KGNS back down, Saujana take over

15/02/1998

THEY had wanted 24 hours for their greens to turn green and in the end
Subang National Golf Club (KGNS) bowed to the inevitable - that they
cannot host the 1998 Benson and Hedges Malaysian Open.
The Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) announced yesterday at a Press
conference at KGNS that the Open will be held at the Saujana Golf and
Country Club.
"The decision to move was taken with great difficulty, taking into
consideration the considerable amount of work done by the KGNS committee,"
said MGA president Thomas M.L. Lee, who is also the chairman of the
Malaysian Open organising committee.
Fungus hit the KGNS greens two months ago and last Wednesday all 18
holes had turned brown.
KGNS president Datuk Sabbaruddin Chik had on Friday requested for 24
hours to get the greens back to green but that was asking for the
impossible.
All 18 greens stayed brown.
"The MGA feel that they cannot take a risk with the condition of the
greens which are getting worse, notwithstanding the assurances of KGNS
course superintendent Shane Bisseker," said Lee.
Club captain Dr Sheffie Bakar said the KGNS management asked for the 24
hours based on Bisseker's optimism that he could turn the greens around.
However, MGA decided that even if the fungus attack had been arrested
and the greens had somehow been ready yesterday, they would not be able to
withstand one week of play.
Lee and Sabbaruddin toured KGNS yesterday and the Minister asked MGA to
make the decision.
"MGA are very grateful to Sabbaruddin for making our job easier," said
Lee.
MGA have the final say on the choice of venues.
Lee said that in future a venue must be ready well before the Open and
the MGA would inspect it three months from the tournament date.
Of KGNS, Lee said: "We have to respect the hosts and give them time to
try their best."
Meanwhile, tournament director Jeremy Kilby made a quick visit to
Saujana yesterday and pronounced them fit for the Open.
"I inspected the greens. They are in perfect condition. We will start
moving tomorrow (today)," said Kilby.
Saujana were Malaysian Open hosts in 1987 and last year when England's
Lee Westwood won.
Westwood is expected to arrive tomorrow with other foreign golfers to
play a few rounds at the Saujana course.
The Pro-Am will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Saujana wasted no time soon after the announcement was made that they
would be hosting the Open.
Saujana GC general manager Mior Husnan said the course was in shape for
the Open but modestly proclaimed: "Maybe it was not as good as last year
when we hosted it.
"Then we had plenty of time to work on it.
"However, we have some experienced staff such as Baldwin Lopez to handle
it."
Baldwin was the general manager of Royal Selangor Golf Club for close to
two decades and was a key member of the organising committee of several
Opens hosted by the club.
The chairman of Saujana GC is Datuk Razali Abdul Rahman who is also the
Malaysian PGA president.
MGA president Lee also sits on the board of the Saujana GC.
(END)