DEFENDING champions SSTMI Thunderbolts stayed on course to retaining their MHC-MILO-NSC Junior Hockey League Division One title when they beat OLAK PKT Tigers 4-1 at the National Hockey Stadium yesterday.
However the three points were still not enough to lift them above current league leaders UniKL Young Guns whom they will face next week as they continue to trail them by two points.
After an unconvincing display yesterday, Thunderbolts coach Wan Roslan Wan Rahman said: "I'm very disappointed with today's performance, as the players looked lost and this is not a good sign as we have a big match next week against UniKL."
Shello Silverius put the defending champions ahead in the 12th minute with a field goal before Ammirul Hafiz doubled their lead eight minutes later from a penalty corner.
The second half saw a very sloppy game from both sides, but Thunderbolts managed to squeeze in a third through Luqman Hakim in the 47th minute. Olak pulled one back in the 61st minute through Sheimyrul Azreel, but Thunderbolts swept home their fourth goal of the evening in the 65th minute when Danial Asyraf was on target.
To add misery, Thunderbolts Nik Aiman was flashed a yellow card in the final minute of the match and will miss the crucial clash against UniKL next Friday.
RESULTS -- Division One: OLAK PKT Tigers 1 SSTMI Thunderbolts 4.
Division Two: Group A -- MSNT-PHT 2 1MAS Perak 0.
Group B: 1MAS Perlis 11 MSSD Larut Matang 0, MSS Kedah 2 Nurinsafi-Penang HA 3.
Group C: 1MAS TBSS Tampin 2 SMKDBL 1.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Danny's focus now on Olympics cut..
FOR a long while, Danny Chia was poised to grab a career first top-10 at the Maybank Malaysian Open on Sunday. Then, the winds threw him off his stride.
Chia closed with a two-over-par 74 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club to settle for a share of 25th place with amateur Gavin Green, who signed for a 69 as both emerged as the leading local players at the US$3 million showpiece sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
The 42-year-old Chia, who is Malaysia’s first winner on the Asian Tour, turned in 34 but staggered home in 40 and a four-under-par 284 total for US$28,950.
“I knew I needed to score on the front nine and I did. I didn’t get through the tough holes very well. I hit quite a number of good shots but it turned into bogeys. Overall I’m still happy with the way I played. At least I was very close of getting what I wanted (top-10),” he said.
“I was confused on the back nine where the wind was blowing. That’s one of the factors why I didn’t play so well. This is definitely one of my best Maybank Malaysian Open performances. I’m sure there will be better performances in the future.”
Chia is now focusing on getting in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next year and is targeting to play in as many Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour events for the next 18 months until the qualifying cut off.
With his game now showing signs of returning to its best following a length injury break, he is looking to work hard at achieving his goal.
“There are more things which I need to work on my game. I’m feeling good. I think it is safe to say that I know how to play in the Maybank Malaysian Open now,” said Chia.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the year because I’m excited with the way I’m playing. There are a lot of room for improvements and this only means that I can get better.
“Where I was two years ago, I’m so happy that I can come back and play golf (after his injury). I’m playing so much better than before. I have to thank God that I can come back and playing good golf.
“I’m now more mature in golf. I’m more experienced and I’m very confident with the way I think on the golf course,” said the 42-year-old.
Chia closed with a two-over-par 74 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club to settle for a share of 25th place with amateur Gavin Green, who signed for a 69 as both emerged as the leading local players at the US$3 million showpiece sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
The 42-year-old Chia, who is Malaysia’s first winner on the Asian Tour, turned in 34 but staggered home in 40 and a four-under-par 284 total for US$28,950.
“I knew I needed to score on the front nine and I did. I didn’t get through the tough holes very well. I hit quite a number of good shots but it turned into bogeys. Overall I’m still happy with the way I played. At least I was very close of getting what I wanted (top-10),” he said.
“I was confused on the back nine where the wind was blowing. That’s one of the factors why I didn’t play so well. This is definitely one of my best Maybank Malaysian Open performances. I’m sure there will be better performances in the future.”
