Malaysia’s 50th Kedah Amateur Open delivered an unusually close men’s finish and matching winning scores across the two main divisions. Nor Haqeim Hadi was listed as the men’s gross champion, while Nur Batrisyia Balqis Abdul Ghani claimed the women’s gross title. Remarkably, both champions completed 54 holes in 222 strokes.
The three competitive rounds took place on 23–25 October 2026 at Kulim Golf Club, in the state of Kedah. The field comprised 53 amateurs — 44 men and nine women — including 22 junior players tracked by Malaysia Junior Golf Ranking (MJGR). The Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) separately congratulated the champions; MJGR compiled the detailed round-by-round results from the event’s official cumulative standings.
Men: a two-shot swing creates a tie on strokes
Nor Haqeim Hadi posted 71–76–75 = 222. His closest challenger, Irlman Izzad Mustapa Kamal, matched that total with 72–73–77 = 222. Irlman had been two strokes ahead after 36 holes, 145 against Nor Haqeim’s 147, before a final-round 77 allowed the eventual champion to close the gap with a 75.
The published final standings place Nor Haqeim first and Irlman second. Importantly, the accessible summary does not identify the method used to separate their tied stroke totals. It would therefore be inaccurate to describe an unverified playoff or to claim that a specific countback formula decided the result. Tomoaki Takahashi finished third on 224, ahead of Muhammad Ajmal Amin Mohd Fajri on 225. These are gross stroke totals, not handicap-adjusted net scores.
Women: consistency brings a three-stroke victory
Nur Batrisyia Balqis Abdul Ghani signed for 73–74–75 = 222, three clear of Nur Fathya Emelyda Azrul Nizan on 225. Raissa Ahmad Zuhaili was third on 236. Under the MJGR age categories, the champion competes in girls under 21, the runner-up in girls under 15, and the third-place finisher in girls under 12. Their shared women’s open field highlights how national amateur events can connect several junior development stages within the same competition.
Gross titles are not net titles
The championship also maintained separate nett rankings, which apply handicap adjustments. Mohd Azlan Mohamad won the men’s nett division with 207, followed by Irlman Izzad (210) and Liew Wai Chuan (213). Nur Ilqa Syasya Shahizul led the women’s nett results with 211, ahead of Nur Fathya Emelyda (213) and Nur Batrisyia Balqis (216). Nett totals should not be compared directly with the gross totals used to identify the principal champions.
Why Kulim matters for Malaysian golf
MJGR reports that six of the top eight men and all three leading women in the gross standings are participants in its national junior ranking system. It lists the event as a Tier 1 amateur open, allocating junior ranking positions from gross rather than nett results and applying its eligibility criteria to the players it tracks.
While international attention is turning to the upcoming LPGA Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, the Kedah championship offered a different domestic perspective: an all-age amateur field, a men’s contest separated in the published standings despite equal total strokes, and a women’s champion whose disciplined rounds secured a clear three-shot margin.
Sources: MJGR, results report dated 26 October; Malaysian Golf Association, champions’ announcement; MGA, official tournament notice.
