Malaysian Amateur Open - The History
The Malaysian Amateur Open Golf Championship was actually inaugurated
in 1894, however due to the two world wars which forced its suspension in 1917 & 18
and again from 1941 because of the Pacific War and the Japanese Occupation until
its revival in 1948, 2006 has now become the Championship's 104th year of competition.
In May 1894, on the eve of his departure for the United Kingdom, Major-General Sir Charles Warren, a very keen sportsman, presented four shields for football, rugby, hockey and golf. Major-General Sir Charles Warren had completed his tour of duty as Commander of the Troops in The Straits Settlement and was returning home. Later, after his retirement from the army, he became the Commissioner of Police in London.
For golf, Major-General Sir Charles Warren had stipulated that the Warren Shield should be for an annual competition and the venues should be the links of the Penang Golf Club and the Singapore Golf Club. The competition should rotate between the two clubs each year and the format should be medal-play. Each club should contribute $10 for the winner's medal and the Warren Shield would have the winner's name inscribed and would be hung in his club for one year.
Little did Major-General Sir Charles Warren realize then that his parting gift would create a lasting legacy which has now become one of not only Malaysia's but the Asia-Pacific region's most coveted amateur titles.
A few months after his departure, the first Straits Championship teed off at the Penang Golf Club in 1894. According to the Straits Times of 26th December 1894, the winner was A.W. Stiven, the Captain of Singapore Golf Club instead of D.A.M Brown of Penang who was listed as the winner in the Championship's records. The paper did mention that Brown was the 1895 winner but who can really dispute the records, which show that Brown claimed four straight wins from 1894 - 1897. After a lapse of 11 years, Brown triumphed again in 1908.
In the early days, the modes of transport were boat, gharries (a form of horse carriage) and rickshaws. It sometimes took days to reach a destination. Swamps and jungle predominated in the country and life was still primitive. Where there were towns, oil lamps lighted them and wells provided the water supply.
Yet, for the stout hearted golfers, the zeal and zest for competition was so great, they would endure whatever hardships to play and compete on the few golf courses that existed in Penang, Malacca, Selangor and Singapore.
As the Straits Championship grew in strength C.G. or Clem Glassford, one of the pioneers who started the Selangor Golf Club in 1893 now known as R.S.G.C, finally got his name on the Warren Shield in 1899 and 1901.
In 1912, this Championship was renamed The Federated Malay States and Straits Settlement Championship. As the First World War intervened, the Championship was suspended for two years in 1917 and 1918 until its resumption in 1919. That was the last year it was played under the medal play (stroke-play) format, and was switched to match-playing 1920, with two qualifying rounds with the eight top qualifiers to play for the title. One name that survived the match play years as a winner in 1913 and 1916 who went on to carve his name again in match play on the Warren Shield in 1924 was J.Crabb-Watt. He would have made history, but unfortunately, he was beaten 2 and 1 by G. Gibson in match-play's first year.
E.P. Kyle was the player who dominated the infant years of match-play with three successive victories from 1921-23. Kyle was able to join Brown with a record five wins as he was victorious again 1928 and 1930. Before he came from England, Kyle was a semifinalist in the 1913 British Amateur Open.
In 1928, the Federated Malay State and Straits Settlement Championship offered prizes worth $250, $165 and $70 for the first three places. After the formation of the Malayan Golf Association in 1929, the Championship assumed a new name. The first winner of the renamed Malayan Golf Championship, which was held in Singapore, was R.Craik of Singapore. Craik was to win again in 1934. The Association's duty was to control the Championship and ensure uniformity of handicaps.
In 1931, the Association decided to purchase a challenge trophy in the shape of a rose bowl for the champion and the Warren Shield would instead be presented to the winning team. In 1940, the Association agreed that all future Championships would be held at the Selangor Golf Club as it was easier for the players in the North. G. Halliday of Penang was the last player to win that year before the Championship's lengthy hiatus due to the war.
In 1948, the first post-war Championship was held at the Selangor Golf Club. It had taken more than a year for the Club's professional, Tom Verity with the help of the military to restore the two courses to their former glory.
A new challenge trophy was purchased, as the rose bowl and the Warren Shield had either been looted or had disappeared or when the train carrying all the trophies from Selangor Golf Club that had been sent to Singapore for safe keeping, had been bombed.
