A major positive to come out of July’s Cambodian leg of the Faldo Series Asia event at the Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap was the marked improvement shown by 16-year-old Tevy Sareoun.

Sareoun not only emerged as the national qualifier for the grand final early next year but has also built a strong case to be considered for the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia.

While Sareoun is preparing for next month’s New Club Championships at the AGR, she has set herself the stiff target of reducing her handicap to scratch before she turns 18.

This comes as no surprise to AGR head professional Alan Martin, who has been working on Sareoun’s game since he took up his job more than a year ago.

The hard work that has gone into fine-tuning Sareoun’s skills was well reflected in her Faldo Series performances, where she posted scores of 84 and 79 – her first tournament score below 80. In the 2015 edition, she was listless at 106 and 91.

“A year on, you are looking at a different player who has shown an improvement of a significant 34 shots over two rounds. The way she is working on her game, there is plenty of scope for her to better those scores. The goal she has set herself is bold and realistic,” Martin told the Post.

“It would indeed do her career a world of good if she can represent the country in the SEA Games, which come months after her second appearance in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final in Vietnam early next year. I am confident she can be quite competitive,” the head professional at the AGR said.

Ambassador role

The women’s individual event in the previous SEA Games in Singapore was won by Princess Mary Superal of the Philippines with a three-round 210, six under par (72, 66, 72), with the next best players from Myanmar and Indonesia on the podium returning 216 and 217, respectively.

In comparison, Sareoun’s best looks distant, yet given her age coupled with her zeal to do well, a chance to represent the Kingdom could take her in a new direction.

Meanwhile, the AGR has chosen Sarouen to be its Academy ambassador on a two-year contract, which will see the young golfer more involved with the Academy and the junior development program.

As its ambassador, Sareoun will represent and promote the AGR Academy throughout her golfing travels in addition to the time she spends honing her skills at the course.

“It’s great to have Sareoun join the team here at the Academy,” Martin said. “In her relatively short golfing career, Sareoun has travelled around the region to compete at tournaments in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and China, and what great experiences to share with local youngsters looking to take up the game.”