Airil in joint lead after first round of Negri Masters

Solid display: Malaysia’s Airil Rizman in action during the opening round of the Negri Sembilan Masters at the Seremban Golf Club yesterday.

SEREMBAN: Malaysia’s Airil Rizman and Thailand’s Atthaphon Prathummanee shared the top spot after the first round of the Negri Sembilan Masters Invitational golf competition at the Seremban Golf Club yesterday.

The duo carded identical seven-under 65s to take a one-shot clubhouse lead from Malaysia’s Danny Chia in the RM500,000 tournament, which also acts as the fourth leg of the Asean PGA Tour.

A 1½-hour rain delay meant that 33 players were unable to complete their rounds yesterday.

Malaysia’s S. Sivachandran triumphed last year – the first local to take the title since its inception in 2005 – and Rizman is hoping to follow in his footsteps.

The 33-year-old Rizman carded a bogey-free score with seven birdies.

“This is one of the biggest events this year ... so it was great to start so well.

“I played solidly and didn’t make any mistakes,” said Rizman.


Link: http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2011/7/8/sports/9059216&sec=sports

Malaysia to host Asian leg of golf World Cup qualifiers

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will host to the Omega Mission Hills World Cup Asian golf qualifier at the Seri Selangor Golf Club from Aug 3-6.

The top three nations from the qualifier will then compete in the US$7.5mil Omega Mission Hills World Cup at the Mission Hills Resort on Hainan island, China, from Nov 24-27.

This is the third time that Seri Selangor will host the two-man team qualifying tournament.

Teams from Asia, including Malaysia, and Africa are expected to sign up for the Asian qualifier.

The format of play will be similar to the World Cup – fourballs in the first and third rounds and foursomes (alternate shot) in the second and final rounds.

Europe and South America will also host a qualifier each, with the top three teams earning tickets to the World Cup.

Link : http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2011/7/1/sports/9006369&sec=sports