R.B. Lauriston became the first post-war winner. He beat H.C. (Nobby) Clarke, Selangor Golf Club's Captain by 2 and 1.
The Championship was then rotated between the two clubs in Selangor and Singapore, but returned to the former for its Golden Jubilee in 1952. There were record entries of 65 with maximum handicap of 6. One man who had been a regular feature of these Championships since 1923 was W.J. Gibb. At 52 and a member of the Senior Golfers Society, Gibb had, claimed the title four times in 1926, 1927, 1934 and 1949. Gibb was also runner-up in 1923, 1933 and 1940. "The Old Man" Gibb almost sprang a surprise but found Bernard Newey of Malacca a determined conqueror. Newey had made a splendid recovery in the qualifying rounds. After the morning's 86, he recovered with 74 in the afternoon to get into the top eight. That Jubilee year, 5 Asians took part and it was hoped that an Asian would have his name engraved on the Championship trophy one day.
When Malaysia achieved independence in 1957, the Championship was again renamed and since then, has become the Malaysian Amateur Open Golf Championship.
Finally, in 1963, after years of expatriate strangle hold on the Championship, a local made history. Darwis Deran from Perak gave Malaysians a long awaited boost with his victory over H.D. Norfolk Williams and did a repeat beating H.M.V. Staunton in 1965. Sulaiman Bluah also from Perak, unfortunately lost to J.H.Mitchell in the 1964 final.
After 45 years, the Championship reverted to stroke play in 1966. Instead of two rounds, it becomes a 72 holes, four round Championship. Phua Thin Kiay became the first Singaporean to have his name on the Honours Roll under this format with a score of 321. Jalal Deran was able to join his brother Darwis in the illustrious circle of winners with back-to-back victories in 1968 and 1969. Other siblings who had won this Championship are Zainal Abidin Yusof in 1967 and his brother Nazamuddin in 1975, Eshak Bluah in successive years in 1976 and 1977 and his brother Barie in 1982.
As the Championship gained strength and recognition as an important amateur event, foreigners came and many took the title home.
In 1978, when Kelab Golf Negara Subang staged the open, Chen Tze-Ming from Taiwan set an amazing course record of 10 under 62 in the first round and won convincingly. It took another 15 years before Chen's fellow man Chang Tse-Peng could prove his prowess in 1993 at Templer Park Country Club. Last year, at Palm Resort Golf and Country Club, Kao Bo Song became the third Taiwanese to wear the Malaysian crown.
For many years, the Championship was one tournament, which foreigners looked forward to playing, as it was no longer restricted to Malaysians and those residing in Singapore. To give the event more of an international flavour, foreign countries were invited to participate through the auspices of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation. Players from it member countries were invited.
As the cost of organizing an Open had also risen, the MGA began to look for a title sponsor. Chivas Regal became the first title sponsor followed by National Panasonic. Then in 1996, Dato Loh Ah Joo of Pan-West did not hesitate to respond when the Championship was in need of a sponsor. Within the last few years, the Pan-West Malaysian Amateur Open Golf Championship has really grown and has been so keenly competed, entries have always reached the maximum.
Foreigners have been enjoying the Championship and have been taking the title home. Sri Lankans Nandasena Pereira carved his name on the trophy in 1998 and Anura Rohana in 1999, while India won once in 2000 and Shiv Kapur was the winner. The Australian domination has really been so overwhelming in the 1990's that for six years; the title went "Downunder". In 1990, it was Robert Allenby followed by Shane Tait 1991, Stephen Leaney in 1992, Marcus Wheelhouse in 1995, Jarrod Mosley in 1996 and Cameron Percy in 1998. Mardan Mamat made it Singapore's year in 1994 and after 12 years. R Nachimuthu managed to steal the limelight in 1997 for Malaysia when he beat New Zealand's Reon Sayer on the first hole of sudden death at Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah. Sufian Tan was the last player before Nachimuthu to score a Malaysian victory in 1985. Not forgetting the latest winners like Luke Hickmott, Doug Holloway and the 2005 Champion Juvic Pangunsan. Many winners of this Championship are now making their mark on the world's professional circuits.
Clubs around the country have bid and have been given the honour to host Malaysia's oldest golf championship. This year, the 104th competition, the Pan-West Malaysian Amateur Open Championship will be held at Penang Golf Resort. The last time it was held in Penang was in 1991 at Bukit Jambul Golf & Country Club.
