Kuala Lumpur, Sunday, 16 January 2010: Kelly Tan Guat Chen, Malaysia’s top lady amateur golf player, today became the second individual after Malaysian cycling sensation, Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, to receive the Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) “Star” Scholarship award worth RM169,000. 

The scholarship will enable the 17-year old teen golf prodigy to pursue a six-month accredited college preparatory course and full-time golf programme at the world’s most prestigious golf institution, Pendleton School at IMG Academies, in Florida, USA for six months from January to June 2011.

During her studies at the IMG Academies, she will attend academic classes and prepare for her college entrance examination whilst improving her golfing skills through various athletic training sessions, games and tournaments led by an experienced and highly qualified team.

Kelly, who has been consistently delivering outstanding performance, took second place in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2010 Regional Qualifying round which earned her a spot to play in the final with other renowned world-class players. In the recently held LPGA, she was placed 32nd out of the 60 players who competed.

Kelly also brought home two bronze medals from the South East Asian Games in 2009 and achieved fifth place in the Greg Norman Junior Master 2010 Australia (individual category) last December.

A signing ceremony was held today to mark the occasion, involving YSD, Kelly and Datuk Robin Loh of the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA), which is the governing body for amateur golf in Malaysia. MGA has given its permission and full support for YSD to sponsor Kelly’s education at IMG Academies.

Also present at the ceremony were YSD Council Members, YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Wan Mohd Zahid Mohd Noordin and YBhg. Datin Paduka Zaiton Dato’ Othman.

Tan Sri Dato’ Jegathesan, in his speech, said the scholarship will inspire other young Malaysian athletes with great potential to strive for academic excellence, whilst pursuing professional sports at the highest level and eventually reach their full potential.

“With Kelly pursuing studies at IMG Academies, she will be able to focus fully on her game. She will receive valuable learning experiences and international exposures needed to accelerate her route to professional golf. We are confident that with this support, she will be among the top ladies’ golf players and make significant contributions to the success of the Malaysian golf industry,” he added.

In the event that Kelly successfully completes her preparatory course at IMG Academies, meets the minimum college entrance requirement and receives an unconditional offer from any top US universities accredited by PGA of America under its PGA Golf Management University Programme, YSD may grant her additional scholarship funds, subject to her academic and golf performance.

Meanwhile, Kelly is all set to take on new challenges at IMG Academies. “I am grateful to YSD for giving me this opportunity to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey at one of the best schools in the world for golf. Turning pro is my main goal and dream and with the support of YSD, I am very confident that my dream will come true,” she said.

The YSD “Star” Scholarship award marked the second year of YSD’s effort to develop ‘potential stars’ in the field of arts, music, sports, environment and sciences in Malaysia. Mohd Azizulhasni, the first recipient of the YSD “Star” Scholarship Award, won gold medal at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and emerged winner in the keirin final at the UCI Track World Cup in Cali, Colombia.