HAIL! ROYAL KEDAH, CONQUEROR FROM THE NORTH!

Wednesday, December 31, 2003 -

The winning trio Rosli Ahmad, Mohd Zahid Jaafar and Sobri Ramli from Roydal Kedah Golf Club with the Governor of Penang TYT Tun Dato Seri Utama (Dr) Abdul Rahman bin Abbas, MGA Vice PResident Dato Mohd Zain Mohd Yusuf and Dato Roslan Ibrahim, Group CEO, Bertam Properties Sdn Bhd	Chairman of The Organising Committee Dato Ismail Mamat Captains of the Clubs. Behind him is MGA Hon. Secretary A.S. Khamis	Royal Perak Golf Club's Zainal Abidin Saini receiving the individual gold medal from Governor of Penang TYT Tun Dato Seri Utama (Dr) Abdul Rahman bin Abbas with Dato Mohd Zain Mohd Yusuf, MGA Vice President
A very delighted Henry Chiew, the individual runner-up with the Governor of Penang and Dato Zain Yusuf	Muhamad Alif Idrus of Kleab Perkhidmatan Awam in the bunker at the 5th	Two-time individual winner Appalaidu Periasamy of KRTU, Haji Borhan Ujang of KGPA and Alwi Ismail Sham Kamaruddin of Saujana Golf and Country Club at the par 3 8th.
Mohamat Sulaiman of Royal Kelantan GOlf Club (next year's host) studying his putt while Professor Dr Sudin Haron of Universiti Utara Malaysia also studies his from behind	Jean Baptise Chaumont of Saujana Golf and Country Club in a very difficult position

10th National Inter-Club Golf Team Championship - 9th & 10th December 2003

It was really a double triumph for the northern states. Penang Golf Resort took up the challenge as the first club in the north to host the 10th National Inter-Club Golf Team Championship, and Royal Kedah Golf Club in the neighbouring state of Kedah, celebrated with a two-shot victory with a 461 total.

Royal Kedah Golf Club, represented by Mohd Zahid Jaafar, Sobri Ramli and Rosli Ahmad, became the giant conqueror from the north, beating two giants from the Klang Valley. Royal Selangor Golf Club, the inaugural winner in 1994, was the runner-up with 463 and Saujana Golf and Country Club took third spot, another two shots back with 465.

26 teams competed on the 6,247 metre golf course. Designed by Australia’s Graham Marsh, a two-time winner of the Malaysian Open in 1974 and 1975, the course which is below sea-level, features marsh’s famous mounds, strategic bunkers as well as watery graves. The deep rough, breezes and sometimes strong winds can sometimes tarnish score cards. Fortunately, in spite of the heavy rainfalls almost daily, the course was playable and only three sub-par rounds were recorded. Each team fielded three players and all three players’ scores contributed to each round’s total in the two round championship.

In the first round, Saujana Golf & Country Club tied with Royal Pahang Golf Club for the lead with 229 totals. For Saujana, Frenchman Jean Baptise Chaumont contributed a one over 73 while club mates Alwi Ismail Shah Kamaruddin and Faiz Khalid Ahmad brought in a 75 and 81. Royal Pahang’s Shukri Saad and Mohd Amin Habib both had 75s with a 79 from Mohd Rasip Mahat.

Lurking two shots behind, Royal Selangor Golf Club’s 231 came from 18 year old Henry Chiew, whose three under 69 became the best score in the Championship, with a 79 and 83 from Razlan Altas and Patrick Wong.

Three shots further back on 234 stood Royal Kedah Golf Club and Ayer Keroh Country Club. Royal Kedah’s three cards were a 74 by Mohd Zahid Jaafar, and a 75 and 85 by Sobri Ramli and Rosli Ahmad. Ayer Keroh’s contributions of 75, 79 and 80 came from Moran Hassan, Sarudin Aziz and Zulkifly Razak.

Close behind in sixth spot, only a shot back was the 2001 winner. Royal Perak Golf Club’s 235 came from Zainal Abidin Saini who produced an even par 72 with a 76 and 87 from Syed Hilmi and Teoh Yang Meng. Tied for seventh position on 236 were Sri Morib Golf Club and Kota Permai Golf and Country Club. In the ninth and tenth slots were Perangsang Templer Golf Club and Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam. Host club Penang Golf Resort together with Kelab Rekreasi Tentera Udara were in eleventh position.


In the next round, Mohd Zahid became Royal Kedah’s hero. He returned a one under 71 and was well supported by Sobri’s second 75 while Rosli finished with 81 for the team’s 227 and two-round 461 total. Royal Kedah had moved up from fourth to become the second northern club to win after Kelab Putra Perlis won in 1998 at Tropicana Golf and Country Club.

Moving up to the runner-up slot, Royal Selangor Golf Club’s 232 and a 463 total was computed from Chiew’s 74, while Wong improved with 78 and Razlan added an 80. Third was Saujana Golf and Country Club. After a commendable display in the first round, Chaumont could only hand in a 77 while Alwi and Faiz added a 79 and 80 to the team’s total of 465.

Royal Pahang’s trio failed to maintain their first round form and missed out on the bronze medal finishing in fourth spot with 468. Shukri provided a 77 with an 80 and 82 from Mohd Rasip and Mohd Amin. Fifth was Royal Perak with the lowest score in the second round of 70 by Zainal Abidin Saini. However, Syed Hilmi and Teoh could only card an 82 and 83 for RPGC’s 470 total.

Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam improved and moved up from tenth to sixth with 474 and Ayer Keroh Country Club, another shot back with 475 tied for seventh with Kelab Golf Seri Morib. Kota Permai Golf and Country Club and Kelab Golf Angkatan Tentera, the win