ISSUE 11 JUNE 2012

GAVIN COMES GOODGAVIN COMES GOOD

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GIVE COLLEGIATE GOLF A SERIOUS THOUGHTHalfway through the 2012 season, I cannot help but express my feeling that the domestic professional scene is starting to become a little too monotonous for my liking. While we have had our fair share of highlights and exciting finishes on the burgeoning domestic circuit so far this year, nothing really spectacular has caught my eye.

Maybe I am just as guilty of putting excessive expectations on our strapping young professionals but as many avid golf fans would concur with me, it seems like the continued success enjoyed by the established names has doused the “fire in the belly” of our younger pros.

The confidence and glimmer of hope in the eyes of many of these rookies have long gone. It is simply understood that as these young men continue to scrap the bottom of the barrel, trying to earn loose change on the paid ranks to cover their playing expenses - one or two would have inevitably cast an envious look at their (still) amateur compatriots, wondering if they had made the right decisions after all.

During the recent national amateur championships, I had the opportunity to speak to a couple of our lads and lasses, who have grasped the opportunity to cross continents to pursue collegiate golf in the United States and I must say that their impressive witty responses gave me some positive pointers to ponder.

Between balancing the needs to maintain a respectable CPGA in their chosen degree programmes and the rough-and-tumble of competitive team golf, these young athletes were adapting well to life away from their comfort zones and social upbringings. They are making new friends, opening their minds to a broader horizon, learning exciting things and genuinely having fun competing while becoming very good golfers in the process.

I can understand that pursuing collegiate golf in the United States is well beyond the means of many. Some parents have confessed to me that “their children are educationally challenged” and I comprehend that. First-hand experience also tells me that some have no choice but to make the jump as soon as possible to provide financially for themselves and their family.

However, with the steady growth of collegiate golf options in the country, the choices are still open for a majority of our young amateurs to earn either a book-smart degree or a vocational qualification. Do not be hasty, take your time and enter the paid ranks when you are well prepared with a game and mental aptitude that the life as a professional demands of you. In a not-so-perfect world, it does not hurt that you have something to fall back on.

As one industry veteran put forward to me a few weeks ago, “It [the professional game] is a rude awakening for most of our boys because they go into it with all these misconstrued ideas that someone owes them a living. What they don’t realise is that they risk getting sucked into a vicious cycle that would chew and spit them out like a nobody if they’re not up to the standard.”

I can only concur.

Edward SaminathanChief Golf Writernews@theclubhouse.com.my

THE TEAM

Chief Golf Writer Edward Saminathan

Sub-Editors Lina Abdul Wahab, Khalidah Jamil Evelyn Gan

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CONTEST RESULTS - STRAP A ROCKET TO YOUR BALL CONTEST (APRIL 2012)Grand Prize One (1) TaylorMade Rocketballz™ fairway wood + one (1) TaylorMade Rocketballz™ capMohd Yamin Md Husin (Kelana Jaya, Selangor) Consolation prizesOne (1) dozen TaylorMade Rocketballz™ golf balls + one (1) TaylorMade Rocketballz™ capHasni Atan (Ulu Tiram, Johor), Chin Fook Loy (Ipoh, Perak), Abdul Halim Zainal (Johor Bahru, Johor)Kamal Adzham Kamarudin (Shah Alam, Selangor) ,Genevieve Ling I-Rynn (Sungai Buloh, Selangor)

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GAVIN COMES GOOD

Summer break or not, Gavin Kyle Greenarrived in Kuala Lumpur with the expectationsof a nation on his shoulders. The seasoned amateur did not disappoint with a sensational double victory, cementing his status as Malaysia’s best hope for the future.By Edward Saminathan

©TDSportphoto

7

As Gavin Kyle Green landed home after a whirlwind transit halfway across the globe from his academia base in

Albuquerque, New Mexico, the plausibility of ending a 15-year drought for domestic Malaysian Amateur Open champion indeed seemed far-fetched for the strapping young lad.

After failing to make it into the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship with his University of New Mexico team, Gavin made an unscheduled return to Kuala Lumpur to spend his summer break before rejoining his teammates in New York for a series of post-season tournaments.

Arriving two days shy of the 110th edition of the prestigious championship, he was if anything, looking forward to a good run in two of Malaysia’s most competitive amateur meets and a short retreat with his loved ones.

Playing with little expectation of his own - despite the weight of hope placed on his young shoulders by the nation’s golfing community, Gavin was pretty honest about his chances after an opening round of even-par 72 at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, explaining that he was still recovering from the effects of jetlag and was slowly finding his way around the layout. “Just need to adjust myself better and pace myself out there. Other than that, I had fun out there,” he said with a little shrug of his shoulders and a wry smile.

And acclimatised as he did, producing a flawless second round display of seven-under 65 - a masterful performance of tee-to-green excellence to catapult himself to the top of the leaderboard. Following it up with another solid round of 69 on Saturday, Gavin was in pole position heading into Sunday’s final round - three strokes ahead of Thai adversary, Poom Saksansin.

The battle between the two former Malaysian Junior Open champions got off to a fiery start. While it was clear from the start that the lanky Malaysian enjoyed a clear distance gain from the tees, it was Poom who drew first blood, draining a 20-foot birdie on the second to reduce the lead to two shots. After exchanging birdies on the fifth, it was the stocky Thai who dropped the first shot

in what eventually turned out to be a two-man duel for the crown; he missed the green with his approach before only finding the fringe with his chip. Two putts later, Gavin was once again three strokes ahead but only momentarily so, before the 18-year-old local hopes carded a blemish of his own, dropping a bogey after a brush with the bunker.

There was little to separate the duo and as the scorching sun turned the pristine Valley

tract into a burning cauldron, it was clear that someone had to make a move sooner or later. It was Gavin who jumped to the task, nailing a monstrous birdie on the par-three eighth before quickly adding two consecutive gains around the turn to race four-strokes ahead. Poom was definitely feeling the heat; two straight bogeys on the 11th and 12th handed Gavin a six-stroke advantage, which he slowly nursed all the way to the end.

As he confidently strode down the 18th, acknowledging the gathered gallery which included the bigwigs of Malaysian golf, his contemporaries and more than a few well-wishers, it dawned on me that the young man, whom I had witnessed advancing from the junior golf circuits to taking on professionals in premier tournaments, now possessed a newfound strength in his arsenal

- an indefatigable mindset and a burning desire to realise the potential which so many have predicted of him.

On more than one occasion that Sunday as I tracked around the layout, Gavin’s awareness to what was happening around him was clearly on display for all to see. Playing not only to his ability as he drove the ball well over 350 yards with his driver but also to the situation, Gavin switched easily from conservative play to a more aggressive charge without batting an eyelid, picking and choosing holes to attack. He was also strategising his approach and managing the course with his game-winning acumen and maturity - positive aspects which he has gained in his relatively short year-long stint in the United States.

Facing the media, no doubt still a bit lightheaded with the enormity of his victory, Green could not hide his delight after helping to keep the trophy on Malaysian soil for the first time since Nachimuthu Ramasamy held it aloft at Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah in 1997.

“To be honest, I didn’t know that it has been that long since a Malaysian last won the championship but I believe I worked hard and played well over the last couple of days, so I definitely feel great to have triumphed here. It’s important for me that my amateur

career record will now show that I have won my national amateur championship,” shared Green, who in the process laid claim to having won the holy grail of the Malaysian Amateur Closed, the 100Plus Malaysian Junior Open and the TSM Golf Challenge on top of his victory.

“I didn’t have the best of preparations as I arrived just in time for the tournament, so I didn’t think too much about winning. The conditions were definitely challenging, it was really hot and humid out there and I could feel a little bit of the jet-lag setting in. Nevertheless, I was able to pace myself after making those crucial strings of birdies around the turn,” he added.

8

Brimming with confidence and still digesting his victory at Glenmarie, Gavin made his way to Saujana Golf & Country

Club, attempting to complete a successful title defence at the 25th MPI-Saujana Amateur Championship.

Faced by the resurgent pair of Australia’s Oliver Goss and compatriot Arie Irawan Ahmad Fauzi, Gavin had his hands full as he struggled to assert himself in the wet conditions. However, a shared lead coming into the final round, thanks to opening rounds of 71 and 69 was a “good result” according to the reigning champion.

The final round proved to be no walk in the park for Gavin as the Perth-native threatened to steal the limelight. After a nightmarish outward nine when he dropped three strokes through a double bogey and a bogey in successive holes, Green made the turn alongside Oliver, who had moved level with a front nine of 37.

Oliver moved two shots clear on the 12th after a birdie as the Malaysian dropped another shot but the local favourite hauled himself in front with three successive birdies from hole 13th. The pair then exchanged a bogey each on the 16th and 17th before Gavin sealed a tough-earned victory with a tricky downhill 10-footer birdie on the last.

“I was a bit wary after the initial two dropped shots and when I notched another bogey on the sixth, I told myself to calm down and get my game working again. Luckily, I managed to get an immediate response with a birdie on the seventh and from there, I knew I had to get it right,” said Gavin, who relied on his father Gary to provide him with the leaderboard movements as Oliver was playing in the flight ahead of him.

“At the 17th I knew I was one-upped and decided to play the dogleg hole in regulation.

Had I been behind, I would certainly have gone for the green but at the end, I calculated the risk. I knew that I had a good birdie opportunity on the last and I’m glad that I stuck to it and it worked out as planned. It was a mighty fine way to finish off a tough contest,” admitted Green, who notched a three-under 213 total to outduel the Australian by two strokes and claim his third win at the event.

“I definitely had the confidence coming into this event but what I did was to play my game and stick to my game plan. It feels really good but I would have laughed it off if someone had suggested two weeks ago that I would have claimed this historic double,” he admitted.

It may still be early days but the nation can rest well knowing that this man on the mission may be our best bet yet one day to end another long drought - one which no Malaysian has been accomplish in 51 years.

I like to finishcollege first. I’m still learning, picking up

those finer points of the game and

working on having the best possible

mental strength going forward when I turn

professional.

One for the family album

A third Saujana Amateur victory

9

Going into the final round of the 29th Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open, few would have bet against hot favourite

Kelly Tan from successfully defending her title at the East Course of Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club on May 31.

Everything seemed to be going according to script for Kelly, whose experience at the layout having twice emerged as the best placed amateur of the prestigious Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia was clearly on show from the opening round itself.

With rounds of 68 and 67 and a three-stroke advantage in the bag, the 18-year-old Johorean appeared to be very much in cruise control before a spectacular final round

collapse left her wondering what could have been.

A disappointing inward nine of three bogeys against a birdie meant Kelly failed to get into her usual rhythm and her performance continued to unravel on the back nine as she posted a closing three-over 74 to finish one stroke behind Australian Whitney Hillier, who stormed home in sensational fashion to lift the Tuanku Ampuan Negeri Sembilan trophy.

