40th Anniversary for Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open Championship will celebrate a momentous milestone this week when the 40^th edition tees-off at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club in Shah Alam.

Organised by the Malaysian Ladies Golf Association (MALGA), the tournament will be contested over 54 holes from July 28-30 at Glenmarie’s Garden Course. The World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) event has attracted a strong field of 120 players representing the following countries-territories - Brunei, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Among the favourites is Thailand’s rising teen talent Marisa Tojai, who has already won four World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) events this year including the Thailand Ladies Amateur Open and the ANNIKA Invitational at Laguna Phuket. The 16-year-old is the highest-ranked player in the field with a WAGR of 210.

Also expected to be among the contenders are Indonesian Elaine Widjaja (WAGR 243), who plays on the US collegiate circuit for the University of Florida, and Felicia Hughes of Hong Kong, China, who won the Singapore Junior Championship in early June.

The Malaysian challenge will be spearheaded by last year's runner-up Foong Zi Yu and Wang Xin Yao, both competing on the US collegiate circuit and ranked within the top 300 of the WAGR.

The championship will feature three competitive divisions - the Open Division, the Mid-Amateur Division and the Senior Division. If the Open Division champion is from an ASEAN member country, she will earn an automatic entry into the Maybank Championship ASEAN Qualifier in August.

Tournament Organising Chairman and President of MALGA, Tunku Puteri Puan Sri Dato’ Seri Jawahir binti Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar, noted that the championship reflects the association’s commitment to developing women’s golf in Malaysia by providing local players with quality international exposure.

She said: “As we celebrate the 40^th edition of the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open Championship, we are proud to continue our legacy of providing a platform for talented amateur golfers to compete at an international standard. Over the past four decades, this championship has contributed significantly to the development of women’s golf in Malaysia and the region.

“On behalf of MALGA, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia, Tradewinds Corporation Berhad, our sponsors, partners, officials and volunteers for their unwavering support in making this championship a success.”