Smooth start for defending champion Sasidaran

Kuala Terengganu, June 5: Reigning champion M. Sasidaran (pic) got his title defence underway with a solid opening round of five-under-par 67 at the RM150,000 Terengganu Masters Golf Invitational today.

A total of 117 golfers, including a handful of international professionals from Australia, Japan, South Korea and United Kingdom, teed off the sixth edition of the event at the Kuala Terengganu Golf Resort in Tok Jembal near here.

Akhmal Tarmizee Nazari and R. Nachimuthu, who ended a five-year title drought in Penang a fortnight ago, took share of second on 70. Australian Chris Carey and Md Rashid Ismail were a shot back after rounds of 71, alongside Shaaban Hussin, who also recorded a win at the East Coast state earlier this year.

The three-day tournament  is organised by Golf Association of Terengganu (PGT) with the support of the Terengganu State Government.

Leading first round scores (Malaysians unless mentioned)
67 M. Sasidaran
70 Akmal Tarmizee Nazari, R. Nachimuthu
71 Chris Carey (AUS), Md Rashid Ismail, Shaaban Hussin
72 P. Gunasegaran, Wilson Choo, Chaiput Darapanich (THA)
73 Suleiman Radzi, Poh Eng Wah (SIN), Unho Park (AUS), Marc Kawasoe (SIN), Sukree Othman, Solhairy Sariff, Dean Gultula (THA), Anis Helmi Hassan