Na and Moore top CIMB Classic

KEVIN NA of the United States shot five birdies in a bogey free round to hold the joint lead with compatriot and defending champion Ryan Moore going into the final round of the CIMB Classic at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) yesterday.
   The lead changed hands for the third time in as many days, and Na's five-under 67 yestarday took his total to 12-under 204. Moore also had a five-under 67, and a 204 total.
   Na, who won the Volvo Mastars in 2002 in Kuala Lumpur, believes a 17-under score should land the title today.
   "Its nice to be 12-under, but tomorrow (final round) is another day and with many top golfers close by, I believe one would have to shoot another five-under, the least, and a 17-under total should be enough. That's my prediction," said Na.
   He has been bogged down by weather delays in two consecutive rounds, and finds the greens harder to play after that.
   "Well I had five birdies, but did have a close look at a few Eagles out there but could not sink them. And after the weather delay, it becomes that much harder to read the greens," said Na.
   Both Na and Moore has been steady in their progress, as Na had an opening 69, followed by a 68 and a 67. Moore started with a 68, went to 69, and hit a splendid 67 with seven birdies and two bogies on his card.
   World Number Four Sergio Garcia of Spain and overnight leader Billy Hurley III of the United States are just a stroke adrift at 11-under 205, and could be the surprise package in the final round.
   Close on the leaders are also a pack of four, at nine-under 207. Gary Woodland (US, 66), Bae Sang-Moon (S Kor, 68), Kevin Chapell (US, 70) and Kevin Streelman (US, 71).
   Moore has the same feeling he had going into the final last year: "I really enjoy the golf course, obviously enjoyed it last year as well as I've just been able to play good, solid, consistent golf so far, just putting it in the fairway, giving myself chances, and I've been fortunate enough to make some putts, so in the end that's why I'm here.
   "And there are only positive vibes, as you know, I've been here (KLGCC), I've done it on this course, and so that should just give me that little extra course going into the final.
   "I know what it's like to win out here, and I'm going to try and make that happen again."
   The defending champion knows it going to be a tight Sunday race: It's a pretty tight leaderboard out there and for me, I have kind of a very simple approach to the course as far as my clubs off the tee and the way, you know, the way I try and pick this course apart.
   "And I'm just going to stick to that. I can't overpower this golf course, and I think this course sneaks up on you if you do try and overpower it.
   "So it's all about getting it in the fairways early on in the day and giving myself chances. I've been making putts so far the last three days, and I think just keep giving myself good opportunities and make some putts early and kind of get it rolling."

