For three days, The Royal Selangor Golf Club put on a show that we can be proud of.
CARRO World shirts for Team RSGC
The Championship
The RSGC Ladies Amateur Open (LAO) is a premier three-day golf championship that attracts the participation of top female amateur golfers in the region, including many ranked in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), a global index of elite female amateur golfers, derived from their performance in accredited Counting Events. The LAO is the only Malaysian private club ladies tournament to be ranked on the WAGR, only second below the national Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open. As a Counting Event, participation in this Championship is rewarded with points contributing to players’ WAGR rankings.
The LAO has established itself as the number one ladies’ amateur golf tournament hosted by a private club in Malaysia, playing a crucial role in nurturing local talent. This tournament has been a launch pad for several Malaysian champions who have subsequently become professional golfers. Amongst them, Lim Ai Lian, with titles in 1991, 1997, and 1998, and Lim Siew Ai, the 1996 champion, being Malaysia’s first LPGA player and an RSGC Member. This effort is the result of the commitment by the RSGC Ladies Golf Committee to support the development of Ladies Golf in the country.
Event collaterals filled the clubhouse and course, a statement of the prestige and significance of the event. Members would have seen the event buntings as they drove into the club. The 12 flags flapping in the wind represented the foreign players from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan. The advertising boards of the many sponsors created a festive atmosphere in front of the main lounge while the players practiced putting earnestly.
Another Member-sponsored player, MALGA Sime Darby Elite player Sohniya Chandran, in the top 12 finishers
Anjanette Tan from Singapore
Cadence Ong from Tunas Bestari, co-sponsored by our Captain
The Sponsors
An event of this size and prestige cannot be held without the support of sponsors. RSGC Members have never failed to step up to support the Ladies and this year we are beyond grateful that our 3 Main Sponsors were all Members. MKH returned as our regular sponsor over the last few years, AmBank’s logo could be seen on the tee markers, the caddie bibs and their familiar red and yellow umbrellas on the course, and the Dr Agoes Salim family sponsored the Players Lounge at The Green, providing breakfast and lunch over 4 days and a private gathering place reserved exclusively for tournament players.
Anxious mothers on the course
Officials and referees preparing for the Championship
Inside Scoop ice-cream was the hit of the event with players queuing up for a cup, and Farm Fresh provided breakfast yoghurts. Our official hotel, Impiana KLCC was also sponsored by a Member. Hole-inone attractions included a SMART#1 car from ProNet, with the exhibiting of the coveted car within range of an errant ball off the 9th Old resulting in the area being deemed a Temporary Immovable Obstruction, a set of irons from MST and 2 return tickets to Da Nang from MAS. Our official drinks were sponsored by Etika, and 5 Official Courtesy Cars with drivers were sponsored by Pantai Bharu. Our club suppliers also supported the event as both cash and prize sponsors. We would also like to thank the Team RSGC shirt sponsors, Caerus, Kualesa and Carro World.
The Media
The event began with our annual Press Conference. The event has had the solid backing and support of the national media through the years and for this we are very grateful. Perhaps the rare opportunity to play on our course after the Press Conference has something to do with it! RTM, TV3 and Astro Arena cameramen were on the course for TV coverage. We are extremely proud to have achieved over RM1.8 million worth of media value this year, a stunning result for an event held by a private club. Now that events are back to normal postCovid-19, in the next edition we hope to match or increase the over RM2 million worth of media value achieved in 2018.
The Tournament Hosts
A critical part of running an event of this size is the Tournament Hosts. As always, the RSGC Ladies came forward to form the enthusiastic team of 20, rolling out the highest standards of hospitality possible for such an event. They scheduled the courtesy cars to ferry players to and from the Official Hotel each morning and afternoon, selected a varied Malaysian and international menu for each meal at the dedicated Players Lounge, manned the crossover tents providing snacks sponsored by Gardenia and Kraft sisters, and were out on the course in the burning heat as announcers, scorers and timekeepers. Players’ needs and comfort were constantly monitored and attended to, something mentioned by grateful players as being special compared to other similar events. They were visible in team tee shirts sponsored by Caerus.
