Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s Charlayne Chong emerged victorious in the women’s category at the 48th Kelantan Amateur Open Golf Championship, held at the Kelantan Golf and Country Club from July 26–28.
The 23-year-old golfer, who hails from Kota Kinabalu and is currently a student at the Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) National Golf Academy, posted a three-day total of 225 to clinch the title.
She edged out Amberly Zaira Zamri, who finished second with a score of 227, while Nur Maisara Sa’ad settled for third with 233.
Reflecting on her win, Charlayne credited her mental resilience as a crucial factor in navigating the demanding course.
“The course was decent, though managing it definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone,” she said.
“One key takeaway I learned this week is the importance of internal control over my thoughts, emotions, and everything that fuels unnecessary stress and doubt.”
Despite the win, Charlayne acknowledged that there is still room for improvement, particularly in strengthening her mental game.
“I know there’s still a lot more work to be done, especially in terms of improving my mental strength. But overall, it was a great experience to compete here,” she added.
She also expressed her gratitude to the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) for the opportunity to compete, as well as to the UUM National Golf Academy and sponsors Leonian Malaysia, Callaway Golf Malaysia, and Golf Partner Malaysia for their continued support.
