KGPA date for new domestic junior meet

Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) has join forces with Royal Sporting House (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd to present the inaugural Malaysian Junior Closed Championship. The by-invitation only tournament will be staged from June 5 to 7 at Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam, providing domestic juniors with another high-quality event with attractive prizes sponsored by Mizuno and GolfHouse as well as the opportunity for the overall champions to participate in the Mizuno Dream Cup Malaysian Selection next year. A total of 120 juniors from across Malaysia are expected to participate in the three-day event, with players required to walk the course as buggies will only be provided to shuttle the players’ bags. The tournament is open to boys and girls born in 1994 or later with three age-group categories (under-12, under-14 and under-16) being contested for the boys and girls respectively. MGA president Admiral (R) Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor shared that the new tournament was part of the new junior development roadmap envisioned by the national association. “The Prime Minister (Rt Hon Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak) first broached the subject of organising a top quality junior meet about three years ago and agreed on his part to donate two specially-designed trophies for the championship. On our part, we felt that the time is right for us to introduce another premier junior golf event to our calendar, opening the chance for our young champions from across Malaysia to congregate and challenge themselves at this event,” said Mohd Anwar. “It was also timely that RSH Malaysia expressed their interest to come onboard as the presenting sponsor of a national-level junior event and and we are grateful for their three-year commitment to the event,” he added, noting that challenging championship layout at Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam will provide a stern test to the juniors, having hosted the MGA National Trials and Kuala Lumpur Amateur Open earlier this year. David Leow, RSH Malaysia’s general manager for golf explained that the sponsorship was part of RSH Malaysia’s commitment to see junior golf flourish in the country. “Last year, we organised the first-ever Mizuno Junior Open in conjunction with SportExcel and this year, we embraced this chance to be part of a bigger, national-scale tournament. It gives us great pleasure to be involved in this new and prestigious championship and we’re definitely commited with a long-term outlook. As a leading golf retail company, RSH Malaysia understands the importance of giving back to the game, especially at the junior level to encourage better participation amongst youngsters in the sport,” said Leow, who acknowledged that the future of sport in Malaysia will depend on nurturing enough young golfers to take over the baton Courtesy By : TheClubHouse