Ervin ready for challenge after overseas stint

Ervin Chang has been performing well this year with two wins so far. - filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: A much-improved and stronger Ervin Chang declared he is ready to challenge for the 100Plus Malaysian Junior Open Championship honours at the Sabah Golf and Country Club from Sept 11-13.

The 16-year-old Ervin has fond memories of the championship having won the Under-14 category in 2012. He did not compete last year.

Ervin, who was promoted by the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) to the national elite squad early this year, has certainly justified his selection with several impressive performances.

In February, he bagged the Malaysian Amateur Close title and that victory also secured him a dream debut at the prestigious Maybank Malaysian Open. He failed, however, to make the cut at the RM8.78mil event.

Three months later, he went on to claim his second win of the year when he won the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Satellite Tour tournament.

In July, Ervin was part of the Malaysian team that edged Singapore 7-5 in the inaugural Ryder Cup-style Prudential Junior Causeway Trophy in Singapore.

“I’m in the best shape of my life at the moment and hopefully I’ll be able to win title number three of the season in Sabah next month,” said Ervin, who idolises Tiger Woods.

“And having recently returned from my three-week training stint in the United States, I couldn’t be more ready and feel pretty confident.

“During my times there, I managed to compete in the highly competitive San Diego Juniors Masters and the Callaway Junior Golf Championship and the experience has made me a better golfer.”

Other leading juniors, defending champion Amir Nazrin Jailani and Galven Green will join Ervin in action next month.

The other boys in the national team are Bryan Teoh, Alvin Hiew, Muhd Naquidin, Mohd Daniel Faidz Jazmi and Daeng Abdul Rahman.

Golfers from 13 countries – Singapore, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Bangladesh, South Korea and Nepal – will be taking part.