05/02/1999
CHINA'S Zhang Lian-wei was the surprise joint leader with American
Christian Pena as lighting lighted up the skies for a spell during the
opening round of the Benson and Hedges Malaysian Open yesterday.
But for the 10 local golfers it was just another usual round of golf
that held no excitement for the local fans.
The Malaysians, led by M. Ramayah, are no strangers to the Saujana Golf
and Country Club but none of them could tame the Palm Course, leaving it
to 16 foreign pros to return below par scores.
The best placed Malaysian was Ramayah who shot a one-over 73 and is
grouped in joint 20th with 12 others.
Ramayah, who started the day with a birdie on the first hole, was two-
under at the turn after sinking another two birdies on the sixth and
seventh and finishing with a blemish on the eighth.
But he had three bogeys on the back nine - on the 11th, 14th and 17th.
Ramayah, however, looks good going into the second round today.
Saujana's latest resident pro, Rashid Ismail, was two-over 74 with 11
others while Ali Kadir found the going tough and fired a 75.
Amateurs R. Nachimuthu and A. Dorairaj were game triers and carded 76s
which was also what their pro compatriots P. Gunasegaran and S. Murthy
managed to be in joint 51st with a slew of foreign pros.
Gunasegaran, who finished 10th at last week's Myanmar Open, carded five
bogeys but to his credit he salvaged the day when he stayed focused on the
return nine.
Rahizam Ramli shot 77, Danny Chia 78, Shaifubari Muda 79 and amateur
Mohamed Paisal Bee 81.
The shot of the day belonged to Taiwan's Lu Wen-teh who fired a hole-in-
one on the 216-yard par-three second with a four iron.
Unfortunately it was not on one of the designated holes where a Jaguar
car or worth your weight in Johnnie Walker whisky was on offer.
The ace was not the only excitement on a day when 56 golfers' game was
held up because of danger of lightning.
Australian television cameraman Gil Oberhofer who was standing on a 12-
foot platform near the 14th was hit in the back by lightning.
Officials summoned for an ambulance. But Oberhofer, who was working for
Asia Sport TV, told a medical crew he was unhurt and walked unaided to the
clubhouse.
European Tour spokesman Gordon Simpson later said Oberhofer may have
received a shock from a build up of static electricity around his tower. 1ST ROUND SCORES
66 Christian Pena (US) 32-34, Zhang Lian-wei (Chn) 34-32; 67 Frankie
Minoza (Phi) 34-33; 68 Choy Kyung-ju (S Kor) 33-35; 70 Anders Hansen (Den)
36-34, Craig Hainline (US) 38-32, Christian Chernock (US) 34-36, Alex
Cejka (Ger) 37-33, Andrew Coltart (Scot) 35-35, Andrew Bonhomme (Aus) 36-
34; 71 Greg Owen (Eng) 35-36, Gilberto Morales (Ven) 36-35, Jerry Smith
(US) 35-36.
72 Prayad Marksaeng (Thai) 37-35, Lu Wen-teh (Tai) 36-36, Zaw Moe (Mya)
36-36, Bob May (US) 36-36, Kyi Hia Han (Mya) 35-37; 73 Max Anglert (Swe)
40-33, Jonathan Lomas (Eng) 36-37, Kim Jong-duk (S Kor) 36-37, Des
Terblanche (SA) 37-36, Pierre Fulke (Swe) 33-40, Ramon Brobio (Phi) 36-37,
Chris Williams (Eng) 36-37, Van Phillips (Eng) 36-37, Rolf Muntz (Hol) 36-
37, M. Ramayah (Mas) 34-39, Brad Andrews (Aus) 33-40, Choi Gwang-soo (S
Kor) 35-38.
74 Scott Rowe (HK) 39-35, Dominique Boulet (HK) 38-36, Jarmo Sandelin
(Swe) 37-37, Robert Derkson (Hol) 38-36, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 39-35, Paul
McGinley (Ire) 39-35, Soren Hansen (Den) 38-36, Rashid Ismail (Mas) 39-35,
Thomas Gogele (Ger) 38-36, Francis Valera (Sp) 36-38, Scott Taylor (US)
36-38, Alberto Binaghi (Ita) 37-37.
