Golf

Nguyễn Đức Sơn is congratulates by a teammate after winning the Lion City Cup for the male junior athletes during the 2023 South-East Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship on August 24 in Malaysia. Photos courtesy of VGA

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam won one gold and one silver at the 2023 South-East Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship which finished on August 24 at the Mines Golf Resort, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

After four days of competitions, Vietnamese Nguyễn Đức Sơn triumphed in the Lion City Cup for male juniors.

He overcame 20 golfers with a result of three-over 287 to top the ranking table.

He was followed by Teerawut Boonseeor and Siradech Chanha both of Thailand who scored the same of five-over, 289.

Sơn has become the first Vietnamese winner of the tournament, marking a brilliant 2023 season for the 15-year-old.

Earlier, his performance at the many local tournaments were appreciated. He was one of the top players at the Việt Nam Golf Association Junior Tour with one win at the fourth stage last month. 

Sơn's father Nguyễn Ngọc Quang said his progress was due to his hard work and an improvement in terms of mentality and a three-month training course in Australia earlier this year.

The Vietnamese team at the 2023 South-East Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship.

Sơn, however, was not really satisfied with the result. He believed that he would do much better.

The silver medal for Việt Nam came from the Putra Cup for male golfers. 

A quartet of Đặng Anh Minh, Nguyễn Đặng Minh, Đoàn Uy and new national champion Nguyễn Nhất Long finished second in the team event with a score of 842.

Indonesia came first with 829 while the Philippines were third on 848.

Việt Nam also competed in the Santi Cup for women but Lê Chúc An and Lê Thị Thanh Thúy failed to make top three.

This was the best result for Việt Nam at the championship. The team did not win any medals in previous attempts.

According to coach Bạch Cường Khang the golf movement and quality of Việt Nam has strongly developed. It was proved through the team's one gold and one silver and the 32nd SEA Games in May and the achievement in this tournament. 

The SEA Amateur Golf Team Championship saw golfers contend for the 60th Putra Cup, 14th Lion City Cup, 12th Santi Cup and eighth Kartini Cup (for female juniors). VNS