Penang, May 23: Malaysia’s top professional players will battle it out in the RM125,000 Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Penang Classic, which tees off this morning at the Penang Golf Resort in Bertam.

The eighth leg of the burgeoning PGM Tour will see a total of  78 golfers in the field, including three northern-based amateurs – Damian Chin, Hanef Saad and Muhammad Razif – who have been invited as part of the PGM’s continuing effort to groom young players aspiring to join the paid ranks.

The leading names in the start list this morning include Malaysia’s top-ranked golfer Danny Chia (pic), who won the opening leg at the PGM Impian Masters, as well as Asian Tour regulars Shaaban Hussin, S. Sivachandhran and M. Sasidaran. Also in the field are Kemarol Baharin, Sukree Othman and rookie Mohd Iylia Jamil, all who have one victory apiece to their names on the tour this year.

The final round and prize presentation will take place on Thursday (May 26). Ardent golfers in the northern region are welcomed to follow the action daily at the resort.