75 Mac O'Grady (US) 37-38, Gary Evans (Eng) 36-39, Ali Kadir (Mas) 39-
36, Thammanoon Sriroj (Thai) 35-40, Andrew Sherborne (Eng) 36-39,
Christopher Hannell (Swe) 38-37, JOse Coceras (Arg) 38-37.
76 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 38-38, Park Nam-sin (S Kor) 38-38, S. Murthy
(Mas) 35-41, Carlos Rodiles (Sp) 37-39, Jean van de Velde (Fra) 38-38,
Mike Cunning (US) 39-37, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 39-37, R. Nachimuthu (am-
Mas) 38-38, P. Gunasegaran (Mas) 40-36, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 37-39, Olle
Nordberg (Swe) 35-41, Stephen Dodd (Wal) 39-37, Takeshi Ohyama (Jpn) 39-
37, A. Dorairaj (am-Mas) 39-37, Leith Wastle (Aus) 37-39, Vivek Bhandari
(Ind) 38-38, Satoshi Ode (Jpn) 39-37.
77 Anthony Kang (S Kor) 38-39, Aaron Meeks (US) 40-37, Thaworn
Wiratchant (Thai) 39-38, Roger Winchester (Eng) 38-39, Greg Hanrahan (US)
40-37, Oliver Edmond (Fra) 38-39, Jean Pierre Cixous (Fra) 36-41, Rahizam
Ramli (am-Mas) Chang Tse-peng (Tai) 39-38.
78 Danny Chia (Mas) 40-38, Andrew McLardy (SA) 40-38, Hsieh Yu-shu (Tai)
39-39, Peter Teravainen (US) 40-38, Mats Lanner (Swe) 41-37, John McHenry
(Ire) 41-37, Richard Boxall (Eng) 38-40.
79 Scott Henderson (Scot) 42-37, Rodrigo Cuello (Phi) 40-39, Chen Jun
(Chn) 41-38, Lu Chien-soon (Tai) 42-37, Danny Zarate (Phi) 38-41,
Shaifubari Muda (Mas) 38-41; 80 Boonchu Ruangkit (Thai) 39-41; 81 Frederik
Jacobsen (Swe) 40-41, Felix Casas (Phi) 37-44, Paisal Bee (am-Mas) 41-40;
84 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 40-44.
(END)
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Rule out the newcomers, says former champ Westwood
04/02/1999
LEE Westwood who has been playing in Malaysia for the past five years has
predicted that most of the Europeans who are first timers in Malaysia will
be dropping like flies at the Benson & Hedges Open which tees off at the
Saujana Golf and Country Club today.
"Anybody (from Europe) who has not had experience of the Malaysian
climate and the course conditions will be struggling because the humidity
is very severe while the course is very hilly," said Westwood.
"There are ways of getting around and coping with it but concentration
can wander at the best of times when it is hot. And when you get flustered
and hit some really bad shots you will get angry and lose out."
Westwood is not really concerned with what others think. It is how he
plays that matters most. The 1997 champion and last year's runner-up said
he will only do battle with the course.
"I don't bother with all the expectations on me. I don't listen to
people. I have my own goals and expectations and if I reach them I will be
happy."
His current goal is to improve his world rankings from the present No 6
which he occupies.
"That's my goal for the year - to reach No 1 If I can put together a
good run of results, especially up to the Masters, and including the
Masters, it will be a home run for me."
Westwood has never played well in the beginning of the season but in
mid-season, he is usually at his peak.
"I think confidence was the difference between winning seven times in
1998 and not doing that in 1997. The practice rounds that I have played so
far this week has been encouraging and seem to have picked off where I
left last year," said Westwood who will be making his maiden appearance
this season at the Malaysian Open.
Westwood, who was down with food poisoning when he first played in Asia,
has come a long way since and said the obvious way to play in this
temperature is to stay calm and not let the humidity get the better.
(END)
LEE Westwood who has been playing in Malaysia for the past five years has
predicted that most of the Europeans who are first timers in Malaysia will
be dropping like flies at the Benson & Hedges Open which tees off at the
Saujana Golf and Country Club today.
"Anybody (from Europe) who has not had experience of the Malaysian
climate and the course conditions will be struggling because the humidity
is very severe while the course is very hilly," said Westwood.
"There are ways of getting around and coping with it but concentration
can wander at the best of times when it is hot. And when you get flustered
and hit some really bad shots you will get angry and lose out."
Westwood is not really concerned with what others think. It is how he
plays that matters most. The 1997 champion and last year's runner-up said
he will only do battle with the course.
