Amateur golf open proves a real hit

Photo Supplied
Emmett “Hefner” McHenry arrives in style for the opening of the Angkor Amateur Open at Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap.

via Khmer NZ

Friday, 13 August 2010 15:00 Peter Olszewski

SUNDAY saw the completion of the Angkor Amateur Open golf tournament, which proved to be a lively mix of sporting expertise and socialising. There was a bright lights, big city aspect to the tourney with several Cambodian dignitaries playing, attracting television cameras and crews.

Last year’s Division C winner, Sokha Angkor Resort general manager Emmett McHenry, took the social aspect to a flamboyant degree by

emulating Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and arriving at the course on day one bedecked in raiment that might possibly pass as a dressing gown, and together with a gaggle of golfers, spilled from the hotel’s large and ostentatious limousine.

Earlier in the week, McHenry had taken the over-long limousine for a test run to see whether it could in fact navigate the numerous bends and corners on the road leading to the Angkor Golf Resort, the venue for the tournament.

The three-day event attracted a field of 48 golfers from Thailand, Malaysia, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap to compete in four separate handicap divisions.

Phnom Penh’s Lesley Saunderson triumphed in the Ladies Division with a blistering second round providing a 10-stroke win over her nearest rival, Kanyakorn Powers of Thailand.

A very keenly contested Division C, which comprised most of the field, saw HE Bin Chhin take the honours from local golfer Chea Sopheak. Last year’s winner, the usually competitive Emmett McHenry, saw his game fall into a heap, possibly due to the exertions of arriving by limousine.

Division B’s Sunday play saw overnight leader Brendan O’driscoll fall away badly with his second round, allowing a superb rally from HE Chhay Seng Our to claim top spot with one of the best rounds of the day. Richard Erlebach continued his impressive form to take the runner-up spot, after the O’driscoll capitulation.

Another strong turnout of quality golfers for Division A saw Scott Puzey come from behind with a scintillating even par 72 to win this year’s Open.

Saturday’s round one leader, Robin Briars from Thailand, slumped to a disappointing seven over par on his second round, allowing Puzey to claim top prize.

In the nett division, local talent Ly Hong continued his rich form by claiming the runner-up spot behind Thailand’s Nick Toon.