| Fadhil Yunus |
SERUJI bin Haji Setia overcame the notoriously tough conditions at the RBA Golf Club course to become the latest recipient of the coveted Patron’s Challenge Trophy and the 18th Pusat Ehsan Charity Golf Tournament title yesterday.
The seasoned golfer carded a two-over-par 73 to win the final round by three strokes, ahead of runners-up Md Haswandy Haji Paun with former Baiduri Masters winner Tony Karim one shot back with 77.
No player in the top 12 ticked an even par or better on their scorecard as a combination of volatility of wind direction and the sophistication of holes proved to be an obstacle.
Much talk has been centred on the absence of notable players including defending champion Johari Haji Ahmad, who elected to play in the 30th Pantai Mentiri Amateur Open, which was held on the same day.
Johari was the last man to successfully navigate his way at the RBA golf course when he posted a low score of 69 at the previous edition of the tournament. In fact, he won his maiden Pusat Ehsan title last year as the same total as the man who succeeded him as champion.
Brunei national golfers Awangku Muhd Syakir bin Pengiran Haji Ali and Aritz Maldini were also in Mentiri as well as Adam Yani, the winner of at least two minor tournaments in 2017, Zulhimi bin Haji Rosli, Pengiran Adam bin Pengiran Atan and Suhaimi bin Ibrahim.
Seruji left it late to register a solitary birdie in the 18th hole after a perfectly-executed approach shot with the ball landing uninterrupted in the green. None from his flight came close in matching Seruji whom two of his closest rivals came in the group before him.
The golfer found the course similarly tough as his rivals highlighted by a bogey in hole four before saving par while two bogeys on the 15th and 17th did not hurt his chances of triumph.
Seruji, a household name in the local golfing community, bagged the first major domestic title of the year alongside the winner in Mentiri as the golfing season kicked off in earnest.
Fauzi bin Haji Timbang was behind the overnight leader Seruji heading into the final round but drifted away with a 79.
Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof was the guest of honour at the prize presentation ceremony and recognition lunch at the Royal Brunei Recreation Club yesterday.
Organised by the Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam, the tournament attracted a total of 219 participants for the three-day event.
Besides the top 12 players and division winners, there were also novelty prizes on offer such as putt stop challenge, nearest to pin, hole-in-one and bull’s eye prizes in holes 2, 5 12, 14 and 16.
Meanwhile, a total of BND22,700 was raised in the event. The tournament proceeds will support the children and youth with special needs at Pusat Ehsan and to the centre’s monthly expenses and development plans.
Among the main sponsors of the tournament was GHK Motors Sdn Bhd. Present was Chong Thien Fook on behalf of Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin.
GHK Motors has been a sponsor for the Pusat Ehsan Golf Tournament since 2004.