JGFP Interclub: Malaysia stuns Thailand on Day 1

Clark, Angeles — Team Malaysia stunned tournament favorite Thailand, riding on career-best performances from its top two scorers — both with impressively long names — to grab a four-point lead at the start of the JGFP International Interclub at the Mimosa Plus Golf and Country Club in Clark, Angeles, on Friday.

Nur Husna Alna Binti Karim Nast and Muhammad Afham Bin Othman delivered standout rounds, carding 59 and 57 points, respectively, for a combined eight-under in stroke play as Malaysia tallied 170 Stableford points. For reference, 54 points is equivalent to even par.

Maverick Chua rounded out the team’s scoring with an even-par 54.

“I putted well. I love the course,” said 16-year-old Nast, who finished with eight birdies against three bogeys.

Othman opened his round with 10 straight pars, then caught fire with birdies on holes 11 and 13 before stumbling with his lone bogey of the day on 14. He capped off his impressive debut with a dramatic eagle on the 18th.

“I’m very happy with how my team played today,” said non-playing captain Stanley Loo. “It’s the first time both Huska and Afham shot below 70.”

Loo added with a laugh that he might need to visit the bank soon after promising incentives to his players.

“If they match par, I give them 50 ringgit (about P700). For every stroke under, they earn another 50. After today, I may have to make a withdrawal,” he said.

Malaysia fielded a team from its second tier, according to Loo.

“All four topped the qualifying back home,” he noted.

Thailand, which tallied 166 points, was paced by Lapassaporn Liberto Heras-Gomez, who delivered a tournament-best 60 points.

“I made sure to hit the right spots off the tee to give myself chances for birdies,” said the 17-year-old Thai standout of French-Spanish descent.

Heras-Gomez hit all but two greens in regulation and used his driver only six times, finishing the round bogey-free.

Rattakorn Ananchawitul and Pranai Beankrai each added 53 points to complete Thailand’s scoring. Teams are composed of four players, but only the top three scores count.

Go for Gold, a hastily assembled squad from Mindanao, made a strong impression by tying for third place with Team TGA-Philippines at 156 points apiece.

Mhark Fernando III of Zamboanga City and Adrian Bisera of Davao each posted 53 points, while AJ Wacan chipped in 50.

TGA-Philippines also leaned on its Thai recruits, with Wirada Tawinsang and Nacha Santhitsumpun both carding 53s, and Nicole Gan contributing 50.

The three-day event gave local players a rare opportunity to test their skills against top junior golfers from the region — and many came away awed by the visitors’ talent.

“Too strong. The Thai (Rattakorn) outdrove me by 90 yards,” said a wide-eyed Rainier Tagwalan, who did not count with 49 points.

In the battle for individual honors, Gomez paced the men’s event with 60 followed by Othman with 57 and Maverick Chua with 54. Fernando and Bisera were among four players with identical 53 points.

In the women’s event, Nast showed the way with 59 followed by Wirada and Nacha with 53 apiece. Gan and Zero Plete each carded 50 to tie Jaime Tan of Malaysia.

The mixed tournament, organized by the JGFP under the leadership of businessman Oliver Gan, also features a 12-and-under division.

The results on opening day:

13-18 — Malaysia 170, Thailand 166, TGA-Philippines 156, Go For Gold 156, Del Monte 2 146, Negros Golf and Country Club 1 142, 3Strokes Team 140, VGA/Likit 139, Xavier 1 138, Camp Aguinaldo 1 137, Cebu Country Club 1 137, CCC 2 126, Baguio Country Club 3 117, Xavier 2 103, NOGCC 2 78, Wack Wack-ICA 70, BCC 2 69, Miriam 63.