Living up to her top billing, the 21-year-old from Perth, who was the top-ranked player in the field at 15th on the World Amateur Golf Rankings, bounced back from a poor second round display to fire the round of the tournament - a sizzling six-under-par 65 - for a three-day overall of five-under 208.

Eight strokes off the pace at the start of the

round, Hillier traded seven birdies against a single blemish on the par-four eighth, including a run of four birdies in six holes on the inward nine, to become the first-ever Australian winner of the prestigious national ladies amateur championship.

Filipino Dottie Ardina, the 2007 individual champion, finished third on two-under-par 211, one stroke ahead of her compatriot Princess Superal as former Malaysian Amateur Open winner Aretha Pan Herng completed the top-five on level-par 213 on the back of rounds of 71, 69 and 73.

With her mom Gai and a voracious group of supporters from her native Joondalup Country Club raring her on, Hillier proved very much the worth winner of the tightly contested championship. “It’s just been an amazing week really. I just

HILLIER BREAKS LOCAL HEARTS

MALAYSIAN LADIES GOLF ASSOCIATION

Australia’s Whitney Hillier claimed an emphatic victory at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club

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went out there today with no expectations and had so much fun and support out there. I’m really happy with the way I played today and being the champion is a great bonus,” said

Hillier, who claimed her third amateur crown of the year having won the Lake Macquarie Amateur Open and the Riverdale Women’s Cup back home earlier in the year.

“I started off well, mixing three birdies and a bogey on the front nine and went into the back nine with some good thoughts and vibes and it definitely got me rolling those three consecutive birdies from the 13th which put me in contention,” shared the lass of English-Thai parentage.

“My putting was a lot stronger today. My iron play has really improved day-on-day, the first day it was really scrappy but I managed to

post a good score. Yesterday it didn’t do the trick but it really came to the fore today and I was on fire,” she added, noting that her good putting average was key to her success.”

Hillier admitted that she was surprised to find herself ahead after finishing her round. “I didn’t realise that I was so close to Kelly but I just went for it. I really was not trying to think too much about her score because she has just been great the whole week. She could have easily made four or three-under today but it didn’t happen and I’m quite surprised to stand here as the winner,” she added.

The Malaysian number one put on a brave face in defeat, acknowledging that nerves came into play towards the end as Hillier turned on the heat.

“I didn’t know that Whitney had charged

back until the 15th and I guess it did raise the stakes a little bit and the pressure got into my head,” said Kelly, who dropped a bogey on the 16th to drop behind Hillier before seeing her short birdie putt on 17th lip out.

“It hurts because I lost by such a narrow margin but if I’m taking something from this tournament, is that I should play every shot as if it’s the last,” she added dejectedly.

There was scant consolation for Kelly in the form of the overall team championship, as she skippered the Malaysia A team, which included Aretha and Iman Ahmad Nordin to an eight-stroke victory over Philippines.

Local junior Nur Islamiah Fuad (75,80 and 76) claimed the Division 2 title on countback ahead of Chinese Taipei’s Hung Jo Hua (78-76-77) after garnering a 231 total while Korea’s Kim Joo Yeon topped the Division 3 rankings with a overall score of 254 (85-83-86), five strokes ahead of Malaysia’s Natasha Andrea Oon (86-84-89).

Notwithstanding the failure of the local contingent to retain the individual championship for the fourth straight year running, the Malaysian Ladies Golf Association’s executive director Dato’ Rabeahtul Aloya Abbas was delighted with the outcome of the championship.

“We had a worthy champion in Whitney and her victory is definitely a great boost to the international standing of this tournament. The Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open now stands as the most prestigious ladies amateur championship in the country and we hope to build on that with a stronger field next year from across the region,” she noted.

MALAYSIAN LADIES GOLF ASSOCIATION

Malaysia emerged as the team champions

Leading final round scores (Division 1 only)

208 – Whitney Hillier (AUS) 68-75-65

209 – Kelly Tan Guat Chen (MAS) 68-67-74

211 – Dottie Ardina (PHI) 68-75-68

212 – Princess Superal (PHI) 71-67-74

213 – Aretha Pan (MAS) 71-69-73

214 – Savitree Thavong (THA) 71-70-73

217 – Suthavee Chanachai (THA) 73-71-73

219 – Sitarnat Singhanart (THA) 73-75-71, Koh Sock Hwee (SIN) 74-72-73, Vani Sanjeev Kapoor (IND) 73-70-76

11

Up against two former winners, Webb Simpson never really allowed himself to wrap his mind about joining the

pantheon of Major winners after staring at a six-stroke deficit coming into final round of the US Open Championship on June 17.

Doing his part with four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn before adding a tough clutch par save from the collar of the 18th green for a closing two-under 68, Simpson was set for a nervous wait after setting the clubhouse lead at one-over.

Sitted in a quiet corner of the locker room with his pregnant wife Dowd, Simpson was left stunned as Furyk bogeyed two of his last three holes and McDowell failed to recover from a bad start with too many tee shots in the rough to hand him the biggest prize any American golfer would dream to win.

It was the Olympic Club after all - where the most unlikely of winners has held aloft the championship trophy and following his breakthrough year on the PGA Tour in 2011,

Webb Simpson claimed his third Tour title and his first Major victory.

“You know, this is only my second US Open and so I told myself don’t get too excited, don’t try to win. You’ve got to go out there ask try to make pars, and that’s what I did and luckily I made some putts, and got a couple under out of it,” said Simpson.

Quite interestingly, he becomes the ninth straight player to claim a maiden victory at golf’s Majors - a streak which has gone unbroken since McDowell’s victory at Pebble Beach in 2010.

MAJOR MOMENTS

LAST MAN STANDING

Webb Simpson survived a treacherous Sunday afternoon at the Olympic Club in to earn his place in golfing history by winning the 112th US Open Championship

Simpson’s Arsenal

Driver: Titleist 909D3 (10.5°) Fairway: Titleist 910F (13.5° & 17°)Hybrid: Titleist 910H (21°) Irons: Titleist 680MB (4-PW) Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design TVD

(54° & 58°) Putter: Ping G5i Craz-E BellyBall: Titleist Pro V1xGlove: FootJoy Pure TouchShoes: FootJoy Icon

12

How they finished?+1 Webb Simpson (USA) +2 Graeme McDowell (NIR), Michael Thompson (USA) +3 David Toms (US), Padraig Harrington (IRE), J Peterson (USA), Jason Dufner (USA), Jim Furyk (USA) +4 Ernie Els (RSA) Selected others +5 Lee Westwood +6 KJ Choi, Adam Scott, Martin Kaymer +7 Tiger Woods

Bundle of joyExpecting their second child in less than two months, the Simpsons have a new addition to the mantelshelf.

Still looking for a MajorLee Westwood struck a towering 40-foot cypress tree on the fifth and the ball never came down. Even a binoculars couldn’t help the Worksop native end his Major drought.

Fuming FurykFailing to live up to his nickname, The Grinder came off short in the end. A duck hook off the 16th - bad by even his own loopy swing standards - was followed swiftly by a hash out on the 18th when he found the bunker with approach before spraying the ball across the green for a bogey finish.

That sinking feelingGraeme McDowell closes his eyes in disbelief as his 24-foot putt for birdie on the closing hole fails to break into the hole - a miss that meant the Ulsterman failed to force a 18-hole Monday playoff.

Flying under radarIf anyone had thought Michael Thompson’s opening 66 was a fluke, the 27-year-old who made it through the sectional qualifying, bounced back strongly with a finishing 67 to give himself a glimmer of hope.

MAJOR MOMENTS

13

Glove : TaylorMade

Rocketballz

Ball : TaylorMade

Penta Tp

Shoes : adidas Tour

360 Carbon

INSIDE THE ROPES

Sukree Othman became the first consecutive winner on the burgeoning Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour

when he overcame a bumpy final stretch to win a pressure-packed Melaka Classic on June 9.

It followed his record victory at the Kinrara Classic a fortnight before, when he totalled 24-under-par 264 to usurp the previous best of 22-under-par set by Jonathan Moore at the Asian Development Tour co-sanctioned Impian Classic last year.

Pocketing RM42,000 for his two victories, the 35-year-old was laughing all the way to the bank after picking up a further RM10,000 bonus at Kinrara Golf Club, courtesy of event title sponsors I&P Group for setting a new course record with his second round nine-under-par 63.

“I don’t think it was easy for me out there this week after the heroics of Kinrara, but that’s just golf – it happens when you least expect it,” shared the relieved winner, whose dropped shots on the finishing stretch almost handed the initiative to third round joint leader, Nicholas Fung to triumph by one shot at Ayer Keroh Country Club.

“I’m just grateful that I managed to do enough to claim this victory – it was definitely hard-fought! I think the pressure was on from the start as I didn’t have a comfortable lead like I did in Kinrara two weeks ago. It gradually got to my head towards the end, and I almost made things difficult for myself,” added Sukree, who needed superb chip-in from the greenside rough on the last for a crucial par save and the victory.

His third victory of the season means he is now a strong challenger to reigning Order of Merit champion Nachimuthu Ramasamy’s grip on the current Money List.

“It is hard work because I’ve won in different circumstances this year – in Kelantan, I had to come back from behind; Kinrara was a smooth cruise and now grinding out a result here. I still feel that I have a few more wins in the bag but I have to work on my consistency.”

“It’s a dream to top the Order of Merit and I believe these two victories definitely put me in the right state of mind to challenge it at the end of the year,” he concluded.

BACKTOBACK VICTORIES FOR SUKREE Kinrara Classic - Leading final round scores

264 – Sukree Othman (69-63-65-67)273 – Nicholas Fung (65-69-70-69)276 – Ben Leong (70-72-66-68)283 – R. Nachimuthu (72-72-71-68); Md Rashid

Ismail (71-71-74-67); Mohd Iszaimi Ismail (71-72-70-70)

284 – Airil Rizman Zahari (75-69-70-70); Danny Chia (72-65-74-73)

285 – Shaaban Hussin (71-71-70-73)286 – Nicholas Pua (70-71-79-66); Akhmal

Tarmizee (73-71-73-69), P. Gunasagaran (73-70-73-70)

Melaka Classic - Leading final round scores

285 – Sukree Othman (67-73-74-71)286 – Nicholas Fung (74-74-66-72)288 – R.Nachimuthu (71-74-70-73), Airil Rizman

Zahari (72-70-73-73)289 – Solhairy Sharif (77-70-72-70)290 – Ben Leong (70-71-74-75)292 – Khor Kheng Hwai (73-72-71-76)293 – Danny Chia (77-76-71-69), S. Murthy (74-

73-78-68)294 – Shaaban Hussin (73-74-74-73)

SUKREE’S ARSENAL

Driver : TaylorMade

Rocketballz Tour

TP (9°)

Fairway : TaylorMade

Rocketballz Tour

(14.5°)

Hybrid : TaylorMade

Rocketballz Tour

Rescue (18.5°)

Irons : TaylorMade Tour

Preferred MB

(3 to PW)

Wedges : TaylorMade ATV

Tour (52° & 60°)

Putter : TaylorMade Ghost

Tour Manta

Sukree Othman is the sole three-time winner on the burgeoning domestic tour in 2012

©ArepKulal/PGM

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There will be no rota of the Maybank Malaysian Open venue in the near future after event organiser GlobalOne

confirmed that the 52nd edition of the national Open will be once again held at the resplendent Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

It will be the fourth consecutive year that the nation’s premier golfing facility will host the prestigious championship. All parties involved, notably title sponsor Maybank as well as event custodians Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) are delighted with the confirmation.

