PETALING JAYA: Another full field of 128 players contested the third qualifying round of the Astro Masters 2019 held at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club on June 19.
Malaysia’s most popular amateur golf tournament attracted both regular and new participants to challenge the Max Wexler-designed Garden Course that featured well-manicured greens rolling at approximately 3 m on the Stimpmeter.
After the scores were tabulated, the Gross Champion was non-other than Astro Masters regular, Eric Foo Hwa Peng, who returned with a sizzling round of 3-under-par 69. Playing off scratch, the 57-year-old will be travelling for his third Grand Final appearance.
“I am quite relieved after failing to qualify from the first two qualifying rounds. So, I guess I was third time lucky,” said a happy Foo who has been playing the game for the past 24 years.
“While my driving and irons were solid, the key to my victory today was my chipping and putting. These factors were crucial and resulted in a chip-in eagle on the 16th, and converting five birdies.”
Meanwhile, another long-time Astro Masters regular and multiple Grand Finalist Maniam Subramaniam, will be on the Malindo Air flight to Taiwan. The 7-handicapper carded a 66 nett to win the Nett Champion’s title.
“This victory was unexpected as I knew there were many strong players in the field. I just told myself to play my best,” Maniam, 54, said. “I know the course well being a member of Glenmarie for the past 18 years and winning the club championship twice.
“My driving was good and found the fairways with my 3-wood. I am very pleased to have converted four birdies against a double-bogey and three bogeys.”
The A Medal category was won by Mohamad Yusli Iskandar (10) with a nett score of 67 on countback. He won a Panasonic 49” Smart LED TV.
Muhamad Haniff Abu Bakar (15) won the B Medal with a 67 nett on countback, while the
C Medal winner was won by Mohd Nazaruddin Hanafiah (22) with 68 nett.
The Nearest-to-Line novelty hole at the par-4, 356-metre 14th hole was won by Lim Thuang Sin who won a Panasonic Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. His drive was 34cm from the line.
The Longest Drive winner was Mohd Shukri Mustapha with a decent effort of 255.65 metres.
The Sure-to-Win NTP prize of a Panasonic 65-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV worth RM8,000 was won by Cletus Stephenson. His fine tee shot on the 158-metre par-3, 17th hole was closest to the cup at 0.6 m.
“After three over-subscribed qualifying rounds, the tournament is showing why it has grown in popularity for the past 22 years with Astro viewers,” said P. Jeganathan, the Organising Chairman. “It makes us proud to be able to provide a platform for the nation’s golfers and to help develop the game.”
The Astro Masters is into its 22nd year of running. The event is renowned for the Grand Final that is traditionally held overseas, travelling to nine countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Oman, China and Cambodia last year.
This year the Grand Final will crown the “Champion Golfer of the Year” in Taipei, Taiwan.
The partners of this year’s Astro Masters are Panasonic, Prudential, Srixon, Mazda, Malindo Air, Titoni, Crest Link, The Edge, 100 Plus, VinGolf, Aldila, theSun, Ibis Styles, Jake’s Charbroil Steaks, XXIO, Spectrum Outdoor, Cowa, HealthLand, Tropicana GCC, Oat Krunch, Munchy’s, Active Guard, Fresh and White, Astro SuperSport HD, Nunature, David Health Solutions, Essenso Coffee, The Macallan, Sunplay, Golf Malaysia, Smart Investor and Carlsberg Smooth Draught.