THIRD ROUND SCORES:
204  Kevin Na (US) 69-68-67, Ryan Moore (US) 68-69-67.
205  Sergio Garcia (SP) 69-68-68, Billy Hurley III (US) 67-67-71.
207  Gary Woodland (US) 71-70-66, Sang-Moon Bae (S Kor) 71-68-68, Kevin Chappell (US) 69-68-70, Kevin 
Streelman (US) 68-68-71.
208  Brendon de Jonge (Zim) 70-73-65, Patrick Reed (US) 70-70-68, Angelo Que (Phil) 67-72-69, Cameron 
Smith (Aus) 70-69-69, Jeff Overton (US) 68-69-71.
209  John Senden (Aus) 72-68-69, Prom Meesawat (Thai) 68-71-70, Seung-Yul Noh (S Kor) 68-69-72.
210  Davis Love III (US) 68-71-71.
211  Greg Chalmers (Aus) 75-68-68, Danny Lee (NZ) 69-69-73, Brian Stuard (US) 67-72-72, Lee Westwood 
(Eng) 72-65-74.
212  Rory Sabbatini (SA) 70-72-70, Charl Schwartzel (SA) 74-70-68, Nicholas Thompson (US) 69-73-70, Luke 
Guthrie (US) 73-68-71, Scott Stallings (US) 69-76-67, Paul Casey (Eng) 73-68-71, Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn) 
70-70-72.
213  Jonathan Byrd (US) 70-74-69, Jason Dufner (US) 74-70-69, Stephen Lewton (Eng) 74-69-70, Retief 
Goosen (SA) 74-70-69, Will MacKenzie (US) 69-73-71, Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) 69-71-73, Mike Weir (Can) 73-68-
72, Billy Horschel (US) 72-68-73, David Lingmerth (Swe) 68-72-73, Jonas Blixt (Swe) 69-69-75.
214  Heath Slocum (US) 71-73-70, Jason Knutzon (US) 72-70-72, Charlie Wi (S Kor) 72-70-72, Pat Perez (US) 
72-73-69.
215  Michael Putnam (US) 71-72-72, Chris Stroud (US) 70-74-71, Trevor Immelman (SA) 74-70-71, Jhonattan 
Vegas (VenN) 74-71-70.
216  Matt Every (US) 69-73-74, KJ Choi (S Kor) 71-74-71, Rikard Karlberg (Swe) 65-76-75, Anirban Lahiri (Ind) 
74-72-70, Kyle Stanley (US) 76-71-69.
217  Marc Leishman (Aus) 74-72-71, Troy Merritt (US) 72-75-70.
218  Antonio Lascuna (Phil) 72-72-74, Steven Bowditch (Aus) 71-73-74, Brice Garnett (US) 70-75-73, Tim 
Wilkinson (NZ) 68-79-71.
219  Robert Allenby (Aus) 73-73-73, Morgan Hoffmann (US) 72-74-73, Tian-Lang Guan (am, Ch) 76-71-72, 
Matt Jones (Aus) 81-69-69, James Hahn (US) 74-77-68.
220  Tim Clark (SA) 72-74-74, Stewart Cink (US) 74-73-73.
221  Brian Davis (Eng) 71-75-75, Boo Weekley (US) 75-72-74, Will Wilcox (US) 75-74-72, Danny Chia (Mas) 75-
74-72.
222  Nicholas Fung (Mas) 73-74-75, Ricky Barnes (US) 71-77-74, Roberto Castro (US) 77-74-71, J.B. Holmes 
(US) 75-77-70.
223  Carlos Ortiz (Mex) 76-72-75.
224  David Lipsky (US) 74-73-77, Chesson Hadley (USA) 75-75-74.
225  Charlie Beljan (US) 76-75-74.

230  Seuk-hyun Baek (S Kor) 81-72-77.

Terengganu whack UniKL 7-0

TERENGGANU Hockey Team's Faizal Saari carried his team to a convincing 7-0 win over UniKL in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League at the National Stadium yesterday.
   Faizal, a former national player, scored five goals in the 12th, 16th, 20th, 32nd, 43rd minutes, while the other goals were scored by Baljit Singh Sarjab (25th) and Firhan Ashaari (45th) minute. 
   And after Kuala Lumpur HC demolished Tenaga Nasional 5-3 in the Charity Shield on Wednesday, the early indications are that KLHC and Terengganu HT are the teams to beat this season.
   In another match, Sapura and Maybank shared the spoils when they played to a 2-2 draw.
   For Maybank, Pakistan import Abdul Haseem (21st), and Syafiq Zain (24th) made it 2-0, but Sapura pulled one back in the 28th minute off Amerullah Aziz, and Khasif Ali (54th) snatched the draw.
   “While I’m disappointed that we gave up a two-goal lead, it is our first match of the season so more improtantly, there was a good overall performance from my players," said Maybank coach Wallace Tan.
   RESULTS: Sapura 2 Maybank 2, UniKL 0  Terengganu HT 7. 
   SUNDAY: Tenaga v Terengganu HT (6pm, National Stadium, Pitch I); Sapura v UniKL (6pm, National Stadium, Pitch II); KLHC v Maybank (8pm, National Stadium, Pitch II).  