“We are delighted to be able to work with Kuala Lumpur GCC as over the past three years, we have established a good working relationship with them. We will continue to strive to make this event better year-on-year. It helps when we have such committed partners who have the same goals in mind,”

commented Global One chief executive John Eu.

Maybank, whose current sponsorship deal of the National Open will continue until 2015, opined that Kuala Lumpur GCC has year-on- year cemented its claim as the ultimate venue for the championship.

“Kuala Lumpur GCC has been incredibly accommodating in meeting the needs of the players, the sponsors and the public. The course is one of the best in Malaysia and we are very happy that Maybank can continue

to rely on the support of such a renowned venue,” said the banking group’s chief marketing officer Mohamed Adam Wee.

MGA president Admiral (R) Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor conceded that the venue has become synonymous with the Maybank Malaysian Open.”We’re happy that the Kuala Lumpur GCC will continue as the host of the Maybank Malaysian Open in 2013. The West Course is easily considered as one of the best layouts in Asia and will continue to set the benchmark for both international talents and our local stars.”

The Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Peak Performance Academy at Kinrara Golf Club was officially launched on May

23, marking the beginning of a six-month intensive programme for the pioneer batch of 12 promising young professionals and highly-talented amateurs.

Mooted by PGM and managed by MST Golf, the Academy aims to develop a benchmark programme. The goal is to develop professional golfers who can elevate the standard and competitiveness of the burgeoning domestic circuit.

Kinrara Golf Club, which was earmarked as the home of the Academy last year, underwent a significant upgrading exercise recently. It now boasts of a purpose- built training room, fully equipped with special golf training equipment to the tune of RM200,000, a gymnasium as well as a complete pitch-and-putt facility for the Academy’s use.

“On behalf of I&P Group Sdn Bhd, I would like to express our appreciation to PGM for selecting Kinrara Golf Club as the centre for

the PGM Peak Performance Academy. The club will certainly gain mileage from the exposure the academy will bring with it,” said Dato’ IR. Jamaluddin Osman.

PGM chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid welcomed the support from I&P Group.”We welcome the support of the private sector in contributing towards the development of professional golf in Malaysia. The PGM Peak Performance Academy is an essential

part, in addition to the PGM Tour, to produce Malaysia’s future champion golfers in early preparation for the next Olympics where golf is a sports event,” he said.

In another development, I&P Group also announced that they will provide a one-year sponsorship worth RM60,000 to the reigning PGM Order of Merit champion, with last year’s champion R. Nachimuthu being the first recipient of the deal.

KUALA LUMPUR GCC SET TO REMAIN AS MAYBANK MALAYSIAN OPEN VENUE IN 2013

PGM PEAK PERFORMANCE ACADEMY LAUNCHED AT KINRARA GC

©Arep Kulal/PGM There will be no more pre-qualifying for Idzwan Idzhar Marappan after he picked up playing rights for the rest of the

season on the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour recently.

The 23-year-old Johorean topped the standings during the three-day mid-year qualifying School held at Kinrara Golf Club from June 12 -14, notching rounds of 70, 76 and 77 for a seven-over 223 total. Nine out of the 43 entrants managed a score of 15-over 231 or better to earn their touring cards till December 2012.

Joining Idzwan are Mohd Musa Fakir, Periyono Dolsalim, Alwi Kamaruddin, Azhar Majid, Riduan Harisa, Mohd Fikri Mohammad as well as youngsters Iqbal Yusoff and Atiq Idris.

Idzwan who finished 76th in last year’s Order of Merit, and missed out on automatic playing

rights, was delighted with the result. “I am delighted because this means I don’t have to pre-qualify anymore and it will definitely give me a much needed boost to do better and establish myself on the burgeoning domestic circuit,” said Idzwan, who has qualified for four PGM tournaments this year but has only made one halfway cut.

Leading final round scores

223 - Idzwan Idzhar Marappan 70-76-77225 - Mohd Musa Fakir 78-72-75227 - Riduan Harisa 76-77-74230 - Iqbal Yusoff 79-79-72; Mohd Fikri

Mohammad 83-75-72; Atiq Idris 78-79-73

231 - Alwi Kamaruddin 79-80-72; Periyono Dolsalim 80-78-73; Azhar Majid 83-73-75

NINE EARN PGM TOURING CARDS AFTER MID-YEAR Q-SCHOOL

Seven of the nine qualifiers (not in the picture: Iqbal Yusoff & Atiq Idris)

©PGM

PGM chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji unveiling a plaque at Kinrara Golf Club to commemorate the launch

INSIDE THE ROPES

16

Ervin Chang underlined his future potential by emerging tops in the boys’ division of the inaugural Malaysian

Junior Closed presented by Mizuno and GolfHouse on June 7 while Nur Durriyah Damian held on for a wire-to-wire victory in the girls’ division.

Ervin overcame a late slip-up to close with a solid two-under 74 at Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam for a three-day total of six-over 224, two shots ahead of joint overnight leader Kuhanesh Ganesan of Johor (76). Home favourite and KGPA prodigy, Ranjeesh Sathuraman finished third on 226 after a closing 78.

“I can’t describe how excited I am to claim the maiden Malaysian Junior Closed championship. It’s definitely a confidence boosting victory for me ahead of my first appearance in Kuala Lumpur at the Malaysian Games (SUKMA) next month,” exclaimed Ervin.

The 14-year-old national back-up, who started level on four-over par alongside Kuhanesh and Ranjeesh, recovered well with two early birdies today, but four bogeys including two dropped shots on the finishing stretch left the youngster in doubt of claiming the victory.

“I played well today after a positive start but I began to tire out towards the end. I was struggling with cramps and it affected my concentration. Luckily I managed to keep

my game in rein to avoid losing too much,” explained Chang, who accepted that he still needs to work on his mental game and stamina.

Despite a final round of five-over 77, national player Durriyah eased to a massive ten-stroke victory with a 223 overall score ahead of runner-up Sarfina Vinota Seretharan (78). Genevieve Ling I-Rynn was third on 19-over 235.

Nonetheless, the 16-year-old from Kuala Lumpur was not pleased with her overall performance despite the victory. “I can’t say I’m too happy with the way I played here as my score got worst day-on-day. My putting was poor this week as I missed many makeable birdie putts. However, in the end a victory is a victory and I’m quite pleased to bounce back after last week’s display,” shared Durriyah, who finished tied 29th at the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open.

“I was fortunate that I posted a strong opening round which gave me enough room to breathe and I was lucky that my fellow competitors didn’t mount a strong challenge,” added the girls’ under-18 winner.

Other notable winners in the age-group categories include Siti Zulaikhaa Shaari (girls’ under-14), Sarfina (girls’ under-16), Paul San (boys’ under-16) as well as Kuhanesh (boys’ under-18).

Leading final round scores (boys)

222 – Ervin Chang (70-78-74)224 – Kuhanesh Ganesan (73-75-76)226 – Ranjeesh Sathuraman (76-72-78)227 – Paul San Weng Yau (75-79-73)232 – Amir Nazrin Jailani (76-81-75)234 – Albright Chong (77-79-78), Aizat Nazhief (73-80-81)236 – Muhammad Afzal Mohd Zubir (79-82-75)237 – Mohd Asyraf Hj Rosli (79-84-74), Sazanur Iman Salenin (82-79-76),

Kenneth Lui (81-76-80), Fazdly Ahmad Chua (79-74-84), Bryan Teoh Wiyang (75-77-85)

Leading final round scores (girls)

223 – Nur Durriyah Damian (70-76-77)233 – Sarfina Vinota Seretharan (78-77-78)235 – Genevieve Ling I-Rynn (80-76-79)242 – Asha Lakshme (78-82-82)243 – Siti Zulaikhaa Shaari (80-83-80)248 – Celine Lim (85-80-83), Nur Eliana Ariffin (83-81-84)254 – Ashley Lau (86-79-89)255 – Lim Ai Lynn (84-83-88)256 – Lai Wan Wei (79-86-91)

©PGM

MY JUNIORS

Ervin, Durriyahtriumph

in inaugural junior mEEt 17

Galven Kendall green (left) and Low Khai Jei

NATASHATRIUMPHSINJAKARTA

Low Khai Jei celebrated his 16th birthday in style as he completed a final round turnaround to win the Etiqa Selangor

International Juniors Masters at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor on June 10.

Khai Jei who trailed second round leader, Chan Tuck Soon by three strokes closed with a commendable three-under 68 including two birdies on the finishing stretch for a 210 overall and a four-stroke advantage over the latter to emerge as the overall champion from the blue tees. Johor’s Abel Tam was placed

third after amassing a 219 total.

“I played really well on the front nine and when I made the turn two strokes ahead of Tuck Soon, I knew I had it within me to win the championship,” said the youngster, who added the Selangor Menteri Besar Cup to his string of golfing successes.

In the red tees (boys’ under-12) competition, Galven Kendall Green claimed a wire-to-wire win with an eight-stroke victory over Perak’s Lucas Yee. The 12-year-old Galven lifted the

Selangor State Secretary Trophy on the back of rounds of 72, 71 and 69 for a 212 total. Defending champion Daeng Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz was placed third on 224.

Meanwhile, Genevieve Ling I-Rynn turned in with a final round of two-under 69 to wrestle the girls’ under-21 title from 36-hole leader Isza Fariza Ismail on countback after both girls had finished with a 220 total. Meanwhile, Daniel Mohd Sidek and Abel claimed the boys’ under-15 and under-21 divisions respectively.

The tournament also witnessed a hole-in-one by Daniel Durisic, who was rewarded for his effort with an iron set. The prizes were presented to the winners by Tan Sri Dato’ Abd Khalid Ibrahim, the Menteri Besar of Selangor and chief executive officer of Etiqa Insurance & Takaful, Kamaludin Ahmad.

Unlike previous editions, winners of the Selangor International Junior Masters were not awarded with starts at the prestigious Selangor Masters. Abdul Khalid pledged to do his best in ensuring that the young stars will get a chance to play alongside the professionals in the Asian Tour event.

SERI SELANGORGLORY FOR KHAI JEI, GALVEN

MY JUNIORS

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MY JUNIORS

Malaysia will play host to the inaugural Kids Golf World Championship (KGWCM) to be held in Asia from

December 3-7 at Saujana Golf and Country Club and Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

KGWCM will be organised by RSH (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and managed by Concept Collaboration Sdn Bhd. It is sanctioned by the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) and supported by the Malaysian Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB).

