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CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia - Invitational Regional Qualifier
A Place for
Mardan Mamat
Mardan Mamat’s rhythm
of game that was on
its best ever since he
finished Indonesia Open
just a day before , could
not be beaten by his
competitors. Recorded
4-under par on the
second day and closed
at total 6-under 138,
Mardan was eligible to
the only ticket available
in the qualifying
tournament.
Event though there were only 24 golfers
from three countries, Singapura,
Thailand and Indonesia competing
at the event, CIMB Asia Pacific Classic
Invitational Regional Qualifier was not
just an ordinary stage of competition. Because
the eight best players from each country who
played at Emeralda Golf Club for two days (5 – 6 July, 2010) , competing to secure one seat
at the Asia Pacific Classic Invitational at Mines
Resort & Club Malaysia next October 28-31.
On the first day of the qualifying round, Sarmilih
KZ, currently ranked no.3 on the Indonesia
Order of Merit, surprisingly took alone the 3rd
position below two tough players, Lam Chihbing
(SIN) and Panuwat Muenlek (THAI). He
closed the first round at 4-under 68, made
3 birdies, 1 bogey and 1 eagle at 17th hole. Another Indonesian player who opened a
chance in the second round was the champion
of 2010 RP Invitational , Andik Mauludin. He
finished T4 with score 2-under 70 together with
Mardan Mamat ( SIN ).
Mardan Mamat’s rhythm of game that was on
its best ever since he finished Indonesia Open
just a day before , could not be beaten by his
competitors. Recorded 4-under par on the
second day and closed at total 6-under 138,
Mardan was eligible to the only ticket available
in the qualifying tournament.
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Meanwhile , Lam Chih-bing, who led the first
round with 6-under par, seemed to loose his
performance because of cold and had to be
content at the runner up position with total
score 4-under 140. Panuwat Muenlek from
Thailand, who struggled with his frustration
over his own mistake , “hitting away” his drive
shot at 14th hole earned him triple bogey,
though he made up with a birdie at 17th
hole to finish T3 at 3-under 141 together with
Andik Andik Mauludin and the champion of
Kariza Indonesia Championship Thanyakon
Khrongpha, from Thailand .
Unfortunately for Sarmilih KZ who only needed
2-under on the second day to match up to
Mardan Mamat’s score, let his performance got
distracted by Chih-bing and Muenlek’s game
who were in the same pairing. He finished
4-over 76 and moved down to 7th with total
score even par 144.
Though the tournament provided only one
spot, based on the qualification rules, they had
to allow another two runner up as the reserved
qualifiers . Lam Chih-bing automatically was the
first one while Panuwat Muenlek, Thanyakon
Khrongpha and Andik Mauludin had to fight
for the second spot through a sudden death
play off.
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Khrongpha’s experience in facing a tense
sudden death play off against Jay Bayron at
Kariza Indonesia Championship at Gading
Serpong , once again took him to be a winner
and was served a spot as the second reserved qualifier. It is possible if Mardan and Lam Chihbing
could not make it to the event, his name
would be listed in the entry list at CIMB Asia
Pacific Classic.
During the interview, Mardan Mamat stated
that his fight was not over yet as the real battle
would be in the tournament , but he was glad
that it paid off his disappointment to have
been failed in the qualification for US Open
Championship 2010 few weeks ago.
CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia is the first
tournament in South East Asia that is sanctioned
by PGA Tour, Asian Tour and Professional Golf
Association of Malaysia (PGAM), offers a total
prize money of USD 6million and no cut will be
applied. That means, all players will be playing
in full four rounds.
There will be 40 players from the seeded
category as 25 top rank of FedEx Cup and
10 top Asian Tour Order of Merit play at the
tournament. And it is said that a player with
even the worst score would still bag a prize
money of USD50,000… way to go, Mardan !
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