Ex-Navy Hurley leads CIMB Classic

Hurley, who served as a lieutenant on board a U.S. Navy destroyer from 2007 to 2009 in the Persian Gulf, knows he must be on top of his game to fend off a caliber chasing pack.

UNITED STATES ex-Navy Billy Hurley hit a purple patch with identical 67s in both rounds of the CIMB Classic to lead the stellar cast by 10-under 134 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC).
    Overnight leader Rikard Karlberg of Sweden burst his bubble with a 76, after a super 65, to end tied-25th. A massive fall from grace, as he battled with the tricky greens.
   Kevin Streelman of the United States is alone second  at eight-under 136, after shooting identical 68s in both rounds.
    Seven players are bunched at joint third with seven-under 137 total, and leading the chase here is defending chanpion Ryan Moore (US), Noh Seung-Yul (S Kor), Jeff Overton (US), Kevin Chappell (US), Sergio Garcia (Sp), Lee Westwood (Eng) and Kevin Na (US).
   And it looks like the lead is going to change hands from Navy to civilian again today.
  "I played nicely. I even played a little bit better probably than the score is on the front side, you know, one bad swing, but hit a lot of really good putts that kind of just hit the edge.
   "If you would have just hit the edge on the first nine and you make them all on the back nine, then you feel a little bit better about it than doing it the other way around, but at the end of the day it's the same score, so I'm happy with 10 under for two days."
    And on his decision to join the US Navy before turning pro:  "I loved being in the Navy, and still have great memories and great friends from being in the Navy. If I didn't want to play golf, I'd probably still be in the Navy right now, but I'm happy to be out here and be kind of representing the Navy and the Naval Academy on the PGA Tour."
   The Navy-man was realistic that his two-shot lead is still shaky going into the third.
   "There are 36 holes of golf left. A two shot lead is better than a one shot lead, but it's not quite as good as a four shot lead. You always want to have more.
   "That's the funny thing about golf is you feel like you always could have played better. My wife actually hates me for that, or she hates golf for that. I'm like, ah, I could have always been one better, and she tells me, I don't want to hear about that."
   Hole-in-one hero Lee Westwood of England keep pace with the leader: "I played nicely, got off to a good start, birdied the first couple of holes, kept it going. Obviously hit a great shot at 11, the rescue; that was the highlight of the round, went in the hole. 
   "You know, you need a bit of luck, but at the same time you gotta hit well and straight, so it happens now and again. And went back out after the rain delay and birdied two of the last three and had a really good chance at 17 as well to about eight feet, so pleased with the way I finished, and 65 has got me right into the tournament.
    And on his ace at the 11th: "I was aiming towards 20 feet left of the hole and trying to hit a bit of a high cut because it was just too much club. It just came out perfect. It just shot out about 20 feet left and high fade and landed nicely on the ridge, and then it kicked a bit left and ran up there and went straight in the middle. Just sometimes that happens. It's 226 yards today (yesterday) and into the wind, so you know, it's going to be one of the hardest holes on the golf course."