The championship is an offshoot of the prestigious US Kids Golf World Championship which is held annually each August in PineHurst, North Carolina. Since 2008, a European championship has been successfully organised in Scotland, attracting over 500 up and coming golfers from around the continent.

RSH golf division general manager, David Leow shared that Malaysia was chosen

over bids from China and Japan to host the inaugural Austalasian championship.

“It took us three years to firm up the details with the US Kids Golf Foundation. I am proud to announce today that we have beaten some strong bids to organise what I may describe as the most prestigious junior golf championship ever to take place in Asia,” he said during the press conference announcing the launch on May 15.

“The foundation favoured Malaysia based on the fact that English is widely used in this country as well as the fact that both golf courses have hotel facilities within the vicinity of the golf course,” he added, noting that an expected 500 participants from 50 Asia Pacific countries will make their presence felt for the event.

According to MyCEB, the KGWCM is expected to attract approximately 2,500 international tourists while generating RM38 million for the

country’s economy.

“The partnership with RSH Malaysia is a classic example of a successful public-private initiative and we are convinced that this world-class event will properly position Malaysia as a major golfing destination,” says MYCeb’s general manager for international events, Tony Nagamaiah.

MGA president Admiral (R) Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor said, “It is indeed an honour for Malaysia to host a trophy event like Kids Golf World Championship Malaysia 2012 as it promotes golf tourism while giving our junior golfers an opportunity to compete with some of the world’s best players.”

A one-day team event, based on the Ryder Cup format, will also be played with Malaysia as the host country. A team comprising Malaysian players and invited players from Australasia, will compete against a team of international players aged 13 - 18 years.

Ken Kudo of saujana GCC, Mohd Anwar , Leow Nagamaiah and Adi shahar of Glenmarie GCC

Young gun Natasha Andrea Oon claimed her maiden victory at the Damai Indah Golf & Country Club in

Jakarta as she emerged tops at the Enjoy Jakarta World Junior Golf Championship held from June 5 -8.

The 10-year-old notched rounds of 80, 77 and 76 for a 233 total and resounding 14-stroke

victory over compatriot and 2011 winner, Winnie Ng Yu Xuan in the girls’ D (under-10) division.

The long-hitting belle was delighted with her victory, having finished third in 2009 and fourth last year. “I am very happy with my effort and I would like to thank my parents as well as my coaches for preparing me

well for the tournament,” said Natasha, who regularly plays without a buggy to build up her endurance and fitness.

Other notable finishes for Malaysia include Solomon Emilio Rosidin (boys’ under-14), Victor Ng Yu Kai (boys’ under-10) and Kelie Kan Kah Yan (girls’ under-15) who all finished third in their respective categories.

KIDS GOLF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ARRIVES ON MALAYSIAN SOIL

19

MY JUNIORS

A new condition was introduced recently prohibiting parents from caddying or following their children

into the golf course during the third and fourth legs of the SportExcel National Junior Golf Circuit held at Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah and Monterez Golf & Country Club. It received mix reviews with equal number of parents voicing their support and dissent for the measure.

The new condition was imposed to ensure the smooth running of tournaments and to ensure a fair and level playing field for the juniors without any undue influence and pressure from their parents. The only exception was the mixed under-nine category, where each flight of players had a ‘neutral’ parent volunteering as a chaperon.

SportExcel executive director Sivanandan Chinnadurai stressed that measure was put in place after repeated incidents of parents unintentionally interrupting the flow of play as well as isolated reports of score

manipulation and other rules infringements.

“Based on the feedback received, we have decided to put this new condition on trial for the next couple of tournaments. We will then sit down with all the parties involved including the parents and review it and see if this is the best way forward for SportExcel events,” said Sivanandan.

“Generally, majority of the parents are supportive of the move. Some have raised their objections as they would like to follow their juniors on the course to track their progress as well as identify their weaknesses in order to pass on this information to their children’s coaches.

“We truly understand their predicament but it is unfortunate that to punish a few bad hats, we have to put down a blanket rule for all to follow,” he assured, stating that parents may correspond officially with SportExcel to voice out their grouses on the move.

MIxED REVIEWS FOR NEW RULE AT SPORTExCEL MEETS

RESULTS SportExcel National Junior Golf Circuit - 3rd Leg (Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah)

RESULTS SportExcel National Junior Golf Circuit - 4th Leg (Monterez GCC)

Boys’ Under-201. Muhammad Aiman 147(72-75)2. Muhammad Asyraaf 148(76-72)3. Kuhanesh A/L Ganesan 151(73-78)4. Muhammad Afzal 152(79-73)5. Lee Jeong Gin 155(75-80)

Boys’ Under-151. Sazanur Iman Salenin 155(74-79)2. Lucas Yee 155(76-79)3. Danial Hj Mohd Sidek 156(78-78)4. Mior Asraff Haziq 158(82-76)5. Akmal Azhar 158(79-79)

Boys’ Under-121. K.Rhaasrikanesh 146(70-76)2. Kavish Varman 150(76-74)3. Adam Arif Madzri 154(74-80)4. Foo Tee Hong 156(76-80)5. Yong Fatt Hoe 158(78-80)

Girls’ Under-201. Hoi Chai Yan 162(80-82)2. Nurul Atirah Abdullah 171(85-86)

3. Nuralisa 175(93-82)4. Siti Balkis Lokman 187(92-95)5. Siti Khadijah 189(94-95)

Girls’ Under-151. Ashley Loh 160(81-79)2. Nur Syazani 161(81-80)3. Ong Shi Qing 162(82-80)4. Chong Yee Mun 171(88-83)5. Ginnie Ho Xin Ni 172(84-88)

Girls’ Under-121. Ng Yu Xuan Winnie 159(80-79)2. Nurdiyana Aqilah 160(85-75)3. Vanessa Khoo Qi Lin 163(81-82)4. Geraldine Wong Xiao Xuan 176(83-93)5. Siti Sarah Feizal Nor 194(93-101)

Mixed Under-91. Isaac To Chern Yi 77(41-36)2. Foo Tee Jui 77(34-43)3. Sarah Madzri 80(38-42)4. Feirish Nor Feizal Nor 83(44-39)5. Nelvin Raj 84(42-42)

Boys’ Under-201. Mohammad Asyraf Hj Rosli

151(76-75)2. Kuhanesh Ganesan 154(77-77)3. Muhammad Harith Halimi 160(85-75)4. Mohd Aiman Mohd Nor 162(81-81)5. Izzat Mirza 166(83-83)

Boys’ Under-151. Aaron Ng 155(76-79)2. Sim You Jin 158(78-80)3. Danial Hj Mohd Sidek 158(77-81)4. Robin Tan 163(81-82)5. Putera Azim Shah 168(91-77)

Boys’ Under-121. Khavish Varman Varadan 142(71-71)2. Adam Arif Madzri 154(78-76)3. Foo Tee Hong 157(80-77)4. Vivtor Ng Yu Kai 162(84-78)5. K Rhaasrikanesh 164(82-82)

Girls’ Under-201. Nuralissa Abdullah 172(86-86)2. Pang Sue May 174(84-90)

3. Hoi Cai Yan 177(91-86)4. Nurul Atirah Abdullah 183(95-88)5. Ho Jo Yee 196(100-96)

Girls’ Under-151. Ong Shi Qing 162(84-78)2. Ginnie Ho Xin Ni 169(86-83)3. Nurul Syazani Amalia 173(86-87)4. Ashley Loh 175(91-84)5. Chong Yee Mun 175(89-86)

Girls’ Under-121. Vaneesa Khoo Qi Lin 173(89-84)2. Geraldine Wong Xiao Xuai 174(84-90)3. Aina Karmila Mohamad 189(98-91)4. Siti Sarah Feizal Nor 190(92-98)5. Irdina Atiqah 217(104-113)

Mixed Under-91. Feirish Nor Feizal Nor 83(43-40)2. Isaac To Chern Yi 83(46-37)3. Foo Tee Jui 85(47-38)4. Bryan Yong Junn 85(44-41)5. Hailey Loh 87(45-42)

KGSAAS winners

Monterez winners

20

Thai star Thaworn Wiratchant secured a record-equaling 13th Asian Tour title with a battling

three-shot victory at the Queen’s Cup on June 17.

The 45-year-old veteran held off the combined challenges from Bangladeshi Siddikur and reigning Asian number one Juvic Pagunsan, clinching it with a glorious 12-foot eagle at the last hole for a three-under-par 68 at a blustery Santiburi Samui Country Club.

Thaworn, who was also victorious in Samui in the 2008 Bangkok Airways Open, matched countryman Thongchai Jaidee’s record number of

triumphs on the region’s elite circuit with a winning total of seven-under-par 277, earning US$47,550 in the process.

Siddikur, chasing a second Asian Tour title, missed a costly par putt from two feet at the 15th hole while he was ahead of Thaworn and could not prevent the Thai hero from racing home with a birdie on 16th and the eagle on the finishing 18th. Pagunsan closed with a solid 68 to finish tied second in what is the 11th leg of this season’s Asian Tour.

“This means a lot as it’s the first time I have won the Queen’s Cup as an Asian Tour event,” said a delighted Thaworn.

Thongchai Jaidee claimed his first European Tour title outside Asia at the ISPS Handa Wales Open at a

wet and windy Celtic Manor Resort.

The Thai golfer, who recorded all four of his previous victories on his home continent, closed with a one-over par 72 for a six-under 284 total and a one stroke victory.

Dane Thomas Björn, Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, Dutchman Joost

Luiten and South African Richard Sterne finished one shot behind on five under, with Ross Fisher and Paul McGinley two adrift in a tie for sixth.

“I want to say thank you to all my family, all the supporters and the sponsors here,” he said. “Conditions were quite tough for me. I tried to hit everything on the fairway - that’s the main thing - then hit the ball on the green. It was very, very tough for me, not like Thailand!”

Lee Westwood won his third Nordea Masters title in resounding fashion with a five-

shot triumph over Ross Fisher at the picturesque Bro Hof Slott.

The Englishman was simply irresistible from tee to green all week, and could even afford to miss five putts from inside six feet over the first ten holes of his closing 69 on June 9.

That only one of those led to a bogey

said everything about Westwood’s sumptuous approach play and Westwood, who recorded his first European Tour victory in this event back in 1996 and won again in 2000 en route to becoming Europe’s top-ranked player for the first time, said:

“It feels really special winning here another time – I’ve won it in three decades now which just shows how old we’re getting!” joked the 29-year-old.

Luke Donald returned to top of the Official World Golf Rankings in style by retaining his BMW PGA Championship

title at Wentworth Club on May 27.

Donald’s victory makes him only the third player since Sir Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie to win the tour’s flagship event two years in a row.

After being caught by Justin Rose four holes into the final round, the 34 year old put his foot on the accelerator to go clear once more. Once he had gone three clear with a 25-foot putt at the short 10th, Donald never looked like losing.

