Solid team show saves the day for Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: The captain failed to lead by example. Luckily, debutants Muhd Afif Fathi (pic), Mohd Afif Razif and K. Rhaasrikanesh delivered to help Malaysia to a solid start in the first round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf men’s team championships.

Muhd Afif, 16, fired a bogey-free 68; Mohd Afif, 22, shot an impressive 70; and Rhaasrikanesh, also 16, chipped in with a one-over 73 for a 211 total to be placed seventh in the 23-nation competition at the Sungai Long Golf and Country Club yesterday.

The 23-year-old Tuck Soon shot a two-over 74, but only the three best scores are taken into account.

Malaysia are tied with 10-time champions Australia.

The two teams are seven strokes behind Thailand and New Zealand, who share the early lead with a 12-under 204.

Taiwan, the runners-up in 2015, are third on 206 – one shot clear of fourth- placed South Korea, the 2009 winners.

Japan began their title defence in fifth spot after opening with a 209.

Teenager Muhd Afif was composed throughout the day despite this being his first major senior appearance.

After a quiet opening nine, he rolled in three consecutive birdies from the 10th before picking up another shot to be tied for fourth in the individual leaderboard.

“The greens are tricky but when you get the right spot to putt, it’s actually simple. I stayed patient throughout the front nine and took a while to read the lines,” he said.

“I putted well too. All my birdies were from 10 to 15 feet.”

The greens are tricky but when you get the right spot to putt, it’s actually simple.

Muhd Afif Fathi