YOUNG golfer Mohamad Iszaimi Ismail has been riding a hot putter for the last three months and will want to carry his form to the Laos SEA Games.
The 19-year-old made a big impression when he finished seventh in the Asian amateur championships in Shenzhen early this month. Iszaimi was the best-placed Asean golfer with only South Koreans and Australians ranked above him.
His performance came just a week after bagging the Faldo Series Malaysia championships in Penang.
Iszaimi was also the best Malaysian finisher in fourth spot in the Putra Cup individual competition in Chiang Rai in September.
Although he was only promoted to the national elite squad in January this year, his performances in the second half of the season must have swayed the selectors to include him in the squad for the SEA Games.
The others selected are Gavin Kyle Green, Nicholas Fung and Mohd Iylia Jamil and all of them will be making their Games debut.
The stocky Iszaimi, who lists his short game as his strongest area, is hoping to close the year on a high note by ending the country’s eight-year-old gold medal drought at the Games.
Malaysia last struck gold in the 2001 edition in Kuala Lumpur when the men’s quartet of Airil Rizman Zahari, S. Sivachandhran, Mohd Shaaban Hussin and Sahal Saedin won the team competition at the Sungai Long Golf and Country Club.
“Like everyone else going for the SEA Games, we are all trying to aim for the gold if the opportunity presents itself,” said Iszaimi, who had a one-year stint at the Heritage Academy in South Carolina last year.
“My performances have been consistent in the last quarter of the year and I hope to continue the momentum. I am confident I have the game to challenge at the SEA Games.”
Iszaimi’s interest in golf picked up after a coach at the club where his father used to play encouraged him to give a shot at the game.
“He noticed that I have the talent and persuaded me to frequent the club more to practise. It was from there that I started to like golf,” said Iszaimi, who felt he still needs to improve on his ball striking and accuracy. STAR
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