Sabahan Leong clinches maiden Toyota Tour title

SIBU: Seasoned professional golfer Ben Leong from Kota Kinabalu clinched his maiden Toyota Tour title when he won the Fortuner Cup at Kelab Golf Sibu yesterday (June 27).

The 38-year-old veteran delivered a flawless performance, carding a bogey-free five-under 65 to secure a resounding four-stroke victory.

The Sabahan faced stiff competition from rising stars Edven Ying and Daeng Rahman.

He made his intentions clear earlier with birdies on the first, second, and seventh holes, establishing a solid lead.

However, Ying mounted a strong challenge, reducing Leong’s lead to just two strokes with birdies on the 10th and 12th holes.

Ying’s momentum was halted by bogeys on the 16th and 18th, ultimately costing him the title.

Daeng Rahman, the 2023 Alphard Cup winner at Forest City, also put up a strong fight.

His impressive play included birdies on the second hole and an eagle on the sixth.

Daeng added two more birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, but a missed short putt on the 18th denied him a solo second-place finish.

Reflecting on his victory, Leong expressed his satisfaction.

“Yes, I’m happy to have finally won the Toyota Tour. Edven is a wonderful talent. I expect him to grow from this and make a big impact on the local professional scene,” said Leong, who will soon return to the Asian Tour with stops in Indonesia, Taiwan, and China at the end of August.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Ying from Kuantan, who made a name for himself by winning the Vios Cup at Templer Park CC last year, remained upbeat despite the near-miss.

“I’m happy with my performance, and I can’t wait for the Hilux Cup in Kota Kinabalu (16-18 July),” he said.

In the amateur ranks, Hayden Hah claimed the Men’s Best Amateur honours with a five-over 215, finishing joint 34th overall.

Shaifubari Muda, Hui Yong Sherng, Kenneth De Silva, and Leong all recorded the lowest scores of the day at five-under.

The Ladies Championship saw Miri-born amateur Mirabel Ting dominate the field. Ting coasted to an impressive 11-stroke victory over Geraldine Wong, shooting a five-under 65 for a three-day aggregate of 205.

Michelle Koh secured third place with a total score of 220.

The event drew praise from Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Arts Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who lauded the warm reception by Kelab Golf Sibu and appreciated the participation of players from near and far.

“The Toyota Tour should be commended for its efforts in the development not just of professionals but junior golf as well. I would like to see more such events coming to Sibu and hopefully there will be international participation,” he said in a speech read out by Joshua Ting Fu Ying, a political secretary to the Premier.