PETALING JAYA: Youngster Zulaikah Nurziana Nasser continues to give Malaysia a big boost in the highly competitive United States collegiate scene.
The 19-year-old Zulaikah claimed her second individual championship of the 2021 fall season at the Palmetto Intercollegiate in US yesterday.
Zulaikah, a second year student at the Texas-based Sam Houston State University, clinched the title by three strokes after finishing on 10-under 206 at the Turtle Point Golf Course in Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
A pair of four-under 68s gave Zulaikah the early lead and a two-under 70 on Wednesday was good enough for her to hold on to the top spot.
Zulaikah’s impressive efforts helped the Sam Houston women’s golf team to a third-place finish in the tournament as they finished six-over with rounds of 284, 290 and 296 for a total of 870.
North Florida won the tournament at eight-under 856 followed by South Florida at three-over 867.
Zulaikah is one of the six Malaysian golfers who have tasted glory in the US this year.
Zulaikah secured her maiden win when she won the Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course tournament in Mobile, Alabama last month.
September was also a memorable month for Liyana Durisic as the Iowa State University student became a first-time winner after finishing as joint-champion at the Wolverine Invitational in Michigan last month.
Others who also secured their breakthrough wins this year are Ashley Lau (University of Michigan), Audrey Tan (University of North Texas), Allycia Gan (Missouri Western State University) and Nur Syazani Amalia Shahzan (Oakland University).
There were double cheers for Zulaikah as she was named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Women Golfer of the Week.
Zulaikah leads the WAC in stroke average at 71.1 per round and has three top five finishes, including her two wins, from five appearances.
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