33rd Asean Senior Amateur Golf Championship

26-28 September 2016 (Brunei Darussalam)

The 33rd running of the ASEAN Senior Amateur Golf Championships was held this year in Brunei Darrusalam from 26-28 September.  There was a surprising groundswell of interest from our members to participate and we were able to increase our team size from 34 to 38 as some of the other countries did not take up their full allocation.  

Brunei Airways flew us into the Kingdom on Sunday 25th in less than two hours and we were billeted at Starlodge Hotel together with the Philippine delegation.  A 3 star hotel that is certainly showing its age, it soars all of five stories high but was an ideal location for us as it is only ten minutes from the two championship courses we used for the Championship.  However there were no ancillary activities such as markets or shopping areas in the vicinity.  

The two courses utilised were the Royal Brunei Golf Club and Empire Golf & Country Club.  They had vastly different personalities which caused untold misery to many players.  The Empire fits the description of a resort course with wide open fairways and a generally friendly layout.  Royal Brunei is characterized by severe undulations, thick undergrowth and a primary jungle that encroaches the fairways much too often!  Coupled with generally small greens, one needs a great deal of patience and course management to escape with a decent score!

The first evening we were there we trooped to a popular Chinese restaurant.  Due to strict regulations, not a drop of alcohol was allowed but generally the food was quite acceptable and we retired early for the night.  Food in Brunei is generally inexpensive especially when compared to Singapore.  

Monday featured the stroke play participants challenging the Royal Brunei while the stableford side had a practice round at the Empire.  The following day, the teams crossed over to the other course and went back to the first course on the third day.  The competition especially from the home team, Brunei was very strong.  The Philippines and Thailand also put up stiff resistance.  

We didn't come home empty handed though.  The following members took back trophies in their respective divisions :

RESULTS of the 33rdAsean Senior Amateur Golf Championship 2016

Sultan Salahuddin Challenge Trophy

Overall Best Gross - Stroke
Lian Ai Hian  - 7th Position with total Gross 252

Overall Best Nett - Stroke
Dicky Tan Ee Seng – 8th position with total Nett Score of 228

STABLEFORD DIVISION

A Division ( 55 -59 years)
Francis Lee Yeung Kwok – 8th position with 66 points
Leonard Lau Boon Wee – 9th position with 61 points

B Division (60 -64 years)
Roy Ang– 3rd position with 71 points

C Division ( 65 -69 years )
NIL

D Division (70 -74 years)
Edward Tan Yew Liang – 4th position with 67 points
Terence Ng Tien Chan –  6th position with 65 points

The Tun Sir Henry H S Lee Challenge Trophy for TEAM GROSS 
Singapore Team came in 3rd position with 777
Lian Ai Hian / Yeap Chee Leong / Lam Tih Kai / Oh Lai Hen

The Zakir Challenge Trophy for TEAM NETT
Singapore Team came in 4th position with 705
Vincent Chua Hua Hong / Dicky Tan / PehChoon Seng / Goh Eng Yew

OVERALL CHAMPION – Lela Pahlawan Challenge Trophy
donated by the President of Brunei Darussalam Association of Senior Golfers

The closing ceremony featured cultural dances from Brunei and a band playing traditional musical instruments.  

The following day, some took advantage of the daylight prior to our evening departure to get in yet another round of golf, this time at the Royal Brunei Airlines course situated next to the airport while others went shopping or took a good look at the famous Kampung Ayer (Water Village) which has a history dating back 1,000 years. 

The team returned Thursday evening with all members tired and hopefully happy. 

Presented by : Terence Ng, Captain of SSGS Team.