Nujaimi takes Mitsubishi Corp Trophy

NUJAIMI HJ JUMAT was crowned the overall net winner of the 2009 Mitsubishi Corporation Trophy golf tournament at the Empire Golf and Country Club, in Jerudong, yesterday.

Nujaimi carded a 39 on count back (OCB) to beat some 200 other golfers to win the two-day annual event held at the par-71 Jack Nicklaus-designed Empire course.

Ahanapiah came in second with the same score of 39 OCB while Hj Momin Sawal finished third with a score of 38.

"I didn't expect to win. I think I just got lucky," said Nujaimi, who usually practises twice a week either at the Pantai Mentiri Golf Club or the Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) Golf Club. "I faced a tough challenge all weekend."

Priscilla Wong, meanwhile, won the ladies' gross division with a score of 84 while Hjh Rusni Lamat took the ladies' net division carding a score of 68.

Brunei's prolific golfer, Seruji Hj Setia, bagged the Invited Guests category with a score of 39.

The Men's Division A category was won by Imay Hendra with a score of 38 OCB while Kang Ho Kiong took the Division B with a score of 36 OCB.

As a tradition, Mitsubishi Corp once again brought in two professional women golfers, Fumi Doi and Ayaka Hayashi of Japan, to entertain and showcase their skills to the local crowd.

"When you get to the rough it's difficult to get the ball out. But we concentrated more on the putting to hit the fairway which was easier," said Doi about the golf course.

Asked whether they were interested to come back, both pros replied: "Yes, of course! We feel that the level of play here is very high."

Rohayati Awg Damit, a member of the tournament's organising committee, said that the tournament was a huge success.

"It was good overall as everything went smoothly."

A donation of $1,500 collected from the putting competition was donated to the National Welfare Fund and on hand to collect the mock cheque was Dato Paduka Hj Jemat Hj Ampal, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Present as the guest of honour to give away the prizes yesterday was the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Mohammad Haji Daud.

The Brunei Times