posted news from scb 17-8(4)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

Subject:	Congradulation to Zaw Moe, a Myanmar Golfer
>From:	khinzaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date:	Sun, 16 Aug 1998 16:34:28 GMT



No Singapore pro has won the event but two South-east Asians, namely Kyi Hla
Han (1994) and Zaw Moe (1997), both of Myanmar, have done so.
-------------------------------------------------------------

The Straits Time

Interactive

AUG 16 1998

Can Zaw pull off the feat one Moe time?

When S'pore Open champ's putting comes good, he is untouchable

By S. MURALI

LET it be said here first. Zaw Moe is Asia's answer to Ernie Els.

No, I am not saying that the Myanmar professional is ready to join the US Tour
and hammer it out with the big South African.

Rather, I am talking about the many similarities between Els and the defending
champion of the Singapore Open.

Both golfers are tall and powerfully-built. Both have big, loopy swings that
propel the ball past most of their peers.

And then there is the ever-present smile. That appealing grin that breaks out
whenever a long putt rolls in or when the gallery starts going wild.

They even have simple, three-lettered, pun-inducing last names -- Moe and Els
-- that endear them to headline writers everywhere.

But the one glaring difference, and perhaps the fact that has kept Zaw Moe and
Els hundreds of places apart in the world rankings, is their putting prowess.

Whilst Els is acknowledged as one of the world's best, Zaw Moe admits that his
inconsistency with the putter has left him behind.

Said his sponsor Allen Loh of Pan-West: "Frankie Minoza, who is now in the
top- 50 in the world, told me that Zaw should be in the top-10 of every
tournament he plays in, considering the way he strikes the ball.

"It is only his streaky putting that has left him adrift, and maybe held back
his progress onto the world stage."

When the putting comes good, as it did for four days last August at the
Singapore Open, Zaw Moe is almost untouchable.

With his length and iron play, the man from Myanmar lapped the field, smiling
and waving to his friends as he cruised to a three-shot win and the US$80,750
($142,000) winner's cheque.

Rounds of five-under-par 67, 69, 69 and 72 were carved out on a Jurong Country
Club course that had US Open-style rough waiting to devour errant shots.

He had a game plan the entire week -- shooting averages of 68 -- and stuck to
it until the last round where only care was needed to avoid a major collapse.

Everybody else had been playing for second place that August afternoon, and
the honour went to American Fran Quinn, whose 68 was the day's best round.

The American also provided the tournament's best joke in his acceptance
speech.

In that impromptu moment, Quinn thanked fellow-American Gerry Norquist for
bogeying the last hole to leave him alone in second spot.

"I'll send him a Christmas card," said Quinn, to much laughter from the crowd.

When it was pointed out to him that Norquist's bogey earned him an extra
US$14,000, Quinn quipped: "In that case, I'll send him two Christmas cards."

It was also a tournament noted for some flashes of brilliance from local
professionals.

The first to shine was Bill Fung, who shot a 68 to be a shot off the lead in
the first round. In the second round, it was Samson Gimson (69 70) and Mardan
Mamat (71 70), who moved into contention.

But none of the flashes lasted and the highest-placed local was Mardan, who
finished joint-44th and collected US$2,850.

Said the 31-year-old, with his trademark Els/Moe grin: "It is a wonderful
feeling to win before all my friends in Singapore. I hope to do it again next
year."

One Moe time would be nice, Zaw.

-----------------------------------------

AUG 16 1998

 A walk through Open history


<link>
----------

Tournament purse has grown from $20,000 to $875,000

By TAY CHENG KHOON

TWO British Open champions were expected to dominate the first Singapore Open
in 1961. But it was an unknown Sydney caddy who took the title with a fabulous
13-under-par total at the Royal Island Club.

Peter Thompson had been the overwhelming favourite for the $5,000 first prize
in the $20,000 tournament. After all, he had not only won four British Opens
(and was later to win a fifth) but was also the Bukit course record holder
with a 69 scored the previous year.

If Thompson should falter, then it was expected that his Australian compatriot
Kel Nagle, who had won the British Open the year before, would take over.

But it was not to be, although Nagle did enough to finish third and Thompson
tied-fourth.

The first winner was Sydney caddy Frank Philips who shot amazing rounds of 67,
69, 67, 72 to win by a massive eight strokes.

Not many will remember Philips but Thompson will long remain in the annals of
the Singapore Open and the Asian Golf Circuits.

For it was this Aussie who mooted the idea of promoting pro golf among Asians
by organising a regional tour. And it was he who, with his presence and his
enticement of fellow-stars, who gave the AGC the kiss of life.

This Thursday, when the Ericsson Singapore Open tees off at the Safra Resort
and Country Club, it will boast a purse of US$500,000 (S$875,000) and a first
prize of US$80,700 -- a big improvement since Phillips collected his $5,000.

Much has happened during the 37-year history of the Singapore Open.

The event is somewhat of a maverick in Asian golf, a fickle suitor who has,
hopefully, finally found its niche with the Asian PGA Tour.

In the early 1990s, the Singapore Golf Association was slowly becoming
disillusioned with the quality of field that the Asian Golf Circuit was
attracting.

Although the prize money had, by then, gone up to US$400,000, it boasted the
same faces as those going to the other legs of the circuit which were offering
as low as $200,000.

To make matters worse, a few, such as the Hongkong Open kept their purses
down so that they could afford to pay appearance fees to the household names
of golf.

In 1993, the decision was made to leave the Asian Golf Circuit and join the
Australasian Tour which was then courting Asian tournaments.

Sadly, the liaison did not last long. Three years later came the divorce. It
was perhaps inevitable for the promise of big names from Down Under never
materialised. While the organisers were not hoping for stars such as Greg
Norman and Steve Elkington, they were perhaps disappointed that even the
second- liners stayed away.

Mainly young, green Australians replaced the American collge graduates who had
dominated the AGC.

In 1996, the Singapore Open shifted allegiance to the infant Asian PGA Tour.
It became the first national Open to join the APGA, a move that was
appreciated by the tour which increased the prize money to US$500,000 and
upgraded it to one of its majors.

But the Singapore Golf Association still insists that the Open reflects its
past. Hence invitations are still extended to the Asian Golf Circuit and the
Australasian Tour to join in the competition.

The Honours List of the Open is a proud reflection of the cosmopolitan nature
of the event.

Because of its early history, three of the first five winners were
Australians.

Then, as the Australian Tour developed and their big names moved on to
Europe, the Japanese took over. When the Japanese decided to stay home and
play in their blossoming domestic tour in the 1980s, the Taiwanese took
command -- with names like Hsu Chi-san, Lu Hsi-chuen, Hsu Sheng-san and Lu
Chien-soon being engraved on the massive silver trophy.

But the Taiwanese Terrors grew old and the younger ones were not good enough
to continue their reign.

This allowed the products of the American college circuits -- such as Greg
Bruckner and Jack Kay -- to take over the microphone for the Sunday victory
speech.

No Singapore pro has won the event but two South-east Asians, namely Kyi Hla
Han (1994) and Zaw Moe (1997), both of Myanmar, have done so.

This perhaps should give a glimmer of hope that one day, a local would add his
name to the colourful history of the Singapore Open...