SECOND ROUND SCORES:
134  Billy Hurley III (US) 67-67.
136  Kevin Streelman (US) 68-68.
137  Seung-Yul Noh (S Kor) 68-69, Jeff Overton (US) 68-69, Kevin Chappell (US) 69-68, Ryan Moore (US) 68-69, Sergio Garcia (Sp) 69-68, Lee Westwood (Eng) 72-65, Kevin Na (US) 69-68.
138  Jonas Blixt (Swe) 69-69, Danny Lee (NZ) 69-69.
139  Brian Stuard (US) 67-72, Cameron Smith (AUS) 70-69, Davis Love III (US) 68-71, Sang-Moon Bae (S Kor) 71-68, Prom Meesawat (Thai) 68-71, Angelo Que (Phil) 67-72.
140  Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn) 70-70, John Senden (Aus) 72-68, Billy Horschel (US) 72-68, David Lingmerth (Swe) 68-72, Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) 69-71, Patrick Reed (US) 70-70.
141  Mike Weir (Can) 73-68, Paul Casey (Eng) 73-68, Rikard Karlberg (Swe) 65-76, Gary Woodland (US) 71-70, Luke Guthrie (US) 73-68.
142  Charlie Wi (S Kor) 72-70, Will MacKenzie (US) 69-73, Matt Every (US) 69-73, Nicholas Thompson (US) 69-73, Jason Knutzon (US) 72-70, Rory Sabbatini (SA) 70-72.
143  Brendon de Jonge (Zim) 70-73, Stephen Lewton (Eng) 74-69, Michael Putnam (US) 71-72, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 75-68.
144  Chris Stroud (US) 70-74, Antonio Lascuna (Phi) 72-72, Jonathan Byrd (US) 70-74, Jason Dufner (US) 74-70, Charl Schwartzel (SA) 74-70, Heath Slocum (US) 71-73, Trevor Immelman (SA) 74-70, Retief Goosen (SA) 74-70, Steven Bowditch (Aus) 71-73.
145  Brice Garnett (US) 70-75, Scott Stallings (US) 69-76, Jhonattan Vegas (Ven) 74-71, K.J. Choi (S Kor) 71-74, Pat Perez (US) 72-73.
146  Tim Clark (SA) 72-74, Anirban Lahiri (Ind) 74-72, Marc Leishman (Aus) 74-72, Robert Allenby (Aus) 73-73, Brian Davis (Eng) 71-75, Morgan Hoffmann (US) 72-74.
147  Boo Weekley (US) 75-72, Tian-Lang Guan (am, Ch) 76-71, Nicholas Fung (Mas) 73-74, Tim Wilkinson (NZ) 68-79, David Lipsky (US) 74-73, Stewart Cink (US) 74-73, Kyle Stanley (US) 76-71, Troy Merritt (US) 72-75.
148  Ricky Barnes (US) 71-77, Carlos Ortiz (Mex) 76-72.
149  Will Wilcox (US) 75-74, Danny Chia (Mas) 75-74.
150  Matt Jones (Aus) 81-69, Chesson Hadley (US) 75-75.
151  Roberto Castro (US) 77-74, Charlie Beljan (US) 76-75, James Hahn (US) 74-77.
152  J.B. Holmes (US) 75-77.
153  Seuk-hyun Baek (S Kor) 81-72.

Razie hat-trick hand KLHC Charity Shield

NATIONAL player Razie Rahim's hat-trick handed Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) the Charity Shield when they beat Tenaga Nasional 5-3 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
   The Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) Premier Division curtain raiser also handed four-time consecutive double champions KLHC three vital points.
   "The Charity Shield Trophy is nice to lift, but more importantly, my players fought for three points which is a first step towards defending our League title," said KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj.
   KLHC fielded six foreign players, while Tenaga had an-all local outfit.
   "My six guest players have only been in the country for a few days, and the young Australians need more time to settle down as compared to my Pakistan imports. As for the locals, Razie held the fort well and also gave us the winning start," said Dharmaraj.
   Tenaga coach Nor Saiful Zaini, whose team won the Charity Shield by beating KLHC in a penalty shoot-out, rued his missed chances.
   "We missed many sitters which could have made the difference.  And also, KLHC players had more ball sense and control, while some of my young players could not hold onto the ball and threw away many passes which turnd the match in favour of KLHC," said Nur Saiful.
   On the sideline, Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) gave a token of appreciation to veteran coach C. Paramalingam who turned 80, for his tireless efforts in developing youth even as an octogenarian.
   On the Charity Shield, hopefully, if was not an indication of the  quality of play in the Premier Division, as poor hockey was the order of the day -- from the local as well as foreign players.
   Tenaga Nasional were more composed in the opening minutes of the game, as KLHC's foreign brigade failed to gel properly in their first outing together, and Ramadhan Rosli gave the Utility Giants the lead in the ninth minute off a field goal.
   National penalty corner flicker Razie Rahim got into action in the 19th minute, and equalised with a low penalty corner flick and the game opened up a little.
   Goals flew after that, as Rahim Baharom gave KLHC the lead in the 26th minute, only to see TNB's Amin Rahim draw level again at 2-2 with a 28th minute penalty corner.
   Razie retook the lead with his penalty corner brace in the 29th minute, and again TNB drew level at 3-3 with an Azammi Adabi penalty corner goal in the 32nd minute.
  Pakistan import Mohamed Imran nailed the fourth goal for KLHC in the 42nd minute, and Razie got his hat-trick in the 57th for a comfortable 5-3 win.
   RESULTS: Charity Shield: Tenaga Nasional 3 KLHC 5.
   FRIDAY : Sapura v Maybank (6pm), UniKL v Terengganu HT (8pm). 
   SUNDAY: Tenaga v Terengganu HT (6pm, National Stadium, Pitch I); Sapura v UniKL (6pm, National Stadium, Pitch II); KLHC v Maybank (8pm, National Stadium, Pitch II). 

