Saujana sign up Nachimuthu

12/03/1999

THE Saujana Golf and Country Club yesterday inked a deal with R.
Nachimuthu as their third local touring professional.
Director of Saujana GCC Abu Bakar Nor welcomed Nachimuthu into the fold
with a reminder: "Stay among the top five on the MPGA Order of Merit and
this partnership will go a long way."
In January, Saujana signed Rashid Ismail, ranked seventh on the MPGA
Order Of Merit last year and Shaifubari Muda, ranked ninth, to a tune of
RM40,000 a year.
"Saujana are not their managers and we do not take a cut off their
winnings, all we want is to promote the sport in Malaysia by adopting pros
who have shown consistency over the years. If other sponsors want to come
in, they are welcome," said Abu Bakar.
Nachimuthu will also receive RM40,000 a year, enough to compete in all
the local tournaments. He has also been given the privilege of using
Saujana's greens as often as he wants.
Nachimuthu turned pro in January.
The former caddie from Kuala Kubu Baru GCC has been one of Malaysia's
best amateurs in recent years.
His best achievements were winning the Malaysian Amateur Open in 1997
and the Panasonic Open in 1996 and 1997.
He said that turning pro has not changed his outlook on the game at all.
"I still feel the same, maybe it is because I have been playing
alongside the same players for so long that I do not fear them. I hope to
play in international tournaments next year to get more exposure and
expand my style," said Nachimuthu.
On Lee Westwood, Abu Bakar said they have yet to renew their partnership
which expires at the end of the month.
"Both parties are happy with the relationship and want it to continue.
Only minor details need to be settled now that he has made a name in the
international arena. We would be glad to continue our partnership."
* SAUJANA touring professional R. Nachimuthu fired another sub-par round
to extend his lead to nine strokes at the Malaysia PGA Qualifying School
at Saujana GCC yesterday.
Playing on the Crocodile Course, Nachimuthu's two-under 70 took his two-
round total to 137.
He returned 35s on both nines with birdies on the sixth, ninth, 13th and
15th and his bogeys were on the first and 11th.
Leading 2nd rd scores: 137 R. Nachimuthu 67-70; 146 Samsuddin Dingkil
73-73; 147 Zalizan Mad Har 75-72, Zamri Shariff 74-73; 148 Lee Kwang Ju (S
Kor) 75-73, Tan Boon Seng 73-75, A. Durairaj 73-75; 149 K. Noriyama (Jpn)
76-73; 150 N. Sivakumar 76-74, Ariff Sarji 74-76; 151 T. Okura (Jpn) 76-
75; 152 Colin Field (Aus) 80-72, Yoshihiko Yamagata (Jpn) 80-72, K. Iida
(Jpn) 75-77.
(END)