Playing with supreme confidence, he ended up taking the first prize of €750,000 by four strokes from Rose and former Open champion Paul Lawrie with an accomplished closing 68 and 15-under-par 273 overall.

“To come and defend and get back to number one is very sweet indeed. I was just trying to keep my head down and plug away,” said Donald. “I take a great amount of satisfaction. It means I am doing the right things - the hard work is paying off and I have a great team around me,” he added.

13TH TIME LUCKY FOR THAWORN

MERCURIAL THONGCHAI FINDS WELSH TOUCH

AROUND THE GLOBE

WESTWOOD THE NORDIC MASTER

DONALD BACK ON TOP OF THE WORLD

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Dustin Johnson overcame the odds to win his first PGA Tour title in 2012 at

the FedEx St. Jude Classic - in only his second event played in three months due to a lower back injury.

Johnson clinched victory as birdies on the 16th and 17th helped him card a closing 66, finishing a shot ahead of compatriot John Merrick on nine-under 271 at TPC Southwinde. The latter went close to forcing a play-off but

his chip for birdie on the closing hole failed to drop.

Tied for third at 273 were Ryan Palmer (66), Chad Campbell (68), Nick O’Hern (69) and Love III (69)

“Coming into this week, I was really just trying to put myself in position to have a chance to win on Sunday,” said the 27-year-old Johnson, who now has six tour victories and has won at least one one event in each of the last five PGA Tour seasons

Twenty two-year-old Feng Shanshan clinched the Wegmans LPGA Championship on June 10 becoming

the first Chinese player to win an LPGA Tour title and a golfing major, closing with a five-under 67 at Locust Hill.

Stacy Lewis, bidding to win her third straight stroke-play event on the LPGA Tour, shot a 70 to tie for second with Mika Miyazato, Suzann Pettersen and third-round leader Eun-Hee Ji. Miyazato shot 69, Pettersen 70, and Ji 72.

Feng, who began the day three shots behind Ji, had a bogey-free round to etch her name in the record books and claimed a sensational two-stroke victory with a six-under 282 total

“I still can’t believe it,” said Feng. “I think after this week it’s going to give me a lot more confidence. I believe I can win again in the future, and hopefully it’s going to help golf in China because I want to be like a role model that the other juniors can follow my steps,” added Feng.

Tiger Woods looked every inch the Tiger of the past as he conjured a piece of magic to clinch the

Memorial Tournament and secure his second title of the year on June 3.

Woods’s stunning chip-in on the short 16th was the decisive moment in a fifth Memorial win to equal Jack Nicklaus’s total of 73 PGA Tour titles. The former world number one shot 67 to end nine under, with Andres Romero (67) and Rory Sabbatini (72) two behind.

Woods was four behind leader Spencer Levin at the start of the day but made a fast start with four birdies in his first seven holes.Standing on the 16th tee, he was still one behind new leader Sabbatini and seemingly in trouble after

a wayward tee shot to the left of the green.But his sensational birdie, which was accompanied by the trademark uppercut fist pump was followed by a Sabbatini bogey on the same hole and Woods sealed the victory with a birdie on the last.

“Boy, I hit it good today,” said Woods, who fired rounds of 70-69-73-67 after coming into the event following the worst three-tournament stretch of his career, which included two ties for 40th at the Masters and The Players Championship) and a missed cut at the Wells Fargo Championship. “That was some really good stuff out there. I never really missed a shot today.”

Stacy Lewis shook off a rough stretch in the middle of the final round to win ShopRite LPGA Classic on June 3.

The 27-year-old Lewis finished with an even-par 71 at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, good enough for a four-stroke victory over Katherine Hull for her third LPGA title in a calendar year. Mika Miyazato, who was tied for the lead with Lewis after the first round, also shot 68 to finish at 206 and share third place with Azahara Munoz (69).

The victory also earned her another notable accomplishment as the top-ranked American on the Rolex Rankings, usurping Cristie Kerr for the first time since November 2009.

“I’m speechless,” she said. “To go from back surgery where I couldn’t even sit up by myself to now playing golf, having fun with it, playing with the best players in the world and being one of them? It doesn’t get any better than that,” shared Lewis, who struggled with scoliosis as a child prodigee.

JOHNSON BACK IN THE GROOVE WITH ST JUDE WIN

FENG EARNS CHINA’S FINEST GOLFING MOMENT

AROUND THE GLOBE

TIGER ROARS AT MEMORIAL, LEVEL WITH NICKLAUS ON PGA TOUR TITLES

LEWIS THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BEARER

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IN THE BAG

R11S DRIVERwww.taylormadegolf.asia/my

• Incorporates TaylorMade’s Inverted Cone clubface technology, which dramatically expands the COR zone to deliver maximum ball speed.

• A new casting process allows the crown to be more responsive with Movable Weight Technology (MWT) allowing the player to tune the driver’s center of gravity to promote a draw or neutral ball flight.

• Improved Adjustable Sole Plate Technology promotes five different settings to choose from. A 6° range allows the player to independently open or close the face by 3° without affecting the loft.

• New Flight Control Technology sleeve allows an increase or decrease the loft by 1.5° with eight different positions to choose from.

• The matte white finish eliminates hot spots and glare to promote improved focus.

RRP: RM2,190

GLOIRE IRONSwww.taylormade.asia/my

• Designed like metalwoods, the irons feature hollow construction with dual tungsten sole weights delivers performance far beyond its traditional looks with more forgiveness (increased MOI) and higher launch (low CG location).

• Easier-to-hit utility irons (#4 and #5) promote distance and playability of a metalwood while maintaining confidence of an iron while #6-AW features a dual cavity head design.

• Utilises multi-material pull-face technology with a 1.8mm maraging steel face built for speed in mind as well as Inverted Cone Technology for the largest sweetspot and optimum performance like never seen before.

RRP: RM6,880

GLOIRE PUTTERwww.taylormade.asia/my

• Forged from 1020 carbon steel, the putter features aggressive precision milling marks on its face to deliver a perfectly flat face and luxurious look.

• Taking on a classic design with gently sloping bumpers and horizontal shoulders, the putter has weights on both the heel and toe for perfect feel and performance on every putt.

RRP: RM1,380

23

IN THE BAG

XT DRIVERwww.transviewgolf.com.sg

• Premium driver made for maximum feel and forgiveness suited for the average to more senior players.

• Features a new AB forged titanium face, body and crown design for maximum softness and consistent feel at impact.

• Full 460cc round head promotes maximum hitting area with a deeper face towards the heel for increased forgiveness while face angle is closed to help players square the face at impact, producing a slight draw.

• Comes standard with a choice of Tour AD for XT (55gm) or Tour AD Speed for XT (45gm) graphite shafts.

RRP: RM3,875

GOLF Idea CMB Ironswww.adamsgolf.com

• Multi-material design utilising a forged 1025 carbon steel body provides exceptional feel. • Unique placement of tungsten weight plugs will minimize twisting at impact so that mis-hits feel better

and fly more accurately. • Two-piece, laser plasma-welded forged construction and nickel-chrome satin finish gives these irons a

unique and better player look. • Three-way cambered sole improves turf interaction while triple-milled (face, grooves & cavity) improves

the scoreline design. • Progressive performance provides consistent forgiveness and ball flight control from long irons to

scoring clubs. • Comes fitted with either KBS C-Taper (steel) or the Matrix Ozik Program 8.1 (graphite) as well as the

new Golf Pride New Decade MultiCompound White Out grip.

RRP: RM4,800

Moxie I Junior Golf Setwww.ping.com

• Versatile seven-club set featuring a 370cc titanium driver, stainless steel fairway wood and hybrid, three perimeter-weighted irons, an Anser putter and a lightweight carry bag with stand.

• Lightweight and easy to swing, clubs with flexible graphite shafts help juniors between the ages of 10 and 11 get their shots airborne while junior-sized grips help the golfer release the club properly

through impact

RRP: RM1,300

24

GEAR UP

Cardiff Golf Shoeswww.ashworth.com

• Stylish golf shoe with the cross over appeal of a town shoe, perfect for golfing or casual out and about wear.

• Playability, wearability and a sure footed spikeless sole unite with tumbled leathers.

• Rich suede accents to take the Cardiff from the course to the clubhouse and beyond.

• Comes with a two year waterproof warranty

RRP: RM 399

Junior Golf Shoeswww.footjoy.com.my

• Synthetic leather uppers offers soft, easy care water resistance with the look and feel of leather.

• Full rounded toe character, full across forefoot, standard instep and heel with the last bottom has been contoured to closer match the shape of the foot.

• Fitted with Pulsar™ Cleats by Softspikes® featuring all the same turf grip and walking comfort advantages of Black Widow plus the additions of and radiused legs for

extra durability and cleat webbing for easier cleaning.

RRP: RM 199Junior Glovewww.footjoy.com.my

• A leather palm provides optimum feel and grip. • Flexible spandex stretch panels provide a customized fit and

accomodate growing hands.

RRP: RM 35

Lightweight Stand Bagwww.titleist.com.my

• A new, larger top-cuff design creates improved access for removal and replacement of clubs and less crowding of club heads with a weight of 2.5kg.

• Four-point, easily adjustable, double-strap assembly with foam padded, comfort mesh covered hip pad as well as a dry grip bottom.

• Automatic bag stand with broad foot featuring tripod rubber feet on legs with stand mechanism integrated into top-cuff.

• Complete with a towel ring, umbrella cord with lower grommet as well as matching zippered rainhood with full side saddle apparel

pockets, ball pockets as well as beverage holder.

RRP: RM700

25

Rocketballz Stand Bagwww.taylormadegolf.com

• Five-way stadium top allows clubs to be simply separated with upgraded sturdy top handle and easy-to-locate grab handle allowing the bag to be easily picked up and moved.

• Ergonomic shoulder straps are designed to be an anti-fatigue with durable four-point strap system delivering lower effective weight for the correct weight distribution and fit whilst carrying your bag.

• Anti-split stand system stops the legs from opening out to wide and damaging the stand mechanism, allowing the bag to be more stable when stood.

• The bag has six pockets including a valuables pocket to keep your key, phones and wallet extra safe and secure whilst out on the course.

• A insulated drinks sleeve and pen slot can also be found on the bag for easy location

whilst walking with the bag.

RRP: RM 699

GEAR UP

Express DLX Golf Cartwww.bagboycompany.com

• Golf bag remains on cart when folded with unique fold under front wheel system for quick fold.

• Quick release adjustable handle with four height options and push on/off brake system.

• Equipped with deluxe scorecard holder with pencil holder and padded storage compartment, mesh storage basket, quick grab beverage holder, integrated golf ball holder and durable handlebar

grip.

RRP: RM 690 (availabe at Transview Golf outlets)

Medalist Laser Rangefinderwww.bushnell.com

• Emits invisible, eyesafe, infrared energy pulses that are reflected off a selected target back to the receiving optics.

• Sophisticated circuitry and a high speed clock are used to instantaneously measure distances, accurately to within one yard.

