SIBU, 24 JUNE 2024 – Kelab Golf Sibu will receive its sternest test ever when the first round of the Fortuner Cup gets underway on this Par 70 layout here tomorrow, with the course record of 62 in jeopardy of being broken.
This is the first time that KGS is hosting a professional tournament in its 55-year history. The course record is held by club champion Lee Ka Tung who is competing on an invitation. However, he can breathe easy knowing that with the implementation of “preferred lies”, his course record will remain unbroken.
Most of the professionals who got their first feel of the course this morning, felt that the three-day tournament will be a low scoring affair, mainly due to its length of 6,135 yards. Marcus Lim, the best Malaysian finisher in third place at the recently concluded PKNS Selangor Masters, admitted that length off the tee does have its advantages.
“But not much here in KGS. Shot-making and knowing where to attack the greens will be important,” said Lim who turned pro late last month after graduating. “The elevated greens are tricky and that’s where the tournament will be won.”
Kenneth de Silva, Sukree Othman, Daeng Rahman and Syarihan Syakir said they were happy to be in Sibu and compete in the Toyota Tour, which is organised by the Professional Golf Malaysia and delivered by MST Golf.
“It’s a very interesting layout and the condition is good,” said Daeng, winner of the 2023 Camry Cup in Forest City. “The greens are fast enough and undulating and I think we’re going to have a great tournament.”
Meanwhile in the pro-am competition, the team comprising KGS club captain Wong Lay Nam, Akmal Haqqani Zainal Rashid, Ting Yong Jung and professional Nicholas Fung finished first with a combined gross score of 130. Runner-up was the team of Lau Hie Ping, Kevin Ko Yeu Ying, Francis Nguoi Ing Sie and de Silva. Ms Lin Gaik Eng, Retail Operations general manager for UMW Toyota Motor, gave away the prizes.