"I don't bother with all the expectations on me. I don't listen to
people. I have my own goals and expectations and if I reach them I will be
happy."
His current goal is to improve his world rankings from the present No 6
which he occupies.
"That's my goal for the year - to reach No 1 If I can put together a
good run of results, especially up to the Masters, and including the
Masters, it will be a home run for me."
Westwood has never played well in the beginning of the season but in
mid-season, he is usually at his peak.
"I think confidence was the difference between winning seven times in
1998 and not doing that in 1997. The practice rounds that I have played so
far this week has been encouraging and seem to have picked off where I
left last year," said Westwood who will be making his maiden appearance
this season at the Malaysian Open.
Westwood, who was down with food poisoning when he first played in Asia,
has come a long way since and said the obvious way to play in this
temperature is to stay calm and not let the humidity get the better.
(END)
Young squad not likely to steal the thunder
03/02/1999
WITH an average age of 23, the Malaysian hockey team on a Five-Nation
mission in Egypt are not expected to steal the thunder from Canada and
India.
But on the same note, they are also not expected to lose to Egypt and
Kenya.
Malaysia beat Kenya 4-0 in the opening match of the Kuala Lumpur
Commonwealth Games, but then, they had a more experienced team to bank on.
The team, captained by 22-year-old S. Kuhan, has only the 26-year-old
Chairil Anwar as the `veteran' of the team.
With youngsters M. Jiwa, Suhaimi Ibrahim, M. Kaliswaran and Razak Saidin
upfront, Malaysia are likely to face an uphill battle even against Kenya
and Egypt.
When the selection commiteee, chaired by Malaysian Hockey Federation
(MHF) president Sultan Azlan Shah, met to find the right combination to
lead Malaysian hockey into the next millennium, they decided on youth
power and selected 16 raw hands.
But in actual fact, they did not have much of a choice because some of
the veterans who took Malaysia into the final of the Commonwealth Games
are no longer active in hockey.
Seniors Lailin Abu Hassan, Nor Saiful Zaini and R. Shanker have retired
while others like Mirnawan Nawawi, K. Kevan Raj, Maninderjit Singh and
Nasihin Nubli had other obligations.
The player to watch at Egypt is goalkeeper Izwan Suhardi who was named
along with Roslan Jamaluddin. Izwan, 25, has only seen action three times
on the international front but was selected in place of Nasihin Nubli.
Before coach Yahya Atan took the team to Egypt, he predicted that they
would need at least 30 to 40 top class matches before a shape is found.
"The Cairo mission would be too early to judge the team since we will be
trying out various combinations but by the time the Azlan Shah Cup begins
in April, we should have a rough idea," said Yahya.
Team: M. Jiwa, Azlin Fairuz, Chua Boon Huat, K. Gobinathan, S. Kuhan
(capt), Nor Azlan Bakar, Chairil Anwar, Shaiful Azli, Madzli Ikmar,
Suhaimi Ibrahim, M. Kaliswaran, K. Logan Raj, Syayrim Uda Karim, Razak
Saidin, Izwan Suhardi, Roslan Jamaluddin.
Manager: Wallace Tan; Coach: Yahya Atan; Umpire: S. Sagayanathan.
Fixtures - Today: Canada v India, Kenya v Malaysia; Tomorrow: Egypt v
Malaysia; Feb 5: India v Egypt, Canada v Kenya; Feb 6: Canada v Malaysia;
Feb 7: Kenya v Egypt, India v Malaysia; Feb 8: Rest Day; Feb 9: Final
Classification Matches.
(END)
WITH an average age of 23, the Malaysian hockey team on a Five-Nation
mission in Egypt are not expected to steal the thunder from Canada and
India.
But on the same note, they are also not expected to lose to Egypt and
Kenya.
Malaysia beat Kenya 4-0 in the opening match of the Kuala Lumpur
Commonwealth Games, but then, they had a more experienced team to bank on.
The team, captained by 22-year-old S. Kuhan, has only the 26-year-old
Chairil Anwar as the `veteran' of the team.
With youngsters M. Jiwa, Suhaimi Ibrahim, M. Kaliswaran and Razak Saidin
upfront, Malaysia are likely to face an uphill battle even against Kenya
and Egypt.
