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NEWS & EVENTS
Golf continues to grow in Brunei
Tuesday, January 7, 2014






Seruji Hj Setia won a number of titles in 2013, among them His Majesty's 67th Birthday International Amateur Open Golf Championship 2013, with the sport experiencing a rollercoaster of a year.

Brunei's golf scene saw a number of Bruneians taking part in international tournaments as well as local competitions last year.

The most controversial was when 10 national junior golfers took part in the June 27-30 53rd South East Asian Amateur Team Golf Championship in the Philippines.

After returning home from finishing in last overall at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club, the youths blamed their lack of performance was due to them feeling 'abandoned' by the Brunei Darussalam Golf Association (BDGA).

The BDGA naturally responded and rejected all claims.

"It was not right. We as an association will never do that to our athletes. Our intention is to give these young golfers the opportunity to compete in international tournaments," said BDGA president Pg Dato Paduka Hj Mustapha Pg Metassan.

"First of all, I would like to make it clear that we, as an organisation, provided the golfers with all the resources we had. We gave allowances for all the golfers, a hotel to stay and we also paid for the green fees and the money for the caddies," he added.

On another international stage, the duo of Pg Md Joanda Diop and Amir Osman first won the September 1 Audi quattro Cup Brunei 2013 Charity Golf Tournament to win the right to be the sultanates representatives at the October 7-11 Audi quattro Cup World Final in Los Angeles America.

In their Group A stage, they finished in 19th after scoring 20 in their first round and 25 in the second.

They went on to finish in 24th out of 57 with a total of 39 after scoring 18 in the first and 21 in the second round at the Trump National Golf Club.

Amongst the tournaments, the most looked out for during the year of 2013 was His Majesty's 67th Birthday International Amateur Open Golf Championship from November 8-10.

Seruji added another trophy to his cabinet after carding 75 to out-play some 370 golfers at the Royal Brunei Golf and Country Club in Jerudong.

Seruji said, "I played well today (final day). The course is tough as usual with the pin position difficult and the greens were very fast."

"It is a good score at this course and I was expecting to win the competition," he said.

His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik was present as the guest of honour to give away prizes to the winners.

Other winners in the competition were Col (Rtd) Hj Jol Jublee Hj Bangkol (Division A Nett), Dato Paduka Hj Adnan Hj Hanafiah (Division B Nett) and Wee Hong Boon (Division C Nett).

Hjh Sarinah Hj Masri bagged the Ladies Nett after scoring 76 while His Excellency Marcel Gaumond, The Canadian High Commissioner, won the VIP category after carding 73.

The local Baiduri Masters saw the first ever back-to-back win picked up by Khairul Khamis after posting a 72 to reclaim his title on June 9 at the RBA Golf Club in Berakas.

"I feel really thankful to win it again this year (2013)," said Khairul.

"My target in the tournament was just to qualify for the final round. Alhamdulillah, everything went my way today and my hitting was very good," added Khairul.

The men senior division nett category went to Hj Momin Syawal with his score of 69.

Almas Syazwanie Kamis won the ladies division nett category after scoring a 72.

Muhammad Izuddin Hasim went on to finish first after carding 69 in the junior divison nett.

The tournament also saw Baiduri Bank Group donate $90,000 to several charities as well as a record-breaking participation of 1087 golfers.

The Empire Hotel & Country Club resident pro, Ahmad Dan Bateman showed his skills to finish fourth overall with a three-day total of six-under 210 during the November 7-9 Fuji Film Classic in Chiba, Japan.

Bateman's win secured his card for the next season.

Competing in the tour the whole year, Bateman struggled to get into the top-30 to retain his card - but produced the goods when it really mattered by coming up with five consecutive birdies to finish with a four under-68 in the final round of the second-last competition of the year.

"I was 39th heading into the event and needed to finish fifth or better to get into the top-30 to keep my card," said the Canadian.

"But thankfully I got it done when I needed to get it done," said Bateman.

The Special Olympics Brunei Darussalam (SOBD) held their first every Charity Golf Tournament with prolific winner Seruji Hj Setia finishing as the first ever champion after carding 77 on August 30.

"I didn't expect to win it," he said. "I had two bad holes, a triple bogey and a double bogey to go with my three birdies in the round," said Seruji

"I'm looking forward to come back and defend my title next year (2014)," he added.

Ali Rashid was the winner for the best gross category with an 82 (on countback).

Courtesy from Brunei Times