Published: Friday 23 December 2005 5:53 PM HKT

MAYBANK CASH IN ON MALAYSIAN OPEN
December 23: Maybank pledged their support for the Asian Tour by becoming title sponsors of the prestigious Malaysian Open.

Maybank, who are the first local company to be title sponsors for the Malaysian Open, agreed to a five-year sponsorship deal.

The Malaysian Open is scheduled for Feb 16-19 and is one of Asia’s richest golf tournaments offering total prize money of US$1.21 million.

The Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club will play host to the 2006 Malaysian Open.

Thailand’s ace Thongchai Jaidee has fond memories competing at the Malaysian Open as he successfully defended his title in 2005. Thongchai, who was runner-up in the 2005 Order of Merit, will be determined to return in search of a record third consecutive title.

The Asian Tour 2005 season displayed the potential of young upcoming stars led by India’s latest sensation Shiv Kapur who won the season-ender Volvo Masters of Asia.

Kapur and Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand will be among the top contenders also vying for glory in Malaysia.

Striking gold XXI Kuala Lumpur SEA Games 2001
Our never-ending search for perfection in quality and workmanship, have propelled us as one of the leading club fitters in the country.

This recognition has been endorsed by the Malaysia Golf Association (MGA), which engaged the services of JNG - The Golf Workshop in February 2001 to oversee all club fitting aspects of the Malaysian SEA Games golf squad and as official club fitters at the tournament venue.

Mooted by then National Director of Coaching A.S. Khamis, who has since been elected as Honorary Secretary of the MGA, professional club fitters Nathan & James worked diligently with the SEA Games golf squad and national Head Coach, Haris Zainal in the quest for GOLD in the men's invidual and team events.

The Malaysian golf squad consisting of Airil Rizman, Shaaban Hussin, S Sivachandran and Mohd Sahal successfully struck gold in the team event, while Airil the country's top amateur, came from poor fist day form to take silver in the individual event.

In November 2001, the same squad triumphed in the Putra Cup - defeating the country's old rival Thailand and brought glory to Malaysian Golf once again.

These achievement with the national squad bear testimony of our high standard of club fitting craftsmanship.
Malaysian National Team Fitters
Our work with the national team did not end with the closing ceremony of the 2001 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

Since then, we have continued our appointment by the Malaysian Golf Association to ensure that the equipment used by the players are fitted correctly.

The current main team comprising of S. Sivachandran, Shukree Othan, Faridil Atras and Lim Eng Seng, constantly have ther equipment assessed and fitted by certified professional club fitters of JNG (M) Sdn.Bhd.

As with the main national team, the reserve squad comprising of Hanafiah Jamil, Aidil Aris, Kemarol Bahrin, Izwan Noordin are all fitted by our company to improve the technical side of their game.

Not resting on our laurels with the SEA Games success, we aim to improve the success rate fo the National Team for more gloary both on a local and international basis.
Contibutions to society

n the past, JNG has contibuted to the education of golfers in Malaysia on club fitting and golf club technology through The New Straits Times - Timesport section.

The column offered an elaborate insight to the world of gold club technology and club care. Graphics were used to describe shaft flexes, golf head designs and clubface technology.

Previously, Nathan contributed to a monthly column in Golf Malaysia magazine and currently, is contributin his knowldge to the readers of Par Golf Magazine - the leading golf publication in Malaysia.

With Nathan's professional expertise, the reader of Par Golf Magazine will gain much knowledge on how and what to look out for when they purchase their equipment.

Other than contributing our knowledge to the public through publications, JNG organized a charity day in June 2001 called 1st Annual JNG Charity Golf Tournament.

The tournament was organized in aid of the Yayasan Sunbeams Home and a nett profit of RM10,000 was collected for the home that provides a roof for homeless, abused and neglected children.

The following year, we continued giving to the underpriviledged childrenfo the same home with an amount of RM5,000.