When the selection commiteee, chaired by Malaysian Hockey Federation
(MHF) president Sultan Azlan Shah, met to find the right combination to
lead Malaysian hockey into the next millennium, they decided on youth
power and selected 16 raw hands.
But in actual fact, they did not have much of a choice because some of
the veterans who took Malaysia into the final of the Commonwealth Games
are no longer active in hockey.
Seniors Lailin Abu Hassan, Nor Saiful Zaini and R. Shanker have retired
while others like Mirnawan Nawawi, K. Kevan Raj, Maninderjit Singh and
Nasihin Nubli had other obligations.
The player to watch at Egypt is goalkeeper Izwan Suhardi who was named
along with Roslan Jamaluddin. Izwan, 25, has only seen action three times
on the international front but was selected in place of Nasihin Nubli.
Before coach Yahya Atan took the team to Egypt, he predicted that they
would need at least 30 to 40 top class matches before a shape is found.
"The Cairo mission would be too early to judge the team since we will be
trying out various combinations but by the time the Azlan Shah Cup begins
in April, we should have a rough idea," said Yahya.
Team: M. Jiwa, Azlin Fairuz, Chua Boon Huat, K. Gobinathan, S. Kuhan
(capt), Nor Azlan Bakar, Chairil Anwar, Shaiful Azli, Madzli Ikmar,
Suhaimi Ibrahim, M. Kaliswaran, K. Logan Raj, Syayrim Uda Karim, Razak
Saidin, Izwan Suhardi, Roslan Jamaluddin.
Manager: Wallace Tan; Coach: Yahya Atan; Umpire: S. Sagayanathan.
Fixtures - Today: Canada v India, Kenya v Malaysia; Tomorrow: Egypt v
Malaysia; Feb 5: India v Egypt, Canada v Kenya; Feb 6: Canada v Malaysia;
Feb 7: Kenya v Egypt, India v Malaysia; Feb 8: Rest Day; Feb 9: Final
Classification Matches.
(END)
Chia aims to shake inconsistent tag
03/02/1999
IF you are looking for a Malaysian to sizzle in the first round of the
US$750,000 Benson and Hedges Malaysian Open at the Saujana Golf and
Country Club, Danny Chia is your man.
But the sad part is Chia is not a consistent golfer, like at the 1998
MPGA Championship where he shot a sizzling 65 but ended up with a final
round of 10-over 82.
"I admit that my game has not been consistent but I have been working on
improving it," said Chia.
Chia sunk an eagle and six birdies on his way to a fine seven-under 65
on the opening day of the 1998 MPGA Championship at Saujana's Crocodile
Course.
Only an unexpected bogey on the par-3 12th blotted his otherwise
excellent scorecard but all the same he took a three-stroke lead over
Victor Lim.
He had a 74 in the second round but improved with a 71 in the third.
However, in the final round when it mattered most, he blew up with a 10-
over par 82 to drop to the eighth spot.
"Since then I have had similar experiences because I think too much of
the crowd and what they are thinking," said Chia.
"But that is the past because I have managed to overcome the fear of
taking the lead."
Chia has been working with Malaysian Professional Golfers Association
consultant Allan Murray to maintain his game.
If Murray is any good, there is a good chance of seeing Chia finishing
among the top 40.
P. Gunasegaran, who finished runner-up in the 1994 Malaysian Open, was
an almost there golfer at the recent Myanmar Open.
After a sizzling 66, and two rounds of 69 at the Myanmar Open, Guna blew
up with a 74 in the final round to finish 10th.
Guna refused to talk to certain members of the media yesterday, claiming
that their report on local golfers are usually not favourable.
(END)
IF you are looking for a Malaysian to sizzle in the first round of the
US$750,000 Benson and Hedges Malaysian Open at the Saujana Golf and
Country Club, Danny Chia is your man.
But the sad part is Chia is not a consistent golfer, like at the 1998
MPGA Championship where he shot a sizzling 65 but ended up with a final
round of 10-over 82.
"I admit that my game has not been consistent but I have been working on
improving it," said Chia.
Chia sunk an eagle and six birdies on his way to a fine seven-under 65
on the opening day of the 1998 MPGA Championship at Saujana's Crocodile
Course.
Only an unexpected bogey on the par-3 12th blotted his otherwise
excellent scorecard but all the same he took a three-stroke lead over
Victor Lim.
He had a 74 in the second round but improved with a 71 in the third.
