Lee Ka Tung posing with his trophies after winning the Sarawak Amateur Masters Open Golf Championship for the fifth time at Damai Golf and Country Club in Santubong yesterday.
SANTUBONG: Sarawak’s top golfer Lee Ka Tung made more history yesterday at the Sarawak Amateur Masters Open Golf Championship at Damai Golf and Country Club when he became the first golfer to win the event for three times in a row and claim the title for the fifth time.
The defending champion who led from day one to the final day returned a three-day total gross score of 217 (69-74-74) to ward off the stiff challenge from three junior golfers Wang Wei Hsien and Chang Hsin Chi of Taiwan and Aziel Teo from Kelab Golf Sarawak to lift the Tan Sri Dr James Masing Challenge Trophy.
He also received a gift voucher of RM7,500 for being the champion and another gift voucher of RM200 and medal for being the top qualifier with a 143 score.
For the record, Ka Tung has won the championship in 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2015 while the event is into its eighth edition.
Four strokes further back in second place was Wang who shot a 76 on Friday, a 73 on Saturday and an improved 72 yesterday.
His teammate Chang, 19, also created history at DGCC by carding a record score of five-under 67 yesterday for a combined score of 223 to beat Aziel into fourth spot on count back (OCB).
Another young golfer from Sibu Steven Hii Tai Leong registered an impressive 237 score to finish in 12th position while Ka Tung’s brothers Kah Ming was seventh on 226 and Kah Tiong was in 10th spot with a 236 score.
“I am very pleased with this achievement. I tried to minimise commiting errors in today’s game,” said Ka Tung who has now set his sights on doing well at the 2nd Sarawak Grand Championship at KGS this weekend.
The 44-year old golfer however was full of praise for the young golfers from Taiwan who played well even though they are first-timers and three of them were ranked among the top five in the men’s open category.
“They have good talent and potential … hopefully they will be successful in their golf career,” said Ka Tung while expressing hope for them to participate in the same tournament next year.
Local juniors Aaron Lau Zhun Min, Bernard Yeo Chun How and Samdrick Yeo were among the final 36 qualifiers.
The Open category was won by Ismail Muhammad with a score of 139 while Saboni Abd Kadir and Jamit Imbak finished second and third respectively.
Event patron Tan Sri Dr James Masing, who is Senior Minister and Minister of Land Development, praised the organising committee led by their chairman, Dato Sri Thomas Lau of Blessed Builders Holdings Sdn Bhd for a job well done.
There were no winners for the hole-in-one prizes worth over RM200,000 in the form of a motorcycle brand Harley Davidson Iron XL883N (883cc) worth RM80,000, a Ducati Multistrada worth RM110,000, an exclusive tag Heuer watches worth RM11,700 and Frederick Constant Geneve watches worth RM11,900.