul San won the Boys A category with a three-day total of 221 while Aretha Pan was the winner of Girls A with a three-day total of 237.
The Thailand team, which fielded new faces this year, won the Boys Special through Chakraghorn Jullamon who scored 251, finishing 17 shots ahead of Yoo Dae Hee from Sarawak Junior Golf First Association.
Thanakorn Torsee Frank took the Boys B title with his three-day total score of 238, followed by local challenger from Kelab Golf Miri Jordan Jude Tay (242) and another Thai golfer Aran Sinawiat (252) on count back with Kim Bunjin of KGS and Aaron Lau Zhun Min of KGS with a 258 score.
The Boys C title went to ISF’s Kittaporn who scored a line of 78, 83 and 85 for a total of 246 to win by four strokes.
Second was team mate Psitchai Thippong while KGS’ Immanuel David was third with 263 and fourth to fifth finishers were Aziel Teo of KGS (275) and Nicholas Chong of KGM (277).
The most outstanding Thai performer was 10-year-old Thongpipat Rattanayanon who clinched the Boys D crown in style as he carded a three-day total of 208 to win by 38 strokes.
KGM’s Malcolm Ting improved his score yesterday with a 74 for a total of 238 to pip Andre Chong of Keppel Club from Singapore (239) to second place while fourth and fifth were Victor Ng Yu Kai of KLGA (248) and Ryan Chee Hong Zu of KGM (268) respectively.
Pajaree Anannarukarn of ISF led from start to finish the champion in Girls C with her total score of 241 (78, 82, 81), with Ashley Lau Wen Jen of Kelab Golf Bintulu (252) in second place and Aishley Loh Leanne (Seletar Country Club) was third with a 266.
The fourth and fifth finishers were Nur Aini Azman from Malga (276) and Aletha Cordlia Alphonsus (KGM) with a score of 284.
Malga collected two more titles through Diana Tham Shen Yen in Girls Special and Winnie Ng Yu Xuan in Girls Group D while MGA’s Loy Hee Ying won the Girls B title.
In the team contest, Aretha Pan, Diana Tham and Tham Soot Yuet (Malga 1) emerged the girls champions with gross total of 761 while Paul San, Afif Razif and Malcolm Adam Tay (MGA) won the boys team event with their combined score of 668 over the three days of competition.
The championship also witnessed two eagles being scored by Thanakorn Torsee Frank of ISF at Santubong Hole 12 and Victor Ng Yu Kai of KLGA at Santubong Hole 10.
A total of 82 golfers from various golf clubs and associations in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand took part in the championship organised by KGS and sponsored by the Sarawak government.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/25/malaysia-triumphant-in-cm%e2%80%99s-cup/#ixzz1f9VMzAzM

Sarfina to train at PGA Tour Academy in Florida

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