Kangar (PERLIS): Perak’s Low Khai Jei lived up to his pre-tournament billing as one of the amateurs to watch at the 17th Malaysian Games (SUKMA) when he secured a share of the opening round lead on Tuesday.
The national number five overcame a sluggish two-over first nine with two birdies on the back to open his campaign at Kelab Golf Putra with an even-par 72 alongside Johor’s Alvin Hiew, who marked his card with three birdies and three bogeys.
The duo lead by one stroke from Penang’s Bryan Teoh Wiyang with Danial Haji Mohd Sidek of the Federal Territories and Perlis’ Mohd Thaznim Mohd Hamdan returning with matching 74s to grab a tie for fourth.
Perlis duo Aizat Nazhif Shah and Mohd Shakiran Johari were among sixth players on three-over 75 – combining with Thaznim to sent the host state to the top of men’s team standings with 224 – three strokes clear of the Federal Territories.
In the ladies’ division, Terengganu’s Genevieve Ling I-Rynn and Loy Hee Ying of Johor set the early pace set with similar efforts of 77. Five other players were a further shot back with only five strokes separating the top 15 players. Terengganu and Johor were also level in team event, notching 155 respectively.
Khai Jei was delighted with his turn of fortunes as birdies on 11th and 16th made up for two bogeys on the front nine.
“I was very pleased with my ball striking but I need that extra bit of luck on the back nine to finish level par. I struggled with the distance control on my approach shots but my putting really saved the day. The greens here are similar to the ones back in my home course in Taiping, so I’m feeling confident with my flatstick this week,” said Khai Jei.
It was the reverse for Alvin, who after a strong start, made crucial errors around the turn to fall short of the outright lead. “I felt very confident starting the round and enjoyed a strong start, birdieing the 1st, 6th and 7th. But I dropped two consecutive shots on the ninth and tenth and a poor chip on 15th got me to level-par – I just didn’t commit myself into executing the shots on the back nine.”
“But nonetheless, I’m very happy, given the hard work I’ve been putting in ahead of this tournament. The trick would be to stay focused and take in shot-by-shot. There are tough pin positions out there and it’s quite tricky to read the slopes on these small greens,” he noted.
Leading first round scores
Men – Individual
72 – Low Khai Jei (PRK), Hiew Alvin (JOH)
73 – Bryan Teoh Wiyang (PEN)
74 – Danial Hj Mohd Sidek (WP), Muhd Thaznim Mohd Hamdan (PER)
75 – Aizat Nazhif Shah (PER), Galven Kendall Green (PRK), Muhd Asyraaf Rosli (TRG), Muhd Afif Mohd Fathi (KEL), Zulhelmi Ramle (MEL), Mohd Shakiran (PER)
76 – Chan Tuck Soon (WP)
77 – Khavish Varman Varadan (PER), Fazley Ahmad Chua (SAB), Shahrifuddin Arif (MEL), Sazanur Iman Salenin (WP), Amirul Aizat (MEL)
78 – V. Ruhanraj (PAH), Muhd Azwan (TER), Solomon Emilio Rosidin (SAB), Aaerishna Shahsthy Balakrishan (JOH), Lim Wei Jim (PEN)
79 – Daeng Abdul Rahman Abd Aziz (JOH), Muhd Azren Noor Azam, Muhd Afif Mohd Razif (KED)
80 – Muhd Al-Azim Mohd Azmi (KED), Aziel Teo Ken Yi (SWK), Muhd Izzat Safuan Amiruddin (MEL)
Men – Team
224 – Perlis
227 – Federal Territories
228 – Perak
229 – Johor, Melaka
233 – Penang
236 – Terengganu
237 – Sabah
238 – Kedah
243 – Kelantan
244 – Pahang
247 – Selangor
252 – Sarawak
258 – Negeri Sembilan
Ladies – Individual
77 – Genevieve Ling I-Rynn (TER), Loy Hee Ying (JOH);
78 – Eliana Ariffin (MEL), Nurul Syahirah Afiqah (SAB), Nur Durriyah Damian (TER), Asha Lakshme Balakrishnan (JOH), Vivienne Chin (SAB), Siti Zulaikhaa Shaari (SEL)
79 – Ashley Lau (SWK), Qistina Balqis Azhar (SWK), Raeysha Surendran (SEL)
81 – Kelie Kan Kah Yan (WP)
82 – Winnie Ng Xu Yuan (PRK), Nur Musfirah Armalis (KED), Farhatul Munirah Mat Dah (PRK), Natasha Andrea Oon (WP)
83 – Nur Syazani Amalia Mohd Shahzan (KED), Norshahira Alisa Che Omar (KEL)
84 – Ong Shi Qing (PRK), Tham Soot Yuet (SAB)
85 – Devaki Anantha Ganesh (MEL), Sarfina Vinota Seretharan (WP), Nurul Athirah Abdullah (KED), Chong Yong (JOH), Nyca Khaw Wen Huei (PAH)
Ladies – Team
155 – Johor, Terengganu
156 – Sabah
157 – Selangor
163 – Federal Territories, Melaka
164 – Perak
165 – Kedah
166 – Sarawak
169 – Kelantan
174 – Pahang
179 – Penang
