The talented young golfer shot 165 yards at the par-3 second hole at Palm Resort Golf & Country Club, Johor's Melati Course, walking away with a Great Wall Haval M4 Automatic SUV, a prize his parents must certainly be pleased with.
Jakkarin who started playing golf from the age of six out of his own interest said he has always been an ardent fan of the sport and idolizes Thai golfer Kiadech Aphibarnrat. "I am so excited with my performance and want to be a pro golfer when I grow up" he said with a big smile.
His father Asawin Jitmaneekan, 42, expressed happiness for his son's achievement as this was the first time the young boy has played in a tournament outside his home country and the unexpected win was a great motivator for Jakkarin, he said. When asked if his father was his coach, Jakkarin joked, "Daddy is my caddy!".
The tournament which gave away prizes for top five players in each category also saw Thais Rattanabodin Tassaneetipagorn (Boys 7 years & Under), Tanjira Issaraphon (Girls 8 years & Under), Ratchanon Chantananuwat (Boys 8 years), Poomrapee Kaewpiboon (Boys 9 years), Natachanok Tunwannarux (Girls 10 years), Kanyanat Sompong (Girls 12 years) and Rugthai Thongsom (Boys 13-14 years) emerge as category champions.
Other winners of remaining categories include Rishika M (Girls 9 years) from India, Andy Dang Quang Anh (Boys 10 years) from Vietnam, Kokoro Ouchi (Girls 11 years) from Japan, Joshua Hill (Boys 11 years) from Great Britain, Casey Jarvis (Boys 12 years) from South Africa and Samantha Martirez (Girls 15-18 years) from Philippines.
Malaysian siblings Liyana and Danial Durisic won for categories Girls 13-14 years and Boys 15-18 years respectively. Other Malaysians who took home trophies include Anson Yeo Boon Xiang (2nd place - Boys 9 years), Nor Haqeim Bin Nor Hadi (3rd place - Boys 9 years), Foong Zi Yu (2nd place - Girls 10 years), Rizq Adam Rohizam (2nd place - Boys 10 years), Sarah Madzri (2nd place - Girls 11 years), Angel Hii (3rd place - Girls 11 years), Zulaikah Nurziana Nasser (3rd place - Girls 13-14 years), Geraldine Wong Xiao Xuan (3rd place - Girls 15-18 years) and Muhammad Muhazim Bakhtiar (3rd place - Boys 15-18 years).
Kids Golf World Championship, Malaysia 2015 is the international version of the prestigious US Kids Golf tournament, an annual golf event held for kids aged 5 – 18 years old providing an excellent opportunity for youngsters to compete and earn world amateur ranking points.
The tournament is presented by US Kids Golf Foundation and managed by Concept Collaboration Sdn Bhd. The championship is sanctioned by the Malaysian Golf Association and the Hole in One prize is sponsored by GO Automobile Manufacturing Sdn Bhd. For further information, please visit www.malaysiakidsgolf.com.