• Proprietary Pinseeker© Technology ensures accurate target acquisition by shutting out background hazards and isolating your target.

• 4 power 4x monocular helps to reduce shakiness, promoting a range of 5-100 yards.

• Powered by a 9-volt battery, the rangefinder comes with a limited two-

year warranty from the manufacturer.

RRP: RM 1519 (availabe at RGT Technology, Kelana Jaya)

Golf Shoeswww.crocs.com

• One-of-a-kind comfort of Crocs™ shoes paired with the expert knowledge of Hank Haney to produce the lightest, most comfortable golf shoes in its class.

• An alternative to traditional golf shoes with sneakers-like feel while technically engineered to meet the demands of on-the-course use without losing its versatility.

• Multi-traction outsole features innovative spikeless design for excellent grip in all directions.

• Croslite™ material footbed and midsole promote exceptionally light, form-to-foot comfort.

• Crocs™ Croscomfort™ hybrid construction sees the water-resistant leather uppers attached directly to the midsole, reducing unnecessary layers of construction and weight found in traditional golf shoes with added flexibility at stress points for superior comfort.

• Available in two styles - classic premium leather (Preston) and sneaker (Bradyn).

RRP: RM389 (Preston) & RM409 (Bradyn) (availabe at Pan-West outlets)

28

GOLF DOWN UNDER

Richard Fellner is the Group

Editor of Inside Golf Magazine

– Australia’s most regularly read

golf publication. Hailing from

the United States but now a

proud resident of Melbourne,

Fellner is a true golf tragic -

having played the game for over

35 years but never getting any

better at it.

Australian social golfers and golf social clubs will face uncertainty about their golf handicaps this month, as Australian golf’s governing

body has essentially scrapped the main social golf-handicapping program.

A bit of background: In Australia, golf handicaps are administered via Golf Australia, the national governing body for the game. Before 2007, the only way for a golfer to obtain an official golf handicap (to compete in sanctioned competitions, etc) was via joining a private/member club. Social players (i.e. green-fee-paying members of the public) had no real means of getting an official handicap.

In 2007, Golf Australia (then the Australian Golf Union) launched the Golf Access Australia (GAA) program, a state-controlled system, which allowed golfers to get official handicaps without joining a club. It was intended to act as a “pathway” for social players to eventually convert into club membership.

The program sparked debate across the industry. Social golfers openly welcomed the program, as it gave them access to an official Golf Australia handicap, as well as the necessary liability insurance and other benefits. Private clubs, however, voiced serious concerns about the program, claiming that it would essentially drive members away from clubs and instead encourage more play that is social.

Over the recent years, Australia has indeed seen a gradual increase in social play. In fact, a recent survey showed that Social golfers outnumbered Club golfers for the first time in Australia’s history. Social clubs, GAA providers and small businesses began sprouting around this trend, all aiming for a piece of the growing Social Golf market.

That is all under a cloud this month, as the GAA program is off the list now. In a letter on June 1, Golf Victoria (the national state governing body) announced that handicaps would no longer be available in the state through GAA, and that golfers should consider other options, most notably the RACV Club, which is a golf membership service, operated by the private Automobile Insurance Company in the state.

The letter came as a surprise to many GAA members, as well as some independent GAA providers, who found themselves unexpectedly unable to renew handicaps of their members.

“We were completely blindsided by this,” said one GAA provider, who asked not to be named. “We

were not consulted at all, nor were any of the other GAA providers that we’ve spoken with. We had no warning that this was coming, let alone that a review had taken place.”

“From our position, it has been very poorly managed and the outcome is a backward step for golf. It appears that GAA providers have been removed from the market and the RACV is being handed a monopoly. Many of our golfers are very angry and we feel somewhat betrayed given how we were lobbied by Golf Australia initially to participate in the Golf Access program when it was established.”

The anger by GAA providers and their golfers hit a feverish height in the weeks following the announcement. Rumours began circulating of legal action potentially being taken against Golf Australia on the grounds of anti-competitive behaviour, notably the laws that “...prohibit contracts, arrangements or understandings that would be likely to substantially lessen competition in a market...” Or “... when the ability of buyers to shop around for a deal that suits them is significantly diminished by an anti-competitive agreement among suppliers...”

Golf Victoria’s CEO, Simon Brookhouse, said that the decision to end GAA administration at the state level was based on many factors, notably that GAA was not fulfilling its original goal.

“Our data suggests that Golf Access members were not converting to club membership. The product has not been subject to any development since its inception, and Golf Victoria felt that the further development of the Golf Access product was unlikely.”

However, the conversion data in Victoria may not tell the entire story. According to Matthew Pitt, founder of national GAA provider Bushranger Golf:

“We know 20 per cent of our golfers do not renew with us as they have moved on to join a club, but the actual percentage is higher than that. We think it is safe to say that a quarter of the golfers we have put on handicaps have used the GAA handicap as a pathway to club membership. The figures we have reported to Golf Australia have been very consistent over six years.”

Victoria is just the first of the states to formally re-evaluate the GAA program, with New South Wales and Queensland potentially following suit.

The story will doubtless grow over the coming months. Watch this space.

Australian social golfers

scramble amid

handicap chaos

29

UNCHARTED COURSE WITH NORMAS YAKIN

Normas Yakin considers

himself an all-rounder: a former

cocoa and oil palm planter, golf

course superintendent, golf club

manager, director, lecturer and

consultant. He believes there

are only two great mavericks

in Malaysia; one of them is a

former Prime Minister. Modesty,

however, prevents him from

telling you who the other one is.

In his free time, he scribbles at

www.mynormas.com

Weedsgonewild

One of the toughest jobs in the golf course that may escape the attention of the golfers is weed control. I mean, most golfers would

notice that some clubs have a lot of weeds and some clubs have very little. That is when they think; weed control is possible. It is, but it should have been from the beginning. In fact, it should have started before the golf course begun.

To say that controlling weeds on a golf course is tough, is an understatement. There can be at least 20 acres of fairways, tees and greens on a golf course, usually more. Trying to keep 20 acres of exposed area, out in the open, trampled by thousands of people every month to be of one species of grass is, to say the least; very difficult. Nay, it is close to impossible.

Weed control is more difficult in areas that are water-logged, under constant stress from traffic and under shade; these three areas provide challenges for most turf grass to survive and yet there are weeds that ‘specialize’ in these kind of conditions.

Early on in my studies, I was taught that weeds are, by definition, anything that grows when and where it is not needed. That means, grass meant for the fairways but growing on the greens; are weeds – and vice versa. Heck, a rare black orchid growing on green 16 is a weed and I would be cutting it down before you could finish saying the sentence “rare black orchid: weed? You: nut?” Of course, you have to talk a little bit slower …

In a plantation, one of the most feared weed of them all is lalang aka Imperata cylindrica. Feared, not because it is hard to get rid of, but because having a patch of lalang on your field can get you fired.

Years after I left the plantation sector and joined the golf industry I still have the same phobia with lalang. Yet on a golf course, lalang can become part of the landscape on secondary rough. I used to have lalang on a steep slope at a par-5 hole. It was designed to hold the soil on the slope, reduce water runoff, and discourage golfers from going there to search for their golf balls. The lalang works for problem number 1 and 2 but it did not deter golfers from going there. They’ll hit a ball to the right of the manicured 30-meter-wide fairway (my fairways were cut at 8mm when most clubs were cutting at 12), even missing the trimmed 1-inch-tall-20-meter-wide rough (I fertilized my rough when others didn’t) onto a 30 degree slope that’s just 5 meters wide x 10 meters deep planted with lalang . So guess who’s the bad guy? Yeah. The Course Superintendent.

One of the tricky parts of weed control is identification. Once, when I was interviewed for a job, I was asked

on how to control a weed they called crabgrass. I did not give a straight answer but responded with a lengthy, wordy and technically vague reply (I am good at that and that is why you are reading this) which probably got the interviewer thinking I am the smartest person he has ever met (I bet you are thinking the same thing too. Ok I’m blushing…)

It did make me worried a bit though when almost everyone I met with regard to that club will give the same reminder: “Beware the crabgrass”. Sounds ominous. Scary even. No? Try saying it in low tone, as if you are breathing out the words and stressing the ‘s’. See?! See?!

Surprise, surprise, when I got there, fairway 1 and 2 was full of one type of very prominent weed: it was not crabgrass; it was Crow’s feet (rumput sambau or its scientific term Eleusine indica). Ahh… this I can handle. And handle it I did. At first with chemicals, then with brute force (or was it the other way round?).

Another big challenge as far as weeds on Bermuda or Zoysia turf go is Paspalum. Paspalum vaginatum of course existed as a hard-to-maintain turf grass in its own right, but when it exists on a stand of Bermuda or Zoysia, it is a really-hard-to-get-rid-of weed.

Fighting weeds can seem like fighting a losing battle, but it is a battle that has to be fought from the beginning. Therefore, when you play on a 20-year-old golf course that is full of weeds and you wonder why they can’t do anything about it, know this: there’s nothing much they can do without damaging most of the turf and disturbing play.

In addition, if you are a member of a golf club that has some holes or some patches on some holes that is still relatively weed-free; tell the club to make sure it stays that way.

30

Growing up in a golfing family

with a grandmother who was

an amateur champion golfer,

Justine Moss developed a love

of golf at an early age. After

moving to Singapore in 1998

from Sydney, and opening her

own communications company

a year later, Justine expanded the

writing side of her business and

currently writes for a number of

golfing and lifestyle publications

in the region, with her finger on

the pulse of local golf happenings

in the Lion City

Junior Golf On

The Rise

GOLFING TALES FROM THE LION CITY

Two junior golf initiatives were announced recentlyin a bid to help nurture and develop the game of golf in Singapore. The aim is to

make golf, more accessible and a more affordable game for the public.

In May, my golf kaki Academy launched the my golf school 1000 which will see 1000 juniors aged five to 16 – whose parents are not members of local country clubs - benefitting from highly subsidised golf lessons.

They will take part in six modules as part of the overall Youth Golf Development Programme. Professionals will teach in this program and attendees will gain an understanding of golf basics (using a variety of training aids including 3D swing analysis software called ‘swinguru’) as well as positive values associated with the game and also the learning of fundamental movements and motor skills.

Lessons will be held at the six-hole Tanglin Public Golf Course and will be conducted by qualified and experienced members of the Singapore Professional Golfers Association (SPGA) who are recognized under the National Coaching Accreditation Programme by the Singapore Sports Council.

“With 1,000 potential junior golfers from  this initiative every year  for five years, we aim to create a bigger pool of golfers and encourage participation from a wider spectrum of society. This will also give the much needed boost to the development of golf in Singapore,” explains Mr. Ng Ser Miang, Chairman of NCI Golf Pte Ltd, the company managing my golf kaki Academy.  He added that NCI Golf Pte Ltd. would sponsor selected juniors who display strong potential under my golf school 1000.

my golf kaki Academy will invest around $280,000 in terms of subsidies in the first year of my golf school 1000.  Another attractive part of the programme is the cost. Each golf lesson will be as low as SGD3.75 (appox MYR9.29) and, in addition my golf kaki Academy and sponsors will provide apparel and golf accessories to facilitate the learning of golf – an excellent way of reaching out to those interested in learning the game but whose parents can’t afford a club membership.

