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Gavin Green Back on Home Turf

11 March 2013

4 min read

Rising StarReturns Hometo compete in Maybank Malaysian Open2013

 

Kuala Lumpur, 11March 2013-At nineteenyears of age, Gavin Green is one of Malaysia's rising golf stars. Having already proven his prowess with several impressive wins on the amateur circuit, Gavin hopes to turn in a strong performancein this year’s Maybank Malaysian Openwhich will be held at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club from March 21 to 24.

 

Gavin, who has not yet turned professionalbut hopes to do so in the next few years, has already had great success on the amateur circuit. He is one of theyoungest playersever to compete in an Asian Tour event, competingat the Iskandar Johor Open at the tender age of 13.Since then, his game has gone from strength to strength, winning and placing in competitions throughout Malaysia and the US. This culminated last year in Gavin winning the 2012 Malaysian Amateur Open –the first Malaysian to do so in 15 years.

 

Gavin, who says he realised he wanted to take up golf seriously when he was in his mid teens, divides his time between training and continuing his studies at the University of New Mexico, USA, where he is studying for a degree in Business. He plays for his University’s golf team, The Lobos, and is statistically the best putter on the team, and one of the top players in US Collegiate golf. University of New Mexico Head Golf Coach, Glen Millican, had this to say of the young star, “Gavin was very impressive from the first shot I saw him hit at Torrey Pines. Since then, his game has become more consistent and efficient. He has great distance and is able to hit any shot needed.His work ethic and desire to play well lead him to being as ready as he can be each time he arrives at a tournament.”

 

Speaking of competing in the upcoming Maybank Malaysian Open, Gavin said,“I am very excited.  I get to come home for one of the best tournaments around and play on the same field as the World’s bestand the former Masters’ champion. It is a great field and it is being played on an excellent golf course.  I am looking forward to it.”

 

He has been keeping up with his training schedule in the run up to the Open, and will play in The Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters in Las Vegas and the National Invitational in Tucson, Arizona before returning home to Malaysia on the 19th of March – just two days before the competition begins. He nevertheless hopes to get over the jet-lag and to get a practice round in before the tournament starts, to keep himself in top form. When asked what he thought about Gavin’s chances at the Maybank Malaysian Open, his coach Glen Millican replied, “Gavin has proven many times that if he plays his own game as well as he can each day, he is capable of playing well anywhere. When he plays well, he usually ends up in a pretty good position at the end of any tournament he plays in.”

 

Gavin will be joining some of the biggest names in golf at the Maybank Malaysian Open, including former World Number 1 Luke Donald, three-time Major Champion Padraig Harrington, 2011 Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel and 2011 Maybank Malaysian Open winner Matteo Manassero. Speaking of the stiff competition, Gavin said, “I think that I am just lucky to be able to play in the same field as such golfing greats. I am sure I will learn a lot from them.”

 

Gavin’s parents will be cheering him on at the tournament, as will his younger brother Galven – another keen golfer, and with talent similar to his older brother’s; Galven won the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship in San Diego, USA in 2006. Gavin’s father, Gary Green, and mother Vivienne Beh Lee Khoon, both support his decision to continue his training while at University, saying, “We are very proud that he made up his mind that this is the path that he wants to take and we will support him as best as we can. We are blessed that he got into a school like UNM where there is a great golf team with great coaches and a wonderful environment.”

 

Aside from hoping to do well in the Maybank Malaysian Open, Gavin hopes to qualify for the US Open this year, having narrowly missed out on it last year. He also wants to win a few more tournaments before he turns professional. Having done so well in the Malaysian Amateur Open last year, hopefully the magic of being on home turf persists, and Gavin can begin his journey to the Pro Tours with a strong performance at the Maybank Malaysian Open 2013.

 

Gavin is one of the six amateurs that have been specially selected to be part of the Maybank Malaysian Open 2013. Selected based on their outstanding performance, other amateurs specially picked to be part of the prestigious event this year are Arie Ahmad Fauzi, Low Khai Jei, Abel Tham, Mohammad Afif Mohd Radzi and Solomon Emilio Rosidin.

 

The 2013 Maybank Malaysian Open will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. The tournament runs from the 21stto 24thof March, with related events taking place from the 18thof March. For information, visit www.maybankmalaysianopen.comor follow us on Twitter @maybankmsiaopen or #maybankmalaysianopen. Tickets for the event are available now. For information on ticketing, please go to www.ticketpro.com.my.

 

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