The highly anticipated SportExcel International Junior Golf Championship 2024 officially teed off today at the renowned Tanjong Puteri Golf and Resort in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia.
Returning after a four-year hiatus, this fifteenth edition of the championship promises a display of golfing excellence from some of the world’s most talented junior golfers. The last tournament, held in 2019 and sponsored by Ambank, paved the way for this year’s bigger and more competitive event.
For the first time, Tanjong Puteri Golf and Resort plays host to the tournament, offering an exciting venue for 142 junior golfers, including 89 boys and 52 girls, representing nine countries: India, China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, and Malaysia. The competition is divided into five age categories, showcasing young talent from ages 6 to 18:
- Group A: 15-18 years
- Group B: 13-14 years
- Group C: 11-12 years
- Group D: 9-10 years
- Group E: 6-8 years
Participants will compete in two of the resort’s world-class courses. Groups A, B, and C will take on the challenging Plantation Course, while Groups D and E will battle it out on the Straits Course.
The tournament follows a stroke-play format, where players’ gross scores will determine the winners. The tournament director is Catherine Yong Kam Fah, a Level 3 certified official from the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA).
Not only does the tournament serve as a platform for young golfers to showcase their skills, but it also offers remarkable opportunities for the top performers. The eight best players from Groups A and B (both boys and girls) will earn direct slots in the Mazda-College Prep Golf Tournament 2024 at the Black Mountain Golf and Country Club in Hua Hin, Thailand, this November. Additionally, the top two players from each group will qualify for the Future Champions Golf Callaway Championship in California this December.
C. Sivanandan, organising chairman cum executive director at SportExcel, highlighted the significance of this event in elevating the status of junior golf in Malaysia and the region.
“This incredible opportunity underscores the significance of the SportExcel tournament in nurturing and propelling junior golfers to the global stage. Participants and spectators alike can look forward to an exciting and competitive event, set against the backdrop of one of Malaysia’s premier golf courses. The championship not only aims to foster sportsmanship and excellence among young athletes but also to elevate the status of junior golf in Malaysia, especially Johor,” he said.
Among the standout international participants are two Indian golfers, 12-year-old Anushka and 14-year-old Ayesha, who have already made waves in the international junior golfing scene.
Anushka, who began golfing at the age of five, has collected more than 75 medals and trophies and currently leads the Indian Golf Union’s Order of Merit Rankings for the Under 13 category. In addition to her prowess in golf, she is a national-level soccer player, recently winning the School Board Nationals in India in October 2024.
Ayesha, who has been golfing for over seven years, concluded her Under 13 career at the top of India’s golf rankings and has been sponsored by a major public enterprise for the last two years. In July 2024, she competed in several prestigious tournaments in California, including the FCG International, IMG World, and FCG Callaway World Championships, where she recorded her best tournament score of 4-under par.
A key figure in the SportExcel organisation, C. Sivanandan emphasised the championship’s role in providing international exposure for junior golfers. “SportExcel will continue to explore further opportunities for our junior golfers to have more international exposure, which is a key element in building their confidence and skill level,” he said.
The tournament runs until 27 October 2024, and it is poised to be a thrilling event for participants, spectators, and golf enthusiasts, showcasing the future stars of the sport on one of Malaysia’s premier golf courses. 
