MYANMAR will send eight young golfers to the 1st ASEAN Junior Golf Invitational Championship in 2008, which will be held at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Malaysia on January 22-24.

U Chan Han, an executive of the Myanmar Golf Federation, said the three-day tournament was the first of its kind in the region and the Myanmar representatives would benefit from the experience.

“It’s good for young golfers. They can find out the ability of other young golfers from the region and we can then train them based on that,” he said.

But coach U Myo Tun, an executive of the Myanmar Golf Club, said the benefit would not just be to the players’ skills.

“By holding this tournament, young golfers from ASEAN countries will have a chance to make friends with each other, as golf is a social game,” he said.

The golfers though are aiming high. 12-year-old Yin May Myo has been playing for one-and-a-half years and is looking forward to the challenge.

“I am excited about the tournament and expect to finish between first and third. I am determined to become a professional,” she said.

Becoming a professional is a dream shared by many of the youngsters. Nay Bala Win Myint, 17, has been playing golf since he was eight years old.

“I started playing by going to golf courses along with my father. After achieving many first places, I’ve decided to turn pro when I turn 18,” he said.

Selected male representa-tives are Nay Bala Win Myint, Kaung Htoo Aung, Swan Thiha and Ye Htet Aung while the female golfers are Yin May Myo, May Li, K Thant Syn and May Oo Khaing.