By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 7: The Samarahan Country Club (SCC) is set to host the inaugural Borneo Amateur Open Golf Championship 2026 from July 23 to 25, with organisers expecting about 100 golfers from Malaysia and across Southeast Asia to compete in what is billed as one of the region’s premier amateur tournaments.
In a press release, tournament patron Dato Miro Simuh said the championship is aimed at promoting Sarawak as a golf tourism destination while providing a competitive platform for amateur and junior golfers to develop their talent before moving into the professional ranks.
“Our intention is to help promote golf tourism in Sarawak while giving our amateur golfers, especially the younger and talented players, a platform to compete at a higher level,” he said in a press conference today.
Miro, who is also SCC deputy president and Serembu assemblyman, said the championship is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, alongside several corporate sponsors.
He said the tournament is open to players from throughout Southeast Asia, with invitations extended to golfers from countries including Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.
“That’s why we use the name ‘Borneo Amateur Open’ instead of ‘Sarawak’. It is open to Southeast Asian players, and we hope to make it an annual tournament in the future,” he said.
Miro described the event as one of the most prestigious amateur golf tournaments in Sarawak and Borneo, adding that SCC was proud to be among the first golf clubs in the region to organise such a championship.
He said the men’s tournament will feature gross and net categories, with the overall champion receiving the cash prize of US$1,000, in addition to a trophy.
Apart from the championship prizes, participants will have the opportunity to win attractive hole-in-one rewards sponsored for four designated holes.
A BYD Sealion 7 will be awarded for a hole-in-one at Hole 3, while a Jetour T2 sport utility vehicle awaits anyone achieving the feat at Hole 15. Hole 5 and Hole 17 each carry a cash prize of US$1,000.
The championship’s prize presentation ceremony is scheduled for the afternoon of July 25, with Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah expected to officiate as the guest of honour.
Entries for the championship close on July 15.
Meanwhile, a symbolic handing over of the challenge trophy to the organising committee also took place as preparations for the tournament shifted into fifth gear.
Also present were SCC president Brian Chien, SCC general manager Perumal Ramasamy, and club captain Dylan Lai. — DayakDaily
