Ervin gets perfect boost to pro life

PETALING JAYA: Chinese New Year cheers came early for promising young Malaysian golfer Ervin Chang (pic) as he became the first recipient of The Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Award – a mission-driven annual initiative set up last year in memory of the late former Asian Tour number one and executive chairman.

Ervin, who turned professional last year after claiming a historic gold medal for Malaysia at the SEA Games in the individual category in Hanoi, has been playing on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) where he caught the eye of officials looking to select an appropriate candidate to receive the award.The 24 year-old, who is vying in the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School this week in Hua Hin, Thailand, will receive funding of US$20,000 (RM86,640) for the year and earn invites to select events.