Also in May, KinderGolf teamed up with the Junior Sports Corporation, which owns the Hank Haney Golf Academy, Heritage Academy and International Junior Golf Tour. The aim is to create a platform for more Singaporean juniors to benchmark themselves against other global junior golf players. KinderGolf conducts regular lessons, competitions

and events for young KinderGolfers (from two years old upwards) and Tee One Program (eight to15 years old) to experience the fun of regular golf competitions. The school also organizes the SuperJuniors Tournament (four to 12 years old) an annual open golf tournament for both KinderGolfers and non-KinderGolfers to experience playing golf competitively.

“I’m happy to have this collaboration that will bring junior golfers from Singapore, Malaysia,

Indonesia and other countries in Asia to train and learn together with fellow golfers from all over the world in Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA. We are

Swinguru - a state-of-the-art swing analysis software - will make lessons more interesting for juniors

looking at both short term and long term learning collaboration,” says Donna Lee, founder and chief executive officer of KinderGolf, adding, “After our SuperJuniors Tournament from September 6-7 in Singapore, we will be looking to premiere International Junior Golf Tour in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia within the next two years. This marks a new milestone in KinderGolf’s continual efforts to develop competitive junior golf.”

my golf school 1000 aims to nurture an interest for golf from as young as five years of age.

31

COVERING CARLSBAD BY SCOTT KRAMER

Scott Kramer is a veteran

golf writer based in the golf

equipment capital of Carlsbad,

California. In his 20-plus years

covering the golf industry, the

former senior editor of GOLF

Magazine has lowered his

playing index to 5.1, raised

his IQ on the sophisticated

technology used to make golf

clubs, and stayed even keel on

his propensity to miss short putts.

But he always brings game to his

columns.

Equipment prices

on the rise

While the global economy remains shaky, everyone is wondering which direction it will veer. Moreover, that uncertainty has

trickled down to the golf industry. True, more people are playing golf this year around the world, which is good. However, the cost of playing is heading north. Green fees are more costly this year, golf resorts are charging more for rooms, and equipment prices are more expensive than in the past.

 In fact, Callaway officials warned me in January that premium ball prices were up $2/dozen across

the market, due to manufacturing costs rising in materials and labour, as well as taxes going up in China, where many balls are produced. Thankfully, two-piece distance balls have maintained their price levels. Various equipment manufacturers tell me that labor costs in China – where many golf equipment components are made -- are up 20-to-30 percent, compared to 2011. These sources all say that the trend of 15 percent increases per year in labor costs is expected to run at least through 2015, according to the goals established in Beijing’s 12th five-year economic plan. Then consider the energy costs for oil and gas, “Which in China have been artificially inflated by 10 percent, due to government intervention that’s passed along to most manufacturers, allowing them additional economic control and the ability to keep the Chinese currency artificially weak (keeping their exports high),” says Scott Carlyle, Cleveland Golf’s business unit leader – wedges and irons. Raw material prices continue to be volatile – they are up 25 percent this year and expected to rise – and freight is quickly rising from 10-to-50 percent on ocean/air freight from China to the United States in many circumstances. While this all points to higher prices in the United States – so far in 2012, consumers are paying 25 cents more for a dozen balls than they were in 2011, $5.50 per wood, $1 per iron, $4 per putter, $6 per

wedge, for example -- price increases will eventually be felt all around the globe. Experts claim the cost of goods sold for golf equipment OEMs in 2013 is likely to increase by 10-to-20 percent over 2012. So how much more will golfers pay for their gear? “Price points are about what benefits I can provide the consumers where they’re willing to buy performance,” says Mike Ferris, vice president of product marketing at TaylorMade-adidas Golf. “A lot of golfers will pay money for performance. But given the way the economy has been, it’s been a challenge to take prices up.” Ferris argues that golf consumers are getting more bangs for their buck these days. “There’s more performance technology in the $299 driver than there were a couple of years ago, but it’s still a $299 driver,” he says. “As a golfer, I’m getting a great value. That said, when you have a better product, prices can go up to a degree. Look at our Rocketballz fairway woods this year - the price point went up for us because we felt we were providing a meaningful difference, and consumers were willing to pay for it. If it’s something that’s not meaningfully better, then they won’t.” Some brands have levelled and even lowered iron prices with a novel concept this year: To make prices appear lower, they began including only six or seven irons in a set, instead of the traditional eight at a lower price – then justified it by claiming that golfers would rather play hybrids than long irons. Is there a tipping point for manufacturers? That is, will they ever pull their manufacturing from China, in favor of somewhere with less-expensive costs? “Where do you go?,” asks Jeff Yearous, president of Z Customization, a Carlsbad, Calif. bag manufacturer to major OEMs.

“Maybe Vietnam, but China has such a great labor force. I’d love to see it come back to the U.S., but I’m not sure you’d find workers here to work at minimum wage. It’s hard work.”

32

SHORT GAME FIXES WITH ANDREW MYLES

Bunker play can be intimidating for many players, but focusing on pivot and face positions will help to improve the entry point,

contact and distance control.

Start by using the 2-line drill to establish your entry points.

Draw 2 lines about 2 inches apart in the sand and set-up as if the ball is sitting on the front line (photo 1). Make 10 practice swings and notice where the club enters the sand. Ideally, we want the divot to start on the back line and go forward. Most players are too far back. To improve this move your lower body centre to the front and make your swing pivoting around the front leg. This will help you consistently deliver the club through impact.

Read your divot for better contact and distance control

Once your entry point is consistent, monitor your divot patterns to see how the club is moving through the sand. Make your backswing steeper by using your wrists and have the club working in front of you. Hit through the sand and notice if the divot is deep or shallow.

Ideally, we want the bounce of the club to slide through the sand by using the bounce on the sand wedge. To use the bounce more effectively then the clubface must remain slightly open. This sliding motion of the club through the sand will allow a more positive accelerating swing down and through the ball.

The most common problem I see is the divot becoming too steep because of the clubface being closed with the leading edge entering the sand first. Check you backswing knuckle position (2.5/3

knuckles visible) to ensure that the club is remaining open on the backswing (photo 2).

By monitoring these two points will help you to develop a more consistent bunker game.

Though hailing from the Home

of Golf, Andrew Myles is very

much the Malaysian, having

settled down here for close to a

decade. A recognised Class AA

British PGA professional and

a certified AimPoint instructor,

he mixes his passion for short

game and putting with a

methodological accelerated

performance coaching style. His

tips can be found on

www.andrewmylesgolf.com

Two keys to great bunker play:

Pivot & Face

33

TOUR TALK WITH ASIAN TOUR

How does Thongchai Jaidee’s win at the ISPS Handa Wales Open impact Asian golf?

Calvin Koh (CK): Thongchai is a great ambassador for the Asian Tour. The way he presents himself is amazing and it was only a matter of time before he won his first title on European soil. His victory was also a welcome return to form considering the injuries he has succumbed to over the years. He showed true character to beat a really tough field and we are all proud of his achievement.

Doyle De Costa (DDC): His victory will inspire many of the younger players to shoot for the stars. There’s no doubting Thongchai’s ability seeing that he won three Asian Tour Order of Merit titles and holds the record of 13 victories including four events sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour. He is hitting top form at the right time especially with the British Open around the corner.

Is this one of the highlights on the Asian Tour this year?

CK: It is definitely one of the highlights but we have enjoyed many magical moments so far in the season. We have welcomed new winners on the Asian Tour such as Jbe Kruger of South Africa, Kieran Pratt of Australia, Digvijay Singh of India and hot newcomer David Lipsky of the United States. I think all these including Thongchai’s victory have made it an exciting season so far.

DDC: I agree with Calvin, and outside the course, the Asian Tour is also growing with its established Asian Tour television. Seven out of 10 Asian Tour events this year were telecasted live including the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic, which was live for the last two rounds. Our television platform reaches over 200 countries and 650 million homes and this shows the global appeal of the Asian Tour and our players.

How is Thongchai like outside the golf course?

CK: He is very approachable. Fans can ask for his autograph or take a photo with him. When he shoots a good round or even a bad one, he is still open to interviews and you often get some good lines from him as well. Once a year, he will also bring

the Asian Tour staff for dinner during a tournament which he is playing in. That is Thongchai for you!

DDC: I have to admit that I was so surprised to see young kids running towards Thongchai after his round at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland! There were easily about 10 to 15 kids pleading to Thongchai to sign their caps. It was nice to see him take time for the kids and posing for photos. He is a truly incredible person. Moreover, if you are craving for Thai food outside of Asia, he is the go-to person. Do not even be surprised if he invites you for a meal!

What are your thoughts on the Asian Development Tour (ADT)?

CK: It has been an amazing two years. We have grown tremendously since 2010 where we launched the ADT with five events. This year, we have a record of 11 events with the Tour travelling to Malaysia, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines. We’ve seen numerous talents breakthrough the ranks on the ADT such as Jonathan Moore and S. Sivachandhran and are hopeful more will follow their example.

DDC: It is nice to see more international players coming and playing on the ADT. We have seen Luke Bleumink (winner of the PGM Johor Masters) and Peter Richardson (winner of the PGM ADT Masters at A’Famosa) coming from Australia and England respectively to play in Asia. It just goes to show how much it means to them to play and finish in the top three of the Order of Merit to earn an Asian Tour card for 2013. With so much happening, these are exciting times for the Asian Tour and ADT.

What do you guys do during the Asian Tour’s summer break?

CK: Rest and spend a lot of time with my family especially my daughter. I would not want her forgetting who her father is!

DDC: Get as much rounds of golf as I can! It is nice to have a break and when the season starts rolling again, we will be fired up to spring into action with the voice recorder in tow.

Thongchai Jaidee joins the illustrious list of Liang-huan, KJ Choi and Jeev Milkha Singh as the only Asians to triumph on European soil. ©Khalid Redza/Asian Tour

34

Calvin Koh and Doyle De

Costa form part of the dynamic

and globe-trotting media team

at the Asian Tour. Known for

their differing viewpoints on all

things golf in Asia, the duo give

their insights and thoughts on the

happenings and developments

on the region’s established Tour.

Mercurial Thongchai and sum-mer’s out!

TEE BOX

Building on the success of its previous four editions, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) is set to indulge its valued partners

and loyal customers with a rewarding golf experience during the TM Golf 2012.

The annual golf series, which will tee-off at Lanjut Golden Beach Golf Club on June 23, will see nine qualifying legs - an increase from eight in the 2011 edition - being organised nationwide, culminating with an exciting finale at The Mines Resort & Golf Club on December 8.

