Intriguing battle looms in Muscat
A top quality field of some of the best amateurs has been assembled for Prudential Astro Masters grand final
THE Prudential Astro Masters grand final that gets underway in Muscat, Oman today, is expected to be a closely fought competition where some of Malaysia’s best amateur players will parade their skills.
The grand final will bring together 37 winners from the qualifying rounds, which ran from April to September, and who have an average handicap of 5.8.
It’s a two-day event that will be played today and tomorrow at Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club and Al Mouj Golf Club. And to add spice to the action, there will be prizes worth over RM180,000 on offer.
Among the favourites for the
title is Sandakan’s Safaruddin Abidin.
Known also as The Sandakan Pro, Safaruddin is a scratch player who clinched victory at Shan Shui Golf & Country Club in Tawau, Sabah, with a gross score of 71. That sterling effort turned out to be the lowest of the 20 qualifiers.
Mohd Firdaus Ahmad, S. Sasi Kumar and Johari Ahmad, who also play off zero, will also be aiming to have a say in where this year’s title goes.
Sasi will be bidding to etch his name into the record books and become the first three-time winner of the Prudential Astro Masters crown.
He qualified with a round of 72 at Templer Park Country Club in Rawang.
Also tipped to be in the reckoning tomorrow are Eric Foo, who plays off one, twohandicappers Nordin Yahaya and Mohd Shokri Saad, and Lam Kong Foo, who will stake his claim with a five handicap.
Wong Hung Nung, a former pro and national footballer, will be the oldest and most experienced finalist in the field at 59. But coming into the event with a two handicap, he too will be quietly confident of his chances.
The overall winner of the 36-hole event in Muscat will be rewarded with a huge silver trophy, a 65-inch Panasonic LED television and a year’s term membership at Tropicana Golf & Country Resort in Petaling Jaya.
The nett winner will collect a Titoni watch as well as a Tropicana term membership, valued at RM21,000.
The tournament’s organising chairman, P. Jeganathan, said they were looking forward to the showdown and added that any of the 10-to-15 leading players stood a good chance of winning it.
“This is a strong field,” said Jega. “And because of this, we expect a tough and exciting battle for the top honours.
“We would also like to put on record our gratitude for the generous support from our sponsors.
“Also, the two venues in Muscat are in excellent condition, albeit with contrasting layouts, and should make this grand final a memorable one,” added Jega.
“The event also celebrates two decades of action and comes with a tagline of ‘20 Years of Golfing Excellence’.”
The lucky draw will feature a three-year term membership at Tropicana valued at RM50,000, and should get tongues wagging. Other prizes will provided by Oman Air, Bridgestone, Panasonic, World of Sports, Vin Sporting House, McCallan, Healthland, Black & White Corp, Samsonite and Southern Lion.
The Star is one of the main sponsors of the tournament.
The 2017 finalists are Mohamad Hazlam Abdul Rahman, Lam Kong Foo, Pakhruddin Abdul Majid, Ahmad Shahrul Anuar Hj Shafie, Tan Yong Woon, Tan Peng Juan, Bukhari Yahya, Mohd Nasir Othman, Mohamad Shokri Saad, Rosli Saji, Wong Hung Nung, Jimmy Tan Jin Leong, Joel Thomas, Johari Haji Ahmad, Nordin Yahaya, Hassan Rejab, Low Teck Poh, Mohd Ruhazmi Hamzah, J. Rajenthiren, Nor Azhar Mohamad Noor, Safarrudin Abidin, Jali Abdul, Zakaria Mohammad, Mohd Rizal Mohamad Sahibek, Mokhtarudin Jamhari, Mohd Anuar Jaladudin, Alisahabuddin Jidin, Arman Ramli, Jumat Muhi, Lee Ka Tung, Maniam Subramaniam, S Sasi Kumar R Subramaniam, Mazlan Mamat, Mohammed Faisal Hussain, Cik Nordin Nayan, Teh Chew Choong, Idris Ngah, Eric Foo Hwa Peng, Mohd Amin Sukor and Mohd Firdaus Ahmad.