Two Malaysian Teenages from Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Development Program Qualify to Compete with World's Best at Sime Darby LPG

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KUALA LUMPUR, 1 October 2010 - Diana Tham and Aretha Pan, who finished first and second respectively in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia national qualifying event made it five Malaysians in the star-studded field. They join Malaysian professionals, Cindy Lee-Pridgen and Jean Chua and 2009 SEA Games bronze medalist Kelly Tan.

In the national qualifier contested over 36 holes, Tham led from the start with an opening round one-over-par 72 and went on to clinch medalist honour with a final round 77 to finish with an aggregate total of seven-over-par 149.

She finished four shots ahead of second placed Pan who shot a closing round 74. Both golfers have been training for eight weeks under the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Development Program, an intensive training campaign for elite young players, in preparation for the qualifier.

I am really happy to have done so well today and to now be able to play in the tournament. I am now hoping to be paired with Natalie Gulbis who is my favourite golfer, said Tham to the NST Tee Times . Tham is also the reigning Malaysia Ladies Amateur Open champion.

Pan, aged 16 years old, revealed that the mental strength training she received at the Sime Darby LPGA Development Program was a crucial factor in her success today. I am very excited to be a part of the Sime Darby LPGA tournament next month. Having trained under the program, I learned to be able to calm my mind and I think it helped me to perform my best today .