More money less teams in MHL Premier Division

NOTE: WITH champions trophy in December, top German, Aussies, Indian, Pakistani players not in MHL. Even Koreans are the recently retired ones.

 PIC: Nur Azmi Ahmad

THERE is plenty of money being pumped into the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) , but the number of teams is steadily declining.
    The MHL Premier Division, the pride of Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC), will only see six teams competing from this weekend, one less from last season.
   Dominating Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC), four-time back-to-back double champions, will start against Tenaga Nasional in a Charity Shield match this Wednesday, while the two-leg action begins from Friday.
   The other four teams are Terengganu HT, Sapura, Maybank and UniKL.
   Yesterday, title sponsors Tenaga Nasional came in with RM2 million for the entire year’s domestic commitments. In total, TNB has invested RM12 million into the local leagues since 2006.
   One reason for the decline is that the quality-player pool is drying up, and teams have resorted to hiring foreign players to lay their hands on the two titles.
   Maybank have signed three foreign players in goalkeeper Moritz Knobloch from Germany, and Pakistanis Shakeel Abassi and Abdul Haseem Khan who were both members of the silver medal-winning team in the Incheon Asian Games while defending champions KLHC, coached by K. Dharmaraj, have six foreign signings.
    Dharma’s foreign pack includes two young Australians - Harrison Page and Matthew Mallinson, both 20 years of age, and Pakistanis Akhtar Ali, Waseem Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad and Muhammad Imran.
    Terengganu Hockey Team has registered five Koreans in penalty-corner specialist Jang Jong-hyun, Bae Jeong-seok, Seo Jong-ho and brothers Kang Moon-kyu and Kang Moon-Kweon
   Sapura also have four Pakistan players, UniKL four foreign players. The only all-local side is Tenaga Nasional.
    MHC vice-president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad said the TNB-MHL is seen as the answer to producing talented players.
   “With the presence of a stellar cast of foreign players in the TNB-MHL, the quality of the league is unquestionable,” said Nur Azmi.
   But with so many foreign players earning a handsome keep in the Premier Division, many budding local talent will have to watch from the sidelines.
   Juniors team manager Mirnawan Nawawi did say, after his charges finished fifth in the Sultan of Johor Cup, that he will be scouting for talent in the Premier Division of the MHL to strengthen his 2016 Junior World Cup trainees.
   But its the same old local faces playing for the six clubs, so talent scouting is out of the question.
   TOMORROW -- Charity Shield: KLHC v Tenaga (6pm, National Stadium, Pitch II).
   FIRST LEG -- FRIDAY : Sapura v Maybank (6pm), UniKL v Terengganu HT (8pm).
   SUNDAY: Tenaga v Terengganu HT (6pm, National Stadium, Pitch I); Sapura v UniKL (6pm, National Stadium, Pitch II); KLHC v Maybank (8pm, National Stadium, Pitch II).