Saturday June 5, 2010

Mangit is top Bidayuh golfer

Story and photo by KERNI PUAH
sarawakstar@thestar.com.my

MANGIT SEMONG won the Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Challenge Trophy in the Gross category in the fifth World Bidayuh Golf Championship (WBGC) held at the Sarawak Club Golf Resort in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), recently.

Mangit playing to seven handicap signed off with a six-over 78 to beat six-handicaper Albert Tanon by three strokes. Tanon returned with a score of 81. Third place went to Anthony Pupea with his gross score of 82.
Ik Talano (handicap 13) with the score of 83 settled for fourth place, winning it on countback from fifth place Lester Simbas (handicap 7).

Ik Pahon Joyik, president of DBNA was declared the nett champion. He won it on countback from second and third place winners Ricky Guing and Datuk Peter Nansian, respectively. All three players had identical total of 69.

The championship, which first started in 2006, attracted 61 Bidayuh golfers this year including three women.
Among the VIPs who took part in the tournament were Deputy Tourism Minister, Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit, Assistant Minister of Environment and Public Health Datuk Peter Nansian, Bengoh Assemblyman Dr Jerip Susil and Ik Pahon Joyik.

Manyin gave away the prizes to the winners during lunch held after the game.
WBGC players’ relations and promotion officer Ricky Guing said the response to this year’s championship was overwhelming.

Manyin in his speech at the prize-giving ceremony promised that he would continue to support the event.
He said the tournament, apart from promoting golfing among Bidayuh, was also a very good platform for the participants to meet each other to do business networking.