Maintaining the dual tournament concept introduced last year, TM Golf 2012 will again, feature both invitational and open categories (both contested under the stableford format), with the five (5) top finishes in the invitational and two (2) best-placed participants in the open category at each leg advancing to the grand final.

With attractive prizes lined up, including

a brand new Peugeot 508 as the hole-in-one prize during the grand final, as well as the resplendent TM Golf Challenge Trophy awaiting the eventual grand champion, TM is leaving no stones unturned in ensuring the success of the 2012 edition.

Speaking during the press launch and strategic partners presentation of the event at CityGolf Bangsar, Dato’ Rozalila Abdul Rahman, Chief Marketing Officer, TM was excited with the prospects of TM Golf 2012.

“The TM Golf 2012 event is among one of the most anticipated golf tourneys by everyone familiar with the annual series including its organisers as well as potential participants. Taking on an improved look this year with an expanded schedule, the tournament also boasts an impressive stable of high-profile strategic partners.”

“TM is committed to give our clientele the very best. With the aim of treating our valued

and loyal customers to a rewarding golf experience, TM Golf 2012 is one of the many special gifts that we share with our customers as our way of saying thank you for their loyalty to our brand,” she added.

The event partners include Peugeot (Nasim Sdn Bhd), Cleveland Golf, CrestLink, Srixon, ParGolf, The ClubHouse, Gatorade, Chartis Insurance, Huawei Technologies, Fujikura Federal Cables, Pernec Corporation, Wuhan Fiberhome, Golf Leisure International, De Catano, Blue Magnetic, SunPlay as well as all the host venues.

The entry fee for avid golfers keen on participating in the open category is RM380 per leg, with TM subscribers enjoying a special rate of RM230. Limited slots are available at each leg and every participant will walk home with a goodie bag worth over RM370. Golfers may register their interest for the open category by contacting our Tournament Director at 03 2240 3833.

TM GOLF 2012Fifth edition of TM Golf series set to raise the bar

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Hail the champions: Muhamad Sanuri Sarijan (senior)and Shaheful Ardan Adenan (men) flank ladies champion Patricia Lai Pik Chun as they celebrate their respective victories at Glenmarie GCC’s annual club championship recently alongside club manager Adi Shahar (far right).

TEE BOX

Kota Permai GCC earns branding accolade again

Kota Permai Golf & Country Club (KPGCC)’s stronghold as one of the nation’s most premier golf courses

received another endorsement when they were recognised as one of Malaysia’s top corporate brands during The Brand Laureate Awards 2011-2012 on May 8.

The club’s general manager Tang Meng Loon was present to receive the award for best corporate branding – sports from The Brand Laureate president Dr KK Johan.

Tang shared that it is indeed a great honour for the club to receive the award for a second successive year and paid tribute to the strong teamwork, hard work and dedication of his management team and staff of the club. He pledged that the club will continue to provide excellent services to our members and patrons.

LIBERTY GOLF GIVEAWAYBorhan rewarded for double aces

For Haji Borhan Ujang, his recent golfing trip to Sieam Reap turned out to be a memorable one as he notched not one, but two hole-in-ones during his round at Angkor Golf Resort.

The 66-year-old former five-time Senior Golfers Society of Malaysia (SGSM) champion recorded his first ace on the par-three 12th before adding another on the 17th, both witnessed by his flightmates Dato’ Nik Mahmud, Mahzan and Mohd Diman Yusof.

The achievement came as no surprise for the as he had previously carded three aces in 2003 but none in the same round. “It is something that I will cherish and will never forget. The Angkor Golf Resort was a great golfing destination and I must commend Liberty Golf Services for the delightful trip,” said Borhan, who received a memento for his achievement from Ng Eu Shen of Liberty Golf Services at Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam on May 3.

South African challenge for domestic winnersThe Malaysian leg of the World Golfers Championship is making a welcome return after a brief absence with automaker Perodua as its title sponsor.

The well-recognised international amateur tournament, which begins as a national championship in 42 countries around the world, will award the winners from five handicap categories the chance to represent their nation at the world finals to be held in Durban, South Africa from October 27 to November 3.

Local participants will have to do battle at any one of eleven qualifying legs - seven exclusively reserved for host club members - to earn a spot at the national finals at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club on October 18, where the five Malaysian representatives will be decided.

BRAND LAUREATE AWARDS

PERODUA WORLD GOLFERS CHAMPIONSHIP

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TEE BOX

KRPM-KGPA INTER-CLUBClash of titans between Klang Valley clubs

The annual inter-club tournament between Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia (KPRM) and Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam (KGPA) recently was fiercely contested with both Klang Valley clubs

aiming to prevail over the other in the annual affair.

Dubbed the Clash of the Titans, the KRPM team took full advantage of playing on their home ground to cruise to a 17-9 points victory. Edmund Chiam and Bruce Chan of the host team also emerged as the best pair, notching a combined Stableford score of 78, three strokes better than the KGPA pairing of Shahwan Mohan and Maniam Raman,

SGSM ANNIVERSARY TROPHYKhamis defends crown

Datuk A S Khamis was crowned the champion of the Senior Golfers Society of Malaysia Anniversary Trophy for the second year running at Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam recently.

After an opening round of 79 to share the lead with fellow six-handicapper Hamdan Zambahari, Khamis mixed a birdie and five bogeys to close with a four-over 76 for a 155 total and a two-stroke victory over Hamdan. Liyackat Ali (6) was third on 161 after rounds of 85 and 76 .In the nett category, Abdul Jalil Mohamed (24) from Johor claimed a convincing five-stroke victory over Kang Kim Chye with a two-day score of 128. Chan Teik Lian (21) was a further three shots behind in third.

TEE BOX

Cousins Lim Bu Keong and Lim Boon Kiat emerged as the first qualifiers for the trip to Stoneforest International Country Club outside Kunming at the opening leg of

the Maxis Team Golf Tour at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club on May 16.

Buoyed by Bu Keong, who carded a superb round of even-par 72, the pair earned their places in the grand final after totalling 138 to edge past the team of Alex Tan and Lee Chan Lam by one stroke to claim the team nett title

The team gross title went to the solid pairing of S. Sasikumar and George Wee Yoke Boon who carded a combined 152, edging the Lim cousins on countback.

NILAI SPRINGS GCC APPRECIATION GOLFResort plays tribute to valued clientele

Recognising the contribution of their loyal clientele, Nilai Springs Golf & Country Club and its sister property Nilai Springs Resort Hotel organised a golf friendly and

cocktail party on May 30.

The event hosted by Nilai Springs Resorts general manager GK How and his team saw a diverse list of guests including government bodies, corporate organisations, regular patrons as well as media representatives.

In his welcome address, How extended the resort’s appreciation to its valued partners for their unwavering support and business over the years. “This event gives us an opportunity to thank our loyal clientele for being a significant part of our growth and we pledge to continue providing a high-level of service and hospitality in return of your continued patronage,” he said.

BATU PAHAT COMMERCIAL HOUSE CHARITY GOLF Batu Pahat business community do their part

The folks of Batu Pahat are noted for their charitable hearts

and the 30th anniversary of the Batu Pahat Commercial

House Charity Golf competition held on May Day weekend

proved once again to be a major success, with over RM200,000

raised during the two-day annual affair.

A total of 230 golfers took part in the tournament, which was

played at Bukit Banang Golf & Country Club. Fifteen-handicapper

Mohd Nasir Amin topped the A Division with 42 points OCB while

Alex Moh (20) triumphed in the B Division title with 46 points.

Both champions walked home with a40” Sharp LCD television

and a trophy.

Call us to book your tee time: Bukit Kiara, off Jalan Damansara, Peti Surat 12137, Jalan Pantai Baru,

Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur 50768, MalaysiaTel: 03-7957 3344 Fax: 03-7957 7821

Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam (KGPA) is situated within Bukit Kiara, about 18km from Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

A 27-hole layout designed by renowned American course architect Ronald Fream. The championship course (Hills and Lakes) is a classic par 72 golf course measuring 5,989 metres with landscaped lush fairways culminating in manicured verdant greens. The third nine (Forest), measuring 2,711 metres is equally scenic and challenging, playing around the natural jungle environment.

www.kgpagolf.com

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MAXIS TEAM GOLF TOURGreat start for Maxis Team challenge

GOLF DIARY

July 1 - 44th ASEAN School GamesGolf Graha Famili & CC, Surabaya,Indonesia

July 6 - 8Kelantan Amateur OpenKelantan GCC, Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan

July 12 - 14Malaysian Games (SUKMA)Royal Pahang GC, Kuantan, Pahang

July 16 -18British Junior OpenFairhaven GC, Lytham St Annes, England

July 6 - 12MALGA - Hokkaido Ladies Golf ChallengeRusutsu Resort, Hokkaido, Japan

June 25 - 28Terengganu Masters (ADT)Awana Kijal Golf, Beach & Spa Resort, Kijal, TerengganuRM220,000

July 11 - 14Lanjut ClassicLanjut Golden Beach & Golf Resort, Lan-jut, PahangRM125,000

June 21-24Volvik Hildesheim Open J Golf Series Hildesheim CC, South KoreaUS$300,000

July 4-7Taman Dayu Championship (ADT)Taman Dayu GCR, Surabaya, IndonesiaUS$75,000

July 19 -22 The 141st Open ChampionshipRoyal Lytham & St Annes GC, Lancashire,EnglandUS$8,000,000

June 21-24 BMW International OpenGolf Club Gut Lärchenhof,Cologne,Germany€2,000,000

Jun 28 - Jul 1 The Irish OpenRoyal Portrush GC, Portrush, Northern Ireland€2,000,000

July 5 - 8Alstom Open de FranceLe Golf National,Paris,France€3,150,000

July 12 -15Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish OpenCastle Stuart Golf Links,Inverness,Scotland£2,500,000

July 19 -22 The 141st Open ChampionshipRoyal Lytham & St Annes GC, Lancashire,EnglandUS$8,000,000€2,000,000

June 22-24 Raiffeisenbank Prague Golf MastersAlbatross GR, Prague, Czech Republic250,000

July 13-15 South African Women´s OpenSelborne Park GC, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa260,000

June 21 - 24Travelers ChampionshipTPC River Highlands, ConnecticutUS$6,000,000

Jun 28 - Jul 1 AT&T NationalCongressional CC, MarylandUS$6,500,000

July 5 - 8The Greenbrier ClassicThe Old White TPC, West VirginiaPurse: $6,100,000

July 12 - 15John Deere ClassicTPC Deere Run, IllinoisUS$4,600,000

July 19 -22 The 141st Open ChampionshipRoyal Lytham & St Annes GC, Lancashire,EnglandUS$8,000,000

July 19 - 22 True South ClassicAnnandale GC, MississippiUS$3,000,000

June 21-24Manulife Financial LPGA ClassicGrey Silo GC,Ontario, CanadaUS$1,300,000

Jun 29 - Jul 1Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Pre-sented by P&GPinnacle CC, ArkansasUS$2,000,000

July 5-8United States Women’s OpenBlackwolf Run,

39