Ministry to help prodigies along path to professional golf

KUCHING: Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry is committed to grooming promising young golfers into future professionals, its minister Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom assured.

He said towards this end, his ministry would consider giving incentives and financial support to help budding champions gain match exposure in international tournaments.

“In fact, we are concerned about match exposure for our junior golfers. This is an important aspect we are looking into. During the recent Sukma in Terengganu, the reason for the superior performance of golfers from other states could be exposure,” Mawan said.

He added that technical skills could be another consideration but these could be honed with constant practice. “The overriding factor is of course putting in place a proper programme to develop the young golfers and help them in their quest to turn professionals,” he said.

Mawan was speaking to reporters during the courtesy call from Sarawak’s top junior girl golfer Amanda Chin and the presentation of sponsorship to the 2nd Pan Borneo Senior Amateur Golf Championship at Bangunan Baitulmakmur at Petra Jaya near here yesterday.

Amanda was selected by Malaysian Golf Association to represent the country in the Junior Open at Hesketh Golf Club, Southport, UK from July 14 to 16, making the sixteen-year-old the first Sarawakian to play for the country in the championship.

“Apart from providing moral support, we are also sending our potential young golfers for exposure in international tournaments,” Mawan said. “We join all Sarawakians in wishing you well at the Junior Open,” he told Amanda.

Meanwhile, Mawan disclosed that the ministry would earmark the state’s promising young golfers for assistance. He suggested setting up a fund to expose the junior golfers to high-level competitions overseas.

A charity tournament could be organised to kick-start the fund to be managed by Sarawak Golf Association, he said.