Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Southeast Asian Games individual gold medallist Ng Jing Xuen claimed her biggest title on home soil with a resounding victory in the 37th Templer Park Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open.
Organised by the Malaysian Ladies Golf Association and title-sponsored by host venue Templer Park Country Club (TPCC), the event saw lady amateurs from across the region teeing off at the course flanked by majestic limestone hills on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur city.
Ng was in superb form as she carded rounds of 72, 72 and 70 for a 54-hole aggregate of two-under-par 214. The 15-year-old finished five shots ahead of compatriots Mirabel Ting and Charlayne Chong, and Singapore’s Inez Ng.
En route to becoming the first Malaysian to hoist the DYMM Tunku Ampuan Negeri Sembilan Trophy since Nur Durriyah Damian in 2016, Ng scored a hole-in-one at the par-three eighth hole during the final round. She used a nine-iron from 127 metres to find the bottom of the cup from the tee.
Ng said: “Overall, I’m very happy with my game. Everything fell into place and I’m just very lucky to win today. The golf course is very beautiful and it’s a very calming environment, which helped me keep it together after the hole-in-one.”
Ng will now has her sights set on back-to-back wins as she is slated to play in next week’s RSGC Ladies Amateur Open at The Royal Selangor Golf Club.
Ng is aiming to join the professional ranks next year after she turns 16 on May 8 and compete on professional circuits in Asia.
“I plan to turn professional in June or July. I’ll play as many tournaments as possible to accumulate points for the 2028 Olympics,” she said.
As the top-ranked player in the field with a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) of 57, Ting started the tournament as hot favourite. She closed her campaign with a tournament low 69 but earlier rounds of 77 and 73 left the Florida State University sophomore with too much ground to make up.
Ng, Ting and Liyana Durisic won the team event for the Mary Williams Trophy with an accumulated total score of 292. The Datin Maria Musa Trophy for the senior category went to Ireen Teng (pictured above) with a two-day total of 171, while Wong Jay Lyn claimed the mid-amateur title and the YAM Tunku Tun Maimunah Trophy with a total of 161.
In addition to Ng’s ace, Maisarah Hezri sank her tee shot at the par-three 16th hole during the first round to win two return AirAsia tickets to Busan, Korea, and a one-year TPCC membership.
Ng also won the TPCC membership which was on offer for a hole-in-one at all four par-threes. She was one day late from driving off with a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid car, which was the hole-in-one prize at the eighth hole, but only for the second round.
Results (Top 10 and ties)
214 – Ng Jing Xuen (MAS) 72-72-70
219 – Mirabel Ting (MAS) 77-73-69; Inez Ng (SIN) 72-77-70; Charlayne Chong 73-74-72
221 – Liyana Durisic (MAS) 75-75-71
224 – Foong Zi Yu (MAS) 75-75-74
227 – Hailey Loh (SIN) 78-75-74; Lau Hoi Ki (HKG) 80-70-77
228 – Sung You Chuan (TPE) 78-75-75; Chen Xing Tong (SIN) 72-76-80