Singapore's Mardan earns berth in Asia's Dynasty Cup Team for Ryder Cup-style shootout between Asia and Japan

SITTING at the clubhouse and sipping his drink, Mardan Mamat was oblivious to the proceedings on the greens at the Myanmar Open last week. It was only after Thammanoon Srirot, his rival for the eighth and last automatic berth in Asia's Dynasty Cup team, completed his round in 75 that Mardan knew what was happening.

For it suddenly dawned on him that he had qualified for the Cup - the first Singaporean golfer to earn the honour in the Ryder Cup-style shoot-out between Asia and Japan. Said Mardan: 'I was really surprised. I never expected Thammanoon to miss the cut.'

As for Thammanoon, his two-round total of 152 meant he had missed the weekend cut by four shots.

This was another first for Mardan.

In 1997, the 37-year-old was the first Singaporean to play in the British Open.

Last March, he was the Republic's first golfer to win an Asian Tour event when he captured the Indian Open.

Last May, he became local golf's first millionaire.

Mardan, who shot a two-over 74 in the first round of the Thailand Open in Bangkok yesterday, will join 11 other golfers in the Asian Team at the Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China, next month.

He added: 'This is a challenge I'm looking forward to. I do not have much experience in match play, but the World Cups and the qualifiers I have competed in will help, because they are also all about teamwork.'

His desire to qualify for the Dynasty Cup was kindled by last year's Ryder Cup. Said Mardan: 'Although Europe were the underdogs and the Americans seemed to have the stronger players, their captain Bernhard Langer's pairings were excellent.

'He always seemed to have one experienced player with one less-experienced player, which meant one person was in control of the pairing. 'That worked well for Europe. It could be the plan that works very well for us too.'

His joy was shared by Singapore pros and officials alike.

Said Lam Chih Bing: 'Mardan fully deserves his place. He's one of the top golfers in Asia, and it's good for Singapore golf.'

Added Lim Kian Kee, the Singapore Professional Golfers' Association president: 'It's fantastic. Mardan's example will inspire our juniors and show that it's possible for a Singaporean to be a successful pro.'

The Asian Team will take on the 12 top golfers from Japan in a matchplay format, which will see six foursomes matches played on the first day, with another six fourball matches the day after and 12 singles on the last day.

The Asian Team won the inaugural Cup in Shenzhen in 2003, beating Japan 16.5 to 7.5.

Said Asia's captain, Taiwanese Hsieh Min-nan: 'Japan have a very strong team this year with the likes of three-time US PGA Tour winner Shigeki Maruyama and Toshimitsu Izawa but many of them don't play as well outside their country.

'Our players have travelled all over Asia for various tournaments, so I feel we have a good chance of retaining the cup.'
By Alvin Foo

from the Straits Times Interactive 4 March 2005