Johor, Oct 4: The Forest City Golf Resort in Johor Bahru witnessed an electrifying moment during the second round of the Camry Cup as Shahrul Ikhzuan achieved a remarkable hole-in-one on the 8th hole, the longest par three on the course.
The golfer from Kota Tinggi, affectionately known as ‘Black’ by his peers, left spectators in awe as he used a driver off the tee to ace the 247-yard hole, which was slightly into the wind with the pin tucked back left. Shahrul and his playing partner, Chan Soo Keong, saw the ball land on the front part of the green, but its final destination remained a mystery.
Chan Soo Keong, who coincidentally was the first player to score a hole-in-one on the Toyota Tour, had jokingly remarked before teeing off that they needed to achieve a hole-in-one. Much to their surprise, Shahrul delivered on that promise. Despite the impressive feat, Shahrul will not make the cut for the final round.
Shahrul almost withdrew from the morning’s round due to lingering pain from a fall he suffered last Thursday that injured his waist. Nevertheless, he persevered and achieved his first hole-in-one, becoming the third professional to achieve this milestone on the Toyota Tour. Sukree Othman was the second, accomplishing his ace during the Supra Cup at The Mines Resort Golf Club.
In the competition, Kemarol Baharin displayed consistent golf, shooting a two-under 70 for a two-day aggregate of 142. Despite recording an incredible seven birdies, three bogeys, and a double on the par-four 4th hole, he could not lower his score further.
The 4th hole proved to be a formidable challenge, with an average score of 4.71 today compared to 4.83 during the first round. Notably, none of the men managed to birdie this hole.
Daeng Abdul Rahman managed to par this hole and had just one bogey on his card. With two birdies, he achieved a one-under 71 and is lying in second place, just one stroke behind Kemarol.
“I’m happy to be in this position, where I am in contention once again,” said the 23-year-old Daeng Abdul Rahman. He expressed his optimism about tomorrow’s competition, citing his familiarity with the Nicklaus layout.
Hans Jamil made an extraordinary comeback to professional competition after opening with a forgettable 10-over 82 in the first round. Starting on the back nine, Hans was three over after nine holes. Crossing over onto the front nine, he had a birdie on the third but bogeyed the fifth and sixth. With three holes left to play, Hans needed something exceptional to make the cut. He birdied the 7th, parred the 8th, and then birdied the 9th to shoot a two-over 74 and make the cut on the mark.
In the ladies’ category, Geraldine Wong secured a one-under 71 for a two-day aggregate of even par 144, giving her a three-shot lead over amateur Ng Jing Xuen. Audrey Tan and Dianne Luke are a further stroke behind, sharing the third spot.
The Camry Cup promises more thrilling action as the competition progresses, with golfers aiming for victory and a memorable tournament.
Leading Scores (Men)
- 142 Kemarol Baharin 72-70
- 143 Daeng Abdul Rahman 72-71
- 144 Faisal Sabudin 73-71
- 145 Kim Leun Kwang 73-72
- 146 Azry Asraf 73-73; Wafiyuddin Manaf 74-72; Nazri Zain 70-76
- 147 Fakhrul Akmal 70-77
Ladies
- 144 Geraldine Wong 73-71
- 147 Ng Jing Xuen (am) 73-74
- 148 Audrey Tan 75-73
- 148 Dianne Luke 73-75
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