Published July 17, 2008 on March 19, 2019

117TH Malaysian Amateur Open Receives Sponsorship Support from the Sarawak State Government

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The anticipation leading to one of the most prestigious and oldest amateur tournament in the region, the 117^thMalaysian Amateur Open (MAO), deepens as the Sarawak State Government confirmed sponsoring the MAO in conjunction with the 2019 Visit Sarawak Year.

The Sarawak State Government has confirmed sponsorship of the 117^thMalaysian Amateur Open, which will be played at the Kelab Golf Sarawak (KGS) from 20-23 June 2019. The ladies division, which was first introduced at the KGS back in 2009, will be back by popular demand. This will be the fourth edition of the ladies division. KGS’s 36 holes will be the perfect venue to host both the men and women’s challenge.

Some 220 top amateurs (140 men and 80 women) are expected to congregate in Kuching this coming June to vie for the challenge trophies. The par 72 6,394 metres Matang/Santubong course will play centre stage for the men’s division while the par 72 6224 metres Siol/Demak course will play host to the ladies division.

The Malaysian Amateur Open is highly regarded as the most prestigious golf event in the country and a leading National Amateur Open in the region. Gavin Kyle Green who won the 2012 edition at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club was the last Malaysian to have won the tournament in recent times.

“Many of our Malaysian players including Gavin Kyle Green have benefited tremendously from the exposure and opportunity to play in an international event, alongside top amateurs from around the Asia Pacific. The 117^thMalaysian MAO will bring out the best of the Malaysian players, both men and ladies. Spectators will definitely be in for a memorable 4-day of thrilling golf action”, said MGA President Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor.

SGA, the force behind the resurgent of golf in Sarawak is always supportive of MGA and its activities. Its President, Hoan Kee Hock said, “SGA is dedicated towards the development and elevation of golf in Sarawak and Malaysia. We are excited to receive leading men and ladies amateur players from all over Asia Pacific and to witness an extraordinary spectacle when the competition begins. SGA is grateful to the Sarawak Government for coming forward to support the event as a major sponsor”.

Henry Chuo – Captain of KGS added, “Preparations for the MAO are well underway, together with SGA and MGA, KGS will stage the best MAO yet. We look forward to welcoming the players, golf fans and officials to KGS for another edition of world-class golf in June 2019. We are indeed honoured that MGA and SGA have chosen KGS as the host venue of the 117^thMalaysian Amateur Open”.

The MAO has been a fertile ground in producing top players as evident by its list of past champions that include the likes of Australian’s Robert Allenby and Andrew Dodt, Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Malaysia’s Gavin Green.

Having survived the colonial era, two World Wars and the upheavals of the nation to the major amateur golf championship that it has become today, the Malaysian Amateurs Open’s steady rise in stature was further cemented in 2006 when it was included as an event in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, which ranks the world’s top amateur golfers.