However, in the final round when it mattered most, he blew up with a 10-
over par 82 to drop to the eighth spot.
"Since then I have had similar experiences because I think too much of
the crowd and what they are thinking," said Chia.
"But that is the past because I have managed to overcome the fear of
taking the lead."
Chia has been working with Malaysian Professional Golfers Association
consultant Allan Murray to maintain his game.
If Murray is any good, there is a good chance of seeing Chia finishing
among the top 40.
P. Gunasegaran, who finished runner-up in the 1994 Malaysian Open, was
an almost there golfer at the recent Myanmar Open.
After a sizzling 66, and two rounds of 69 at the Myanmar Open, Guna blew
up with a 74 in the final round to finish 10th.
Guna refused to talk to certain members of the media yesterday, claiming
that their report on local golfers are usually not favourable.
(END)
Westwood indicates an extension
01/02/1999
SAUJANA Golf and Country Club touring pro Lee Westwood didn't say much,
but indications are he will ink a two-year extension with SGCC.
Westwood's contract expires in March and the Saujana pro said yesterday
he would like to continue promoting the club and Malaysia.
"I have thought about extending the contract and negotiations are
underway. I have had two successful years with the club and would like to
enhance our ties," said Westwood.
Yesterday, Westwood launched the club's "Rock With Croc" campaign which
is aimed at promoting the Bunga Raya Course which has been renamed as the
Crocodile Course.
"During the promotion from Feb 8 to May 8, Saujana will dedicate every
Friday and the first Saturday of the month as open day where members of
the public can play at the 18-hole course. Green fees are RM126 nett per
person on Fridays and RM210 per person on the first Saturday of the
month," said Saujana CEO Ahmad Ramli Zakaria.
Westwood confirmed his potential as Europe's rising star last year when
he won four times on the European Tour before his big breakthrough on the
US PGA Tour by capturing the Freeport-McDermott classic before the US
Masters.
When asked about the Malaysian Open, Westwood said chose not to instil
himself as favourite.
"I will play my best in the first two rounds and only after that will I
know where I stand. But the course has been good to me and I would not
mind a good push from the rest of the field to kickstart the 1999 season."
Westwood, then 23, went on to be the youngest winner of the 1997
Malaysian Open but was edged by Ed Fryatt of England last year in a
thrilling sudden-death playoff.
Last year, Westwood played in 35 tournaments but has trimmed his
commitment to 29 this season.
After the Malaysian Open this week, he will head for California for the
Andersen Consulting World Match Play.
Today, the obliging World No 8 will meet his fans at the Saujana Pan-
West Pro Shop from 10am-11am.
(END)
SAUJANA Golf and Country Club touring pro Lee Westwood didn't say much,
but indications are he will ink a two-year extension with SGCC.
Westwood's contract expires in March and the Saujana pro said yesterday
he would like to continue promoting the club and Malaysia.
"I have thought about extending the contract and negotiations are
underway. I have had two successful years with the club and would like to
enhance our ties," said Westwood.
Yesterday, Westwood launched the club's "Rock With Croc" campaign which
is aimed at promoting the Bunga Raya Course which has been renamed as the
Crocodile Course.
"During the promotion from Feb 8 to May 8, Saujana will dedicate every
Friday and the first Saturday of the month as open day where members of
the public can play at the 18-hole course. Green fees are RM126 nett per
person on Fridays and RM210 per person on the first Saturday of the
month," said Saujana CEO Ahmad Ramli Zakaria.
Westwood confirmed his potential as Europe's rising star last year when
he won four times on the European Tour before his big breakthrough on the
US PGA Tour by capturing the Freeport-McDermott classic before the US
Masters.
When asked about the Malaysian Open, Westwood said chose not to instil
himself as favourite.
"I will play my best in the first two rounds and only after that will I
know where I stand. But the course has been good to me and I would not
mind a good push from the rest of the field to kickstart the 1999 season."
Westwood, then 23, went on to be the youngest winner of the 1997
Malaysian Open but was edged by Ed Fryatt of England last year in a
thrilling sudden-death playoff.
Last year, Westwood played in 35 tournaments but has trimmed his
commitment to 29 this season.
After the Malaysian Open this week, he will head for California for the
Andersen Consulting World Match Play.
Today, the obliging World No 8 will meet his fans at the Saujana Pan-
West Pro Shop from 10am-11am.
(END)
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