The Field
The early beginnings of the RSGC LAO was as a social event, but it is now moving towards a more professional competition acting as a conduit to promote a higher level of competitive amateur golf for the young lady players in the region. The LAO now attracts a field of top players from around the region, including national players who represent their country at the SEA Games and our Elite Malaysian players, representing the MGA, MALGA and Tunas Bistari. This year we were disappointed by the withdrawal of our two top Malaysian players, Mirabel Ting, ranked in the top 20 amateurs in the world, and our SEA Games gold medallist JX Ng, due to injury. Our highest ranked player at 220 in the world came from Pakistan. The field was generally young, with the majority of players being 18 years old and under, and Members who followed them were impressed by their skills, especially their amazing long game (2 on, on the par fives).
As the players arrived, there were warm smiles and big hugs for players and organisers. Many of the players recalled starting their competitive golf career at the RSGC LAO and have been returning annually. Members remembered some of the players playing the tournament at the age of 10, who are now on golf scholarships in the USA. Special mention must be made of RSGC’s youngest player, our reigning double Club Champion (Junior and Ladies) 12-year-old Sim Jane. Zulaikah Nasser from Sarawak was emotional as this LAO would be her last before she turns pro. Her first official tournament was also played here. Special mention should be made of Hisako Miyashita from the Taiheiyo Golf Club in Japan. At age 85, she is the oldest player at the LAO and has supported our LAO events for the past three decades. She is an inspiration to all of us. To the delight of the organisers, we were able to welcome the first team to participate in our LAO from one of our International reciprocal clubs, the Barwon Heads Golf Club in Victoria, Australia.
One of our youngest players, from Tunas Bestari, Nik Amylia Kamil
The Officials
The team of official referees and referees in training were in key positions to assist with rule interpretation. With their efficient supervision and time management, the competition proceeded seamlessly and professionally. Our Tournament Director, Dr Chew can take credit for preparing a very challenging course, eliciting many groans regarding the speed of the greens – averaging 11 on the stimpmeter scale, and tough pin positions. There were also many compliments on the great condition of the course, especially from the foreign players.
All three days were free of rain but it was the rising temperatures that were watched carefully. For the first time, the Tournament Committee decided that in the event the heat index hit 43, the whole tournament may be suspended temporarily. Two extra drinks stations were set up on the course for players, caddies, officials and spectators.
The Final flight
Winnie Ng from Malaysia came to the LAO as the reigning National Champion, having just won the title at the MLAO 5 days earlier. She first played the RSGC LAO when she was 10 and is a Past LAO Champion, having won in 2018, and is now preparing to play on the Asian circuit. Winnie started the round with a one stroke advantage over Passion Hsu, a 14 year-old from Singapore, a member of the Singapore 2024 National Junior Squad. She plays with the maturity of someone much older. Her mother said she first showed interest in the game when she was three. Dia Cris Kumar from India, another 14 year-old, is an overseas member of RSGC. She trailed by 6 strokes. Her drives were not as long as the other two but she made up with accurate second shots.
The winner of the 47th RSGC Ladies Amateur Open and the Tuanku Bahiyah trophy, was Winnie Ng, beating Passion Hsu by 3 strokes with a consistent score of 74-74-74. The win moved her up to 585th on the WAGR. When asked about her win, she recalled, “My front nine was challenging and at one time, we were all square at the leader board but I stuck to my game plan and played a steady back nine”.
Congratulations to all involved on a very successful Championship, certainly one of the best we have had in the 47 years of this event. Well done to the Organising Chair, Lady Golf Captain Aileen Tan and her team. A big thank you also to all the RSGC staff, caddies, field workers, officials and to our Members for being so welcoming and supportive. We wish all our LAO players every success in their golf careers to come and hope that we have helped them on their way through this initiative of the RSGC Ladies Amateur Open Championship.