Noted for its challenging layout, the course will definitely test the skills and bring out the best from both foreign and Malaysian players.
The Malaysian Amateur Open, which started with a humble beginning, has become one of the most coveted sort after one in the region.
PAST WINNERS OF THE MALAYSIAN AMATEUR OPEN
1894 -- D.A.M. Brown :: 1948 -- R B Lauriston
1895 -- D.A.M.Brown :: 1949 -- W J Gibb
1896 -- D.A.M.Brown :: 1950 -- D A 0 Davies
1897 -- DAM Brown :: 1951 -- R R Jackson
1898 -- P Fowlie :: 1952 -- B J Newey
1899 -- C G Glassford :: 1953 -- R B Lauriston
1900 -- C MacBain :: 1954 -- C H Beamish
1901 -- C G Glassford :: 1955 -- C H Beamish
1902 -- A B Stephens :: 1956 -- B Lauriston
1903 -- F Ferguson :: 1957 -- N A Harvey
1904 -- T R Longmuir :: 1958 -- D W McMullan
1905 -- R A Campbell :: 1959 -- R CW Stokes
1906 -- R A Campbell :: 1960 -- F H Turner
1907 -- Captain J Kirkwood :: 1961 -- S C Beaty
1908 -- D.A.M. Brown :: 1962 -- J L O Sullivan
1909 -- C V Miles :: 1963 -- Darwis Deran
1910 -- G R K Mugliston :: 1964 -- J H Mitchell
1911 -- C T Durward :: 1965 -- Darwis Deran
1912 -- J L Humphreys :: 1966 -- Phua Thin Kiay
1913 -- J Crabb Watt :: 1967 -- Zaina1Abidin Yusof
1914 -- C J Foot :: 1968 -- Ja1a1Deran
1915 -- R T Reid :: 1969 -- Ja1a1Deran
1916 -- J Crabb Watt :: 1970 -- A J Malcolm I
1917 -- Not played :: 1971 -- James Stewart I
1918 -- Not played :: 1972 -- Hassan A1i
1919 -- J L Humphreys :: 1973 -- Brian Marks
1920 -- G Gibson :: 1974 -- TanYee Khan
1921 -- E P Kyle :: 1975 -- Nazamuddin Yusof
1922 -- E P Kyle :: 1976 -- Eshak Bluah
1923 -- E P Kyle :: 1977 -- Eshak B1uah
1924 -- J Crabb Watt :: 1978 -- ChenTse-Ming
1925 -- L D Hardie :: 1979 -- Sumano
1926 -- W J Gibb :: 1980 -- Peter Chong
1927 -- W J Gibb :: 1981 -- Gooi Liong Kee
1928 -- E P Kyle :: 1982 -- Barie B1uah
1929 -- R Craik :: 1983 -- John Williamson
1930 -- E P Kyle :: 1984 -- P. Segaran
1931 -- W H Elkins :: 1985 -- Suffian Tan
1932 -- M M Paterson :: 1986 -- Buari Sumaat
1933 -- M M Paterson :: 1987 -- Lester Peterson
1934 -- W J Gibb :: 1988 -- Nandasena Pereira
1935 -- R Craik :: 1989 -- Stuart Bouvier
1936 -- W H Elkins :: 1990 -- Robert Allenby
1937 -- M M Paterson :: 1991 -- Shane Tait
1938 -- CAR Bateman :: 1992 -- Stephen Leaney
1939 -- E. Laidlaw Thomson :: 1993 -- Chang Tse-Peng
1940 -- G. Halliday :: 1994 -- Mardan Mamat
1941 -- Nil :: 1995 -- Marcus Wheelhouse
1942 -- Nil :: 1996 -- Jarrod Moseley
1943 -- Nil :: 1997 -- R. Nachimuthu
1944 -- Nil :: 1998 -- Cameron Percy
1945 -- Nil :: 1999 -- Anura Rohana
1946 -- Nil :: 2000 -- Shiv Kapur
1947 -- Nil :: 2001 -- Kao Bo Song
2002 -- Eddy Lee :: 2003 -- Luke Hickmott
2004 -- Doug Holloway :: 2005 -- Juvic Pangunsan
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