Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia, January 30 - Local hope R. Nachimuthu and Singaporean star Mardan Mamat led the chase for Official World Golf Ranking points as they shared the opening round lead on five-under-par 67s at the PGM CCM Rahman Putra Masters on Wednesday.
Nachimuthu and Mardan got off to a hot start to take a one-shot lead at the RM200,000 (approximately US$65,000) event, which is the first Asian Development Tour (ADT) tournament to receive world ranking points in the new 2013 season.
Malaysians S. Murthy and Iain Steel, Gary Knight of the United States, Nick Redfern of England, Australian Darren Tan and Wolmer Murillo, the first Venezuelan to play on the ADT, were a further shot back on 68s at the Rahman Putra Golf Club.
Mardan, a three-time Asian Tour winner, credited the hours put into the gym during the off season for his splendid start where he holed a huge 30 foot eagle putt on the fifth hole and sank five other birdies against two bogeys.
“I’m satisfied with the way I played. I concentrated a lot on my fitness during the off season. I went to the gym for four times a week and work out for two hours which has helped my game,” said the 45-year-old.
Mardan believes the ADT’s Official World Golf Ranking status will elevate the stature of the ADT to even greater heights as it gives up-coming players the opportunity to play in the 2016 Olympics.
“This is great because it motivates the younger players to play on the ADT and if they win or finish high on the leaderboard, they will earn world ranking points which will help lift their careers,” added the Singaporean.
Nachimuthu, the PGM Tour’s number one in 2011, peppered the flags with acute iron shots and was rewarded with three birdies in the last four holes to share the first round honours.
“I’ve been working a lot with my coach (Andrew Argus) and it seems to be paying off. I kept calm and hit a lot of greens which helped. I think the players can really benefit from earning world ranking points,” said Nachimuthu.
Malaysians Wilson Choo, Khor Kheng Hwai and Irfan Yusof and Austrian Uli Weinhandl, Grant Jackson of England, Mitsuhiko Hashizume of Japan, Lam Chih Bing of Singapore, James Bowen of the United States, Lindsay Renolds of Canada and Edward Reyes of the Philippines posted identical 69s for tied ninth.
The two Indonesian players ended in a nine-way tie for 25th, but the way they got there was very different. George Gandranata had a solid round with 2 birdies and a single bogey to finish 1-under, whereas Rory Hie achieved this same score after hitting 6 birdies combined with 3 bogeys and double bogey.
Leading first round scores (Par 72)
67 - R. NACHIMUTHU (MAS), Mardan MAMAT (SIN)
68 - S. MURTHY (MAS), Gary KNIGHT (USA), Wolmer MURILLO (VEN), Darren TAN (AUS), Iain STEEL (MAS), Nick REDFERN (ENG)
69 - Wilson CHOO (MAS), Uli WEINHANDL (AUT), Grant JACKSON (ENG), Mitsuhiko HASHIZUME (JPN), KHOR Kheng Hwai (MAS), LAM Chih Bing (SIN), James BOWEN (USA), Lindsay RENOLDS (CAN), Edward REYES (PHI), Irfan YUSOF (MAS)
Selected scores:
71 - Rory HIE (INA), George GANDRANATA (INA)
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