Teeing off to New Connections

When Lex Pang, 24, and Emerson Boon, 22,  learnt they would represent the National University of Singapore (NUS) against the University of Malaya (UM) in the 52^nd UM-NUS Inter-University Tunku Chancellor Golf Tournament in Kuala Lumpur, they were thrilled. The long-time golf buddies were eager to reunite after being apart due to COVID-19 and National Service. 

“As the only student golfers from NUS, this event was a great opportunity to connect with NUS and UM alumni,” says Mr Boon. Mr Pang adds: “It was very meaningful to be able to mingle with alumni from both schools.” 

Held for the first time in three years due to the pandemic, the competition took place on 6 and 7 June at The Mines Resort and Golf Club. The event was hosted by UM Chancellor His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, the Sultan of the state of Perak. 

This year’s tournament saw 80 golfers from NUS and UM vying for the Tunku Chancellor Cup. Conceived to foster goodwill between the two universities, the tournament’s first edition took place in 1968. 

THRILLS AND SKILLS

Led by golf captain Mr Bernard Toh (Architecture '84), the then-Director of the NUS Office of Alumni Relations, the NUS team included eight women among its 44 players. First-time participants Mr Boon (Year 1, Law) and Mr Pang (Year 3, Business) each won an award. Mr Boon took the Best NUS Pair title with another teammate, and Mr Pang aced the longest drive on Hole 5. 

Winning required grit and some strategy. “Even though I lost my match, we spurred each other on,” Mr Pang recalls. “We kept our focus, stuck to our strategy and reminded each other to take it one hole at a time.” Mr Boon, who has played golf competitively, believes that modest expectations often yield the best results. “In golf, you do what you can and let the ball do the rest,” he says.

Post-tournament, the young players also bonded with alumni. “During meals and drinks, they invited us to sit with them,” Mr Pang says. “It felt as though we had known each other for some time; the conversations were always light, and there were smiles all around.” 

Mr Boon also made friends with three of his flight mates. “It was heartening to see so many different people brought together under the auspices of golf,” he says, adding that he particularly enjoyed playing with Tun Mohamed Raus bin Sharif, the former Chief Justice of Malaysia. 

Having made new connections, both Mr Boon and Mr Pang plan to join similar tournaments as alumni and continue the cycle of friendship.