KOTA TINGGI: The second edition of the Laksamana Trophy Charity Golf Tournament at The Els Club Desaru Coast here raised RM3.158 million for cancer treatment and research.

Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar launched the tournament today, which is held to raise funds for the Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation.

Now in its second year, the tournament attracted 128 captains of industry, corporate heads, business leaders and those from the Johor golf fraternity who played in 32 flights (groups).

It was organised by the Johor Golf Tourism Association (JGTA).

The trophy is named after the ruler’s late son, Tunku Laksamana Johor Tunku Abdul Jalil Sultan Ibrahim, who died of cancer two years ago.

The overall champions for this year’s tournament were from developer, Tanglin.

The group comprising Yee Boon Wong, King Siong Kwang, Jonas Lind and Peng Ooi Goh were champions in the group category and took home the custom-made Laksamana Trophy.

The first runner-up group winner were from MB World Group Bhd, who comprised Mohd Fadil Nasir, Datuk Rohman Ahmad, Datuk Abdullah Yusop and Ahmad Murtadza Mat Nuri.

The second runner-up group winners were from Absolute Thai Sea Cuisine comprising Syed Mohsin Syed Abu Bakar Almohdzar, Ahmad Shahrudin, Mohamad Fitri Abdullah and Joey Azman.

The champion of the individual category was Normiza Shahman Ab Aziz.

This was followed by Amir Sharifuddin Abd Raub as the first runner-up and Jonas Lind as the second runner-up.

Sultan Ibrahim presented the prizes at a gala dinner tonight.

A total of RM3.158 million was raised with the participation and an auction of items belonging to the sultan.

The Weststar Group, which is the principal partner of the tournament for the second year in a row, contributed RM1 million to the Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation.

SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd contributed RM500,000 to the foundation.

The tournament’s organising chairman, Tan Sri Esa Mohamad said there were more participants this time as compared to the inaugural tournament, which may prompt the organiser to consider making it a twice yearly affair.

“There is an increase in participants this year, which posed a challenge to the initial number of amenities we prepared for the participants.

“Maybe, we could think about organising a second round of the tournament this year,” Esa said.

He said The Els Club Desaru was expected to conduct its soft opening in June next year, and by that time, it would become a premier golfing destination for the region.

“The soft opening of the golf course next year will coincide with the opening of many new hotels and a theme park in Desaru Coast,” he said.

Esa said he was touched to see many charitable corporations and individuals who came forward to support the tournament by purchasing the flights, which were sold at RM20,000 for corporations.

“I also would like to express my deepest appreciation and thanks to His Majesty for gracing our tournament and inspiring us to hold this charity golf tournament.

“I would also like to express our deepest appreciation to Tunku Panglima Johor, His Highness Tunku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ibrahim, the Patron of JGTA, for strongly supporting our noble cause,” said Esa.

Both Tunku Abdul Rahman and his younger brother Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Sultan Ibrahim took part in the tournament.

Their father Sultan Ibrahim launched the tee-off.