Royal Johor Country Club

Golf fans were in for a treat when a top-quality field teed off in the inaugural Iskandar Johor Open 2007, sponsored by Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) at the Royal Johor Country Club. Headlining the field were some of the Asian Tour's biggest stars, including current UBS Order of Merit leader Liang Wen-chong of China, Korea's Lee Sung, Chinese Taipei's Lu Wen-teh, India's Gaurav Ghei, American Jason Knutzon, Australia's Scott Hend, and Thai players including the long hitting Chapchai Nirat, former Asian No.1 Thaworn Wiratchant and talented teenager Chinarat Phadungsil. The Malaysian challenge was spearheaded by Airil Rizman, winner of the season-opening Pakistan Open in January 2007, and other Asian tour regulars like Danny Chia, Rashid Ismail and Ben Leong.

Artemio Murakami (centre) of the Philippines emerged the winner of this US$300,000 tournament.
Giving away the Trophy is the Mentri Besar (Chief Minister) of Johor with His Royal Highness
Tunku Bendahara of Johor in the background.

Some of the top Asian Tour's biggest name participating in the Iskandar Johor Open 2007

L to R: IRDA Chief Executive Officer Dato Ikmal Hijaz Hashim,
Malaysian Golf Association President Tunku Abdul Majid Idris Ibni Sultan Iskandar,
China's Liang Wen-chong and his Australian coach Kel Liewellyn at the IRDA hospitality marquee.

Current UBS Order of Merit leader, Liang Wen-chong of China in action

Australia's Unho Park

American Jason Knutzon shot a 67 in the 2nd round

India's Gaurav Ghei, the 3 rd day leader.

The Malaysians who made the cut.


Airil Rizman Pakistan Open champion	S.Sivachandran His third cut on the Asian tour


Acer Taiwan Open champion Danny Chia	Khor Kheng Hwai came a long way, earning his slot competing in a qualifying round

The Iskandar Johor Open Pro-am competition was played in two sessions, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Among the participants were His Royal Highness Tunku Abdul Majid Idris Ibni Sultan Iskandar, the the Tunku Bendahara Johor, YAB Dato' Hj. Abdul Ghani Bin Othman, the Mentri Besar (Chief Minister) of Johor, and Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's Minister for Community Development, Youth and sports.

VIP flight: (L to R) Megat Mizan, professional Gavin Flint, HRH Tunku Abdul Majid Idris Ibni Sultan Iskandar, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan and YAB Dato' Abdul Ghani Bin Othman

The main score board

Guest of the main sponsors enjoyed close-up views of the action
from the IRDA hospitality marquee located next to the 18 th green

ISKANDAR JOHOR OPEN 2007 - RESULTS

		R1	R2	R3	R4	TOTAL	SCORE	EARNING
1.	Artemio Murakami (PHI)	70	72	69	68	279	-5	$47,550.00
2.	Simon Yates (SCO)	71	70	72	67	280	-4	$25,425.00
3.	Tony Lascuna (PHI)	72	71	67	70	280	-4	$25,425.00
4.	Sung Mao-chang (TPE)	69	75	68	69	281	-3	$13,545.00
5.	Gauray Ghei (IND)	70	69	70	72	281	-3	$13,545.00
6.	Liang Wen-chong (CHN)	68	74	74	66	282	-2	$10,170.00
7.	Lu Wen-teh (TPE)	70	72	71	70	283	-1	$8,730.00
8.	Jason Knutzon (USA)	71	67	72	74	284	Even	$7,350.00
9.	Lin Wen-tang (TPE)	71	71	75	78	285	+1	$6,000.00
10.	Scott Barr (AUS)	72	70	74	70	286	+2	$4900.00
10.	Stephen Scahill (NZL)	70	72	73	71	286	+2	$4900.00
10.	Kao Bo-song (TPE)	75	70	70	71	286	+2	$4900.00
10.	Gavin Flint (AUS)	73	73	67	73	286	+2	$4900.00
10.	Gary Simpson (AUS)	74	70	69	73	286	+2	$4900.00
10.	Adam Le Vesconte (AUS)	72	69	69	76	286	+2	$4900.00
16.	Gerald Rosales (PHI)	70	70	76	71	287	+3	$3740.00
16.	S. Sivachandran (MAS)	74	70	72	71	287	+3	$3740.00
16.	Brad Kennedy (AUS)	73	69	73	72	287	+3	$3740.00
16.	Chinarat Phadungsil (THA)	75	70	70	72	287	+3	$3740.00
16.	A. Prathummannee (THA)	72	72	70	73	287	+3	$3740.00
16.	Airil Rizman (MAS)	71	69	72	75	287	+3	$3740.00