What the players said
Winnie Ng (Winner of Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open 2024) : “Returning to RSGC always feels wonderful; the members and staff are incredibly supportive and often volunteer their time to assist. The club is impeccably maintained. Each year, when I play here, the course is in excellent condition and remains consistently beautiful. A heartfelt thank you to the staff and committee for making this tournament such a success.
Eireen Syafeeya: “It’s been a long time since I last played in the Ladies Amateur Open Championship. The conditions here are fantastic. The greens present the biggest challenge for me, but I’m staying focused and giving it my all. I look forward to seeing everyone again next year.
Nik Alicia Miriam Kamil: “This is my first time competing in the Ladies Amateur Open Championship, and I’m thrilled to be here. The greens are incredibly fast this year, and we’re also thoroughly enjoying the food.
Kelly Low Ka Yan: “Having played here before, I believe my game has improved since my last visit. The overall conditions are significantly better, though the greens remain quite challenging. The food is exceptionally delicious!”
Foong Zi Yu: “This is my first time participating in the Ladies Amateur Open Championship, and the conditions are excellent. The pin positions were a bit surprising. A big thank you to RSGC and all the participants for making this event special.
Anjanette Tan: “This year, the course has been made more challenging with adjustments to the tees and pin placements. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in Singapore next time.
Amelie Blossom Ng: “The course has been made more difficult this year with faster greens and tees moved back. I’m eager to see everyone in Singapore in the future.
Parkha Ijaz and Annie Seccull: “Aania and I extend our heartfelt thanks for hosting us at the RSGC Women’s Amateur Open. Congratulations on a successful tournament, and well done to the winners. Everything was perfect, from the hotel and transport to the hydration stands. We loved the goody bags and felt well taken care of. Special thanks to Lady Captain Ai-leen Tan, Aqilah Mohd, Kirthana, Stella, Kanae, and the entire team for their exceptional care. The course was in spectacular condition with very helpful staff. Thank you again for your hospitality. We hope to see you soon.
Cadence Ong Jay Li: “Thank you so much to the amazing RSGC Ladies Open organisers and generous sponsors for an unforgettable experience. The tournament was wonderful, with every detail planned with care. The highlight was the delicious food and ice cream! We hope to participate again next year!” – From Tunas Bestari (sponsored by RSGC Members)
MALGA Sime Darby Elite National player Wang Xin Yao, top 6 finisher
Shih-Ting Tan (Taiwan): “Big thanks to RSGC organizers, sponsors, and volunteers for providing us a great successful and fruitful event. We hope to participate again next year! All the best to all players!”
Mellvinna Nair Presnath: “Thank you so much to all the officials for organising such a great tournament. Not to forget a big thank you RSGC member who have sponsored to the players to participate in this tournament. Really appreciated for this wonderful experience to play in RSGC course.
Shu Yi & Simon: “We wanted to extend our heartfelt thanks to the sponsors and the staff for organising such a wonderful event. Everything was exceptional; the staff was friendly, the tee times were perfectly scheduled, and the food and prizes were amazing. As a first-timer, this experience has set an incredibly high bar for future tournaments. Thank you again for a fantastic day!”
Team Singapore: “Thank you to the Tournament Hosts and organising committee for making everything a success. Everything was meticulously prepared and executed.
We appreciate your constant assistance and prompt responses to our queries. The RSGC course was in fantastic condition, with ample water points throughout to keep players, caddies, and spectators hydrated. Thank you to the sponsors for the prizes and goody bags. This is our first international tournament with so many goodies! Keep up the great work, Team! We appreciate all that each of you has done.”
RSGC Member-sponsored Mellvina Nair took home many prizes including 2nd Best Gross for Division 2
