Han and Ting Maintain Title Challenges

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Hong Kong China’s Sophie Han and Malaysian Malcolm Ting maintained their challenges for team and individual glory on day two of the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championships.

Han, joint third at this year’s Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, added a 74 to her stunning opening 65 at The Mines Resort Golf Club to lead the individual standings in the 12th women’s Santi Cup.

With a 36-hole total of 139, Han, 279th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), will take a one-stroke lead over Thai Suvichaya Vinijchaitham into Wednesday’s third round.

Three strokes further back in joint third with Thai Thitikarn Thapasit is Malaysian Ng Jing Xuen, individual gold medallist at the 2023 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and triumphant in last month’s Templer Park Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open.

Suvichaya is 273rd in the latest WAGR standings while Ng is 302nd and Thitikarn 395th.

"Today's round was a mix of challenges and triumphs. I'm looking forward to the next round, keeping in mind the lessons from today," said Han.

In the team standings, Thailand leads the way on 282, closely followed by Hong Kong China (283), Malaysia (289) and Singapore (291).

Thailand is also setting the pace in the eighth Kartini Cup, for girls under 16. Thanks to the efforts of Satonkan Thiengsri and Prim Prachnakorn they hold a healthy 10-stroke advantage over Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia in joint second place. Singaporean Chen Xingtong tops the individual standings on 142.

In the 60th edition of the men’s Putra Cup, Ting added a 69 to his opening 68 to move to the top of the individual leaderboard on 137 – two in front of Indonesian Rayhan Abdul Latief. Vietnam’s Nguyen Anh Min could only manage a 74 to drop into equal ninth on 143.

“The competition is fierce, but I’m pleased with my performance today. The team’s spirit and determination are high, and we’ll be giving our best in the coming days,” said Ting, a member of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation Bonallack Trophy-winning team in Spain at the start of the month.

With a team total of 419, Malaysia is in second place, one shot behind the Indonesian trio of Latief, Gabriel Hansel Hari and Randy Arbenata Bintang.

In the 14th Lion City Cup, for boys under 16, just five shots separate the leading three countries with Malaysia (288) narrowly ahead of Thailand (289) and Vietnam (293).

Vietnam’s Nguyen Duc Son and Malaysian Muhammad Adif Haikal are joint individual leaders on three-under 141.

Muhammad Adif Haikal said: “It’s an honour to compete against such talented peers. The course has been challenging, but I’m thrilled with where I stand. Tomorrow is another day, and I’m gearing up for it.”

Dato’ Zulkifli Ismail, Secretary General of the ASEAN Golf Federation (AGF), said: “The unwavering support extended by member countries of the AGF and the impeccable arrangements by the host venue, The Mines Resort Golf Club, have been instrumental in elevating the stature of this championship. We're witnessing golf of the highest standard, a testament to the talent and dedication in our region.”