source: http://www.theclubhouse.com.my/

Sungai Petani [KEDAH]: Local hope Arie Irawan survived a late scare to win his second professional title after shooting a four-under-par 68 at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Sime Darby Harvard Championship on Saturday.

The 24-year-old made a crucial par save on the 16th hole from the rough after a poor drive to win by one stroke with an 18-under-par 270 total at the RM200,000 (approximately US$60,000) Asian Development Tour event.

Newcomer Sean Riordan of New Zealand and overnight leader Sukree Othman of Malaysia settled for tied second after returning with a 67 and 70 respectively to finish on 271 at the Harvard Golf and Country Club.

“I still feel a little nervous. I’m still shaking. I don’t know how I did it but I did it. I told myself to focus on my breathing. If I do that, then I can play well. I wanted to stay in the present and not think too far ahead,” said Arie.

Rated as one of the country’s most promising talents, Arie finished in sixth place on the ADT Order of Merit last year but earned an Asian Tour card for 2015 as Sattaya Supupramai, ranked fourth, finished inside the top-60 on the Asian Tour Merit list.

Arie got off to a fine start in the final round when he chipped in for eagle on the third hole. It was cancelled out by two bogeys but he held his nerve to romp home to victory with two birdies in each half.

The former national rode on his luck again when he was distracted on his downswing on the 16th hole. He escaped with a par but admits that three-foot putt was decisive in his victory.

“My tee shot almost went into the water but luckily it stayed in the rough. I got disturbed by the sound of a fluttering banner just as I was on my downswing. That three-foot par putt was really nerve-wracking!” he explained.

He earned US$9,678 and six Official World Golf Ranking points for the win which will likely move him above Danny Chia and make him the highest placed Malaysian in the world rankings ahead of the Maybank Malaysian Open next week.

“I was looking at the world ranking and I was a few notches behind Danny Chia to be the highest ranked Malaysian in the world. It is very important for me because my goal is to push myself into the Olympics in 2016,” Arie explained.

Leading final round scores (Malaysian unless stated):
270 – Arie Irawan 63-71-68-68
271 – Sean Riordan (NZL) 70-68-66-67, Sukree Othman 70-65-66-70
273 -Mathiam Keyser (RSA) 70-65-69-69
274 – Oskar Arvidsson (SWE) 69-66-70-69 
275 – Shaaban Hussin 70-70-69-66, MJ Daffue (RSA) 70-68-70-67, Danny Chia 69-68-67-71, Kemarol Baharin 70-69-64-72
276 – Terumichi Kakazu (JPN) 66-74-67-69, Masaru Takahashi (JPN) 69-69-67-71

source: http://www.theclubhouse.com.my/


Puchong [SELANGOR]: Kenneth De Silva held off a final-round charge from seasoned campaigners Sukree Othman and R. Nachimuthu to emerge victorious at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Kinrara Championship by one shot.

The 23-year-old, whose professional breakthrough came 27 months ago in Kuching, returned with a one-under 70 at Kinrara Golf Club to finish on 10-under-par 274 for the tournament.

A strong Saturday push by halfway leader Sukree, which led to a flawless five-under-par 66, put Kenneth under pressure but the in-form young professional maintained his composure with a steady par putt on the last after he had dropped his third bogey of the day on the 17th.

Sukree settled for second alongside defending champion Nachimuthu (69), who was making his first appearance of the season at the RM180,000 tournament.

Former Order of Merit winner Nicholas Fung climbed up the leaderboard with a 66 of his own to finish alone in fourth with a eight-under 276 overall, a stroke better than  Kemarol Baharin (69) and rookie Mohd Wafiyuddin Abdul Manaf, who strung together a composed performance on his debut with a closing three-under 68.

The win, worth RM30,600, marked a second podium finish for Kenneth in as many tournaments on the flourishing domestic circuit after a third placing at the season-opening Panasonic Open Malaysia.

“I’m really happy and delighted with my performance this week. It has been a tough grind since my first win in October 2012 and I have been trying very hard. This is my first time leading into a final round of a professional event and to finish it off with a good scores, is very satisfying,” said Kenneth.

He traded two birdies with as many bogeys to make the turn on even-par 34 before birdies on the 10th and 15th saw him regain his two-shot overnight cushion.

