Natasha to spearhead Malaysian golfers in Philippines SEA Games

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8  --  Natasha Andrea Oon will lead the Malaysian golf squad’s campaign in the upcoming 2019 Philippines SEA Games, slated to be held at the Luisita Country Club in Clark, Philippines from Dec 4-8.

Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) president Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor said Natasha and six other players were selected by the National Team Sub-committee, which he heads, based on their recent performances.

The selection criteria include winning international and domestic golf events, world amateur golf rankings, scratch player rankings, stroke average, discipline and attitude of the players.

“MGA has engaged the services of (professional golf coach), Kim Baldwin (of Australia), and (former national woman golfer), Lim Ai Lian to ensure that our strategic plans are professionally managed to enable our players achieve a podium finish,” according to Mohd Anwar in a statement issued by MGA today.

Besides Natasha, the squad members are Ervin Chang, K. Rhaasrikhanesh, Adam Arif Madzri and Zubair Firdaus in the men's category while two others - Alya Abdul Ghanny and Ashley Lau will feature for the women.

United States-based Natasha, 17, produced commendable results this season by winning the Malaysian Amateur Open in June 2019 in Sarawak, besides topping two out of three collegiate events including the Gold Rush in the United States last February.

Chang who is pursuing his studies at Liberty University in the United States also scored positive results, including finishing as the best amateur in the Singapore Open, a professional event, last January, before going on to finish in the top five of several collegiate events back in the United States.

Rhaasrikhanesh has also won several tournaments this year, notably back-to-back wins, first the 11th edition of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Golf Challenge in May and after that the 45th Kelantan Amateur Open on July.

Malaysia's best achievement in the SEA Games was a silver medal through Gavin Kyle Green in the men's individual event in the 2013 edition in Naypyidaw, Myanmar.

-- BERNAMA