Kuala Lumpur, 29 January 2000 – Japanese golfer Sachie Kikuchi produced one of the most memorable moments of the 2000 Pharmaton Malaysian Women’s Open when she scored a spectacular hole-in-one at the Saujana Golf & Country Club, putting herself in line to win an exclusive Malaysian-made Bufori sports car.
The 24-year-old golfer from Tokyo achieved the remarkable feat on Friday, 28 January, at the 147-yard fifth hole of the Palm Course, using a six iron to send the ball directly into the cup.
The shot earned Kikuchi the tournament’s prestigious hole-in-one prize, a handcrafted Bufori MKII sports car valued at approximately RM240,000, sponsored by DRB-Hicom.
Describing the unforgettable moment, an elated Kikuchi said:
“When I got to the green I was ecstatic when I saw the ball in the cup. All I did was to jump in the air.”
Her achievement placed her in contention to take home the Bufori as the sole winner, provided no other competitor recorded a hole-in-one during the tournament’s final round on Saturday.
The prize car, proudly manufactured in Malaysia, represents Bufori’s distinctive approach to luxury motoring, combining elegant contemporary-classic styling with modern engineering and meticulous craftsmanship.
Founded in Sydney, Australia, in 1986, Bufori has established its manufacturing operations in Malaysia, creating exclusive handcrafted automobiles for discerning customers around the world.
The company’s presence at the Pharmaton Malaysian Women’s Open provided an opportunity to showcase Malaysian automotive craftsmanship at an international sporting event.
For Bufori, Kikuchi’s remarkable achievement provided a memorable association between sporting excellence and the exclusivity of a handcrafted luxury automobile.
