Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Winnie Ng extended her recent run of fine form when the Malaysian chalked up an impressive wire-to-wire victory at the 47th Royal Selangor Golf Club (RSGC) Ladies Amateur Open Championship.
Barely a week after claiming the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open title, Ng showed great skill and composure en route to a three-shot victory over Singaporean teen Passion Hsu at RSGC's par-73 East Course. This was the second time that Ng has hoisted the Tuanku Bahiyah Trophy presented to the gross champion, having also triumphed in 2019.
Ng carded successive 74s on the first two days and headed into the third and final round just one shot ahead of Hsu, who followed up an opening 77 with a tournament-low one-under 72.
In steamy conditions and facing tough pin positions, Ng had a nervous start and was caught by her 14-year-old Singaporean opponent midway through the front nine. However, the Malaysian pulled away on the home stretch and her third 74 in a row for a three-over 222 total proved good enough for the win.
Hsu closed with a 76 to claim runners-up honours on six-over 225, nine shots ahead of Malaysia’s Pang Hee Jie, Samantha Marie Dizon of the Philippines and India’s Dia Cris Kumar.
Ng was all smiles as she celebrated back-to-back wins. “I knew I had a good chance, so I told myself to stick to my game plan and take it one shot at a time, knowing that the nerves will be there. Eventually, some putts dropped and I managed to secure it,” she said.
“I set mini goals for every event and this week it was to do a lot of deep breathing and stick to my routine. The greens here are very tricky and the pin positions were tough, so you have to be patient and disciplined to hit to the middle of the green,” added the 23-year-old.
Ng had to make a great par-save on the par-four 11th hole after pulling her tee shot into the water, sinking a 12-foot putt to keep her momentum going.
“I had a bad feeling on the tee box, but I didn't step back ... and that cost a shot in the water. But I told myself to stay calm, there are many more holes to go,” said Ng, who has spent the last five years playing collegiate golf in the United States and only recently returned to Malaysia.
Hsu was pleased with how she played in her maiden championship appearance. “Overall, I’m very proud of myself. I enjoyed my time here and I would love to come back next year,” said the youngster.
Both Ng and Hsu are alumnae of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship. Ng competed in the 2018 and 2021 tournaments, while Hsu was one of the youngest players in this year’s sixth edition at Siam Country Club in Thailand.
Ng was also part of ‘The Girls Girls’ trio that won the gross team event for the Datin Azian Trophy, combining with Maisarah Hezri and Foong Zi Yu for a team score of 305 over 36 holes. The nett team title and the Clarissa Lee Trophy went to the Indonesian duo of Bianca Naomi Amina Laksono and Sania Talita Wahyudi with a nett aggregate of 279. Laksono also won the Toh Puan Norashikin Trophy as the nett champion with a 36-hole total of 137.
The tournament also featured a 36-hole Division 2 competition for players with handicaps of 13 to 18, which saw Malaysia’s Anis Sofea Hamlussalam claim the gross title with a 166 total. The Division 2 nett event was also won by a local player, Melvinna Nair Presnath, who posted a 36-hole score of 135.
The 2023 champion, Mirabel Ting, currently the top Malaysian in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 22nd spot, had to pull out of the tournament due to an injury.