Sports

Sunday May 11, 2008

Maxis Team Tour gets under way


GILBERT Low Kam Wong played a blinder to win the individual gross title in the opening leg of the Maxis Team Golf Tour at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club. The 13-handicapper whipped a field of 118 when he returned a gross score of 76 – nine strokes under his handicap.

Further still, he beat two others on countback. Victory ensured him a place in the Team Tour grand final that will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam this October.

“I’m amazed,” said Gilbert. “I’ve never shot below 82 in a tournament before. I have played numerous competitions and never qualified for a final that was held at an international venue, so this just great.”

Gilbert attributed his sterling performance to long, accurate driving and an ability to manage the fast greens. He missed only one fairway and three-putted only twice on greens that by mid-morning reached a Stimpmeter speed of 10.

Danny Tang of Maxis (far left) with Gilbert and the three-man winning team.

“I think I was only one-over par after my first nine holes and knew I was playing very well. Then one of my flightmates reminded me that the gross winner also qualifies for Hanoi and that was when my game started to drop a little,” said Gilbert, whose home club is Kota Permai.

The trio of Lim Chee Heong, Pua Yii Shiuan and Yep Peng Huat combined to score 113 points and win the team event by a comfortable margin of three points. They too will join Gilbert at the grand final in Hanoi.

Yasimituah Yaacob, Marzuki Ariffin and Mohamad Jamil Palil finished runners-up, ahead of Yeo Pang Hock, Goh Tiong Wee and Leom Jiew Fook, who also scored 110 points.

In the second leg staged at Tiara Melaka Golf Country and Club, veteran Teh Hock Guan posted five birdies in his round to win the gross title and a place in the Hanoi grand final.

The 57-year-old Teh played sterling golf to chalk up a one-under 71 gross score. He shot even par on the Meadows nine and 35 on the Woodlands nine.

It was contractor Teh’s best score since taking up the game 11 years ago. “I never expected to produce such a score during the Maxis Team Tour even though I play here every week,” said the five-handicapper.

“I’m pleased to have qualified for the grand final. Now the pressure is off and I’m looking forward to an exciting final in Hanoi,” added Teh, who also qualified for last year’s Maxis Team Tour grand final in Shanghai.

The winners in the team division were Lai Kung Fatt, Lam Kai Chong and Lee Tat Wei. They had a combined score of 115 to book themselves a place in the grand final.

Second were Fung Kim Heng, Wong Chee Meng and Jang Say Joo. They scored 110 points and and edged Tew Chin Loong, Foo Shiang Rhui and Lim Tuan Chiang on countback.

The fourth leg will be at Cinta Sayang Golf and Country Club May 24 respectively. The entry fee is RM248 per person and more information is available online at www.maxis.com.my/moc or customers can call 03-78036226.

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