FORMER MALAYSIAN OPEN RUNNER-UP GUNASEGARAN DIES
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has lost one of its golf greats.
Yesterday, P. Gunasegaran passed away at 10am at the Selayang Hospital after a devastating stroke. He was 53.
Gunasegaran will be best remembered for his second-place finish at the 1996 Malaysian Open where he lost in an epic eight-hole playoff to Sweden’s Joakim Haeggmann at the Royal Selangor Golf Club. It’s still the best-ever result by a Malaysian in the national Open history.
Before turning professional, Gunasegaran helped Malaysia to win the team gold at the 1989 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Gunasegaran’s death came as a surprise to many, especially with him still on top of his game. Last year, he won three Masters titles including the inaugural PGM Senior Championship in November. He also competed actively on the PGM Tour, having taken part in all the first six events of the season. He even finished a commendable joint 16th at the PGM Palm Resort Closed Championship earlier this month.
M. Ramayah, who forged a close relationship with Gunasegaran since their amateur days in the mid 1980s, was shocked by Gunasegaran’s passing.
“Guna was a very fit player for his age, compet- ing week in week out and giving the younger guys a run for their money. Now, he has left us. I’m really shocked,” said Ramayah.
The 62-year-old Ramayah recalled going to the World Cup qualifiers in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1994 with Gunasegaran.
“I can never forget the shooting incident while we were there. We went to do some shopping at one of the emporiums shortly after we landed. Suddenly, we heard several gun shots being fired. We immediately took cover. Thankfully, both of us were safe.”
The incident did not affect the duo as they successfully qualified for the Finals. And Gunasegaran and Ramayah went on to finish an impressive ninth in the Finals in Puerto Rico a month later.
Gunasegaran and Ramayah also represented Malaysia when the country staged the 1999 World Cup. They were paired with Americans Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara, the eventual champions, in one of the rounds.
National No. 2 Danny Chia described Gunasegaran as “a man of few words”.
“Guna didn’t talk much on and off the course. But when he said something it was always straight to the point,” said Danny. “I had the honour of partnering him at the 2001 World Cup (in South Africa). It was a great learning experience for me. He inspired me a lot, especially when he almost won the Malaysian Open.
“He had done a lot for professional golf in Malaysia. He will be missed by the golf fraternity.”
Gunasegaran’s wake will be held at his residence at No. 10 Jalan Teratai 8, Taman Sri Teratai, Kuala Kubu Baru in Selangor at noon today.