Chia is now focusing on getting in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next year and is targeting to play in as many Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour events for the next 18 months until the qualifying cut off.
With his game now showing signs of returning to its best following a length injury break, he is looking to work hard at achieving his goal.
“There are more things which I need to work on my game. I’m feeling good. I think it is safe to say that I know how to play in the Maybank Malaysian Open now,” said Chia.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the year because I’m excited with the way I’m playing. There are a lot of room for improvements and this only means that I can get better.
“Where I was two years ago, I’m so happy that I can come back and play golf (after his injury). I’m playing so much better than before. I have to thank God that I can come back and playing good golf.
“I’m now more mature in golf. I’m more experienced and I’m very confident with the way I think on the golf course,” said the 42-year-old.
Lahiri's moment..
The 27-year-old Lahiri, who trailed by five strokes heading into the final round, closed with a four-under-par 68 for a 16-under 272 total and claimed the Seagram Trophy which came with a champion’s cheque of US$500,000.
The feat was made possible after the Indian went on a birdy binge in the Third Round by snaring 10 in flawless play.
Wiesberger, with three top-six finishes in his last three starts, started strongly with two opening birdies but a double bogey on five took away his momentum and further bogeys on 12, 15 and 17 meant that he needed to birdie the last hole to force a play-off with Lahiri.
However, the 29-year-old Austrian, who was seeking a fourth career victory, left his birdie attempt from 25 feet short of the hole. His 15-under 273 saw him settle for second best and he pocketed US$333,330.
Englishman Paul Waring (US$168,900) and Spaniard Alejandro Canizares (US$168,900) shared third place on 275 after closing with a 73 and 74 respectively while title holder Lee Westwood of England, who was chasing a record-tying third victory in the Maybank Malaysian Open, failed to challenge as he signed off with a disappointing 75 for tied fifth place (US$99,300) with Asian Tour regulars Richard T. Lee of Canada (71) and American Paul Peterson (72).
Anirban's sixth career Asian Tour victory and first co-sanctioned title on the European Tour is likely to propel him into the world’s top-40, putting him in prime position to qualify for the Masters Tournament in April, the year’s first Major, and also the International Team for the Presidents Cup later this year.
Coming off his career best year where he won twice last year and finished second on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, the tenacious Lahiri fought gallantly to reel in overnight leader Wiesberger and then holed an audacious 50-foot birdie putt from off the 17th green which ultimately proved decisive.
“I don’t think it has sunk in just yet but I’m pretty sure when it does, I’ll be pretty happy. This win is very, very special as it’s my first on the European Tour. I think I’ve got a bad habit to make it hard for myself. I’m happy I managed to get it over the line towards as ugly as it was towards the end,” said Anirban.
“I knew Bernd got off to a hot start. I didn’t know how far back I was until the back nine. That was when my caddie pointed out that he had dropped a couple. I knew I was in the hunt and I knew I needed one more birdie to come home.”
Wiesberger was disappointed he failed to hold on to his overnight lead.
“It didn’t quite finished the way I intended to. That’s what golf is. After the hiccup on five, I didn’t hit it anywhere as good as the last 15 rounds. It’s tough to say but it is what it is and unfortunately I beat myself out of it,” said Wiesberger
He rued a miscalculated approach shot on 17 which led to a costly bogey that put him one back with 18 to play.
“I couldn’t believe that wedge on 17 went that far. I don’t know what happened there. Maybe I got the wind wrong,” he said.
“When I hit it (birdie attempt on 18), I knew it was a bit shy. Obviously, it was a big putt and the last thing you wanted was to leave it short. It’s disappointing. I just didn’t trust my swing enough which was good the last couple of weeks. Still a good week. Congrats to Anirban who played a lovely round.”
Meanwhile, the Malaysain Open is set to see a new home next year, as plans are afoot to take it back to its roots -- the Royal Selangor Golf Club -- where it started its humble beginnings in 1962.
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