Pro-am in aid of cancer-stricken golfer Ramayah

KUALA LUMPUR: The Professional Golf Association of Malaysia (PGAM) will hold a charity pro-am on March 1 to raise funds for former top national golfer M. Ramayah, who is battling cancer.

The charity fund-raiser will be held at the Impian Golf and Country Club from 7.30am with flight fees of RM5,000.

All fees collected from this tournament will be given to the 68-year-old to help with his treatment and recovery.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh yesterday visited Ramayah at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM in Cheras, where he is receiving treatment.

During the hour-long visit, Hannah gave words of encouragement and also thanked the hospital staff for looking after him.

National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) chairman Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed, who accompanied Hannah, donated a mattress protector and adult diapers to Ramayah.

Ramayah was Malaysia’s No. 1 golfer and a name to be reckoned with in the region between 1976 and 1997. He has played in 13 World Cups and is one of a few local golfers who has played with Tiger Woods, playing in the same flight as the American when Malaysia hosted the 1999 edition.

Ramayah and partner P. Gunasegaran represented the country in the tournament won by Woods and his partner Mark O’Meara.

Ramayah and Gunasegaran also finished ninth at the 1994 World Cup in Puerto Rico – still the best achievement by a Malaysian pair.

Those who wish to contribute can also made a direct transfer to his brother in-law M. Ramasamy at Maybank account number 114048549258.