“I was jittery from the start and after a great opening birdie, the bogeys on the third and fifth put me under a lot of pressure.

“It was much better after the turn when I drained a difficult ten-feet birdie attempt on 10th.  It helped with my confidence and I told myself to just play percentage golf all the way to the end and allow the chasing pack to do the work,” added the decorated former national, who credited his new caddie and a slight change to his swing tempo for his form.

Sukree looked a good bet throughout the week but rued a costly third round three-over 74 that cost him a sixth PGM Tour title.

“I was able to bounce back after an “off-day” yesterday. The 74 proved costly but I did leave one or two more makeable birdies out there today. I knew that I had to go low but it was always going to be an uphill battle,” shared Sukree.

Leading final round scores (Par-71) >
274 – Kenneth De Silva 66-70-68-70
275 – Sukree Othman 65-70-74-66, R. Nachimuthu 68-72-66-69
276 – Nicholas Fung 69-70-71-66
277 – Shaaban Hussin 69-68-69-71
278 – Kemarol Baharin 69-69-71-69, Muhd Wafiyuddin Abdul Manaf 70-70-70-68
279 – Hans Jamil 70-69-68-72, Mohd Amli Mohayideen 70-74-66-69, Mohd Nazri Mohd Zain 73-69-70-67
280 – Airil Rizman Zahari 72-72-68-68

source: http://www.theclubhouse.com.my/

Rawang [SELANGOR]: Danny Chia secured a winning start to 2015 after coasting to a comprehensive eight-shot victory at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Panasonic Open Malaysia – Tournament of Champions on Saturday.

Having won the opening event on the flourishing domestic circuit’s twice previously, the 41-year-old completed an emphatic display from tee-to-green at Templer Park Country Club with a closing two-under 71 for a 16-under 272 winning overall.

Chia left four-time Asian Tour winner Mardan Mamat (71) in his wake as the veteran Singaporean settled for sole second in the RM250,000 winners-only event.

Young professional Kenneth De Silva recorded a three-under 69 to leap into a share of third on 282 alongside the nation’s top amateur Gavin Kyle Green (72), who failed in his bid to win a second successive professional title at the challenging tract.

Thailand’s Kwanchai Tannin carded a 71 to finish a further stroke adrift in fifth with titleholder Kemarol Baharin (72) taking sixth place on 284.

With a seven-shot cushion in hand, Chia was relatively untroubled in the final round, carding four birdies to go ten strokes clear through 11 holes before conceding two late bogeys on the closing stretch.

The national number one was pleased to continue his run of good form from late last year, which guaranteed his playing rights on the Asian Tour this season.

“I don’t think I can ask for anything more given that I’ve never had a seven-shot lead going into the final round of a tournament before. My ball-striking was perfect all week, and although, I was a little spaced out today,  I am satisfied with my overall performance,” said the now six-time PGM Tour winner.

“My expectations were low coming into this tournament. I was just returning from a two-week break after my final event in Dubai last year and I had not touched my clubs until the pro-am tournament on Tuesday. I was a little rusty on the edges but mid-way through the second round, I was striking the ball with confidence again and started to drain a couple of birdies and the feel came back,” added Chia.

Having reclaimed his position as the top Malaysian on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), Chia is quietly confident of his own game as he plots the next chapter on a successful comeback trail from a career-threatening injury.

“I would just let my golf do the talking. 2014 was one of the more memorable years in my career because I loved the way I fought back when the chips were down. I trained hard to get back to my fighting best and I managed to lift myself when I needed it and gain those important results. Personally, it felt great and I told myself that this is the beginning of a new me,” shared the seasoned professional.

Leading final round scores >
272 – Danny Chia 71-64-67-70
280 – Mardan Mamat (SIN) 69-68-72-71
282 – Kenneth De Silva 72-69-72-69, Gavin Kyle Green (Am) 71-70-69-72
283 – Kwanchai Tannin (THA) 70-69-73-71
284 – Kemarol Baharin 69-70-73-72
286 – Shaaban Hussin 71-73-72-70, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 71-73-72-70
287 – Ben Leong 74-68-75-70
288 – Jhonnel Ababa (PHI) 72-72-70-74

- See more at: http://www.theclubhouse.com.my/2015/01/walk-in-the-park-for-chia/#sthash.0JCCJz7j.dpuf