Source: PGM Tour.

In a dramatic finish Sean Riordan a New Zealander birdied the last hole of the tournament to claim his first victory in Asia when he won the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Port Dickson Championship at Port Dickson Golf & Country Club by a single stroke today.

The lad from the town of Nelson shot a fourth and final round even-par 71 to finish with an 11-under 273 total and emerge with the honours in the RM200,000 tournament that is co-sanctioned with the Asian Development Tour – one that carries world ranking points.

Australian Paul Donahoo fired a second successive five-under 66 to take second spot on 274, while Sweden’s Oskar Arvidsson (66) and Malaysians Shaaban Hussin (68), R. Nachimuthu (68) and Kemarol Baharin (70) were joint third another stroke back on three-under 275.

Germany’s Arwed Fischer (66), PGM Tour Player of the Year Airil Rizman Zahari (71), Thailand’s Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (72) and American Micah Lauren Shin (72) were tied for seventh on 277.

Delighted with his success in a tournament that led from the second round, Riordan said: “This feels really good. I felt like I played well the whole week and I’m really happy to have held on to win here.

“This, I hope, will spur me on to get into the top-five of the ADT Order of Merit at the end of the year, which would earn me a Tour card on the Asian Tour next season, as that’s my goal right now.”

Turning to his game this week, Riordan added: “I hit the ball solid and my approach shots gave me many chances at birdie. The second round – a nine-under-62 – was the best of course. In the third round I had several chances at birdie as well but some of the putts didn’t drop and today was pretty much the same.

“But I hung in there and got the job done right at the end. It feels really good and it is a win I will always remember as this is the first here in Asia. That birdie on the 72nd hole was crucial and it did the trick for me.”

For his efforts Riordan picked up a cheque of RM35,000, while Donahoo won RM23,000.

The next stop on the PGM Tour is the inaugural Matchplay Championship scheduled for Impian Golf & Country Club in Kajang, Selangor from June 2-7 (Tuesday – Sunday). The event carries RM180,000 in prize money.

--Full Result--

Source: PGM Tour.

An outstanding fourth and final round seven-under-par 65 lifted Finland’s Janne Kaske to a maiden Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour victory in the RM200,000 MNRB Sarawak Championship at Kelab Golf Sarawak today.

The 29-year-old, who resides about an hour outside the Finnish capital Helsinki and turned pro in 2010, finished with a comfortable four-stroke win from overnight leader Erwan Vieilledent, who himself carded a last day even-par 72.

Kaske, winner of the first stage of the Asian Tour School earlier this year – only to fail making the cut by one stroke when it mattered most – signed for a 12-under 276 total today and collected a cheque worth US$9,727 for his efforts.

PGM Player of the Year and leader or co-leader over the first two days Airil Rizman was tied for third place on 281 after closing with a 71. He was matched by Japan’s Masaru Takahashi (70) and American Casey O'Toole (71).

Two Thai players, Ratchapol Jantavara (70) and Nirun Sae-Ueng (71), were joint sixth on 282. 

Kaske’s win was a deserved one if only because of how he played the last round. His 65 was the lowest of the tournament and characterised by sheer hard work and intense concentration.

Having started the final round three shots off the lead, the now Thailand-based player stumbled to a bogey on the 3rd hole before going on to play the next 10 holes in eight-under-par – such was his turnaround.

He picked up two shots straight after the 3rd hole (at the 4th and 5th) and then strung together a run of five birdies from holes 7-thru-11. He added another at 12th hole and played par-golf from thereon.

Delighted with his first win at an event that is co-sanctioned with the Asian Development Tour and carries world ranking points, Kaske said: “This is really very nice. I am really very happy to have won for the first time on the PGM and ADT Tours.

“I did my best at Asian Tour School but came just short, so to win here is really very nice.”

Turning to his game, the player who spent four and a half years at the University of Augusta State in the US, said: “I started with a round of 72 then shot a 67, which I felt was good as well. And then I had another 72 yesterday. So to finish like this is great.”

Looking ahead, Kaske said: “My aim is to try and earn an Asian Tour playing card for next year by finishing in the top-five of the ADT Order of Merit. Before this tournament, I was in 16th place, so I’m sure I will move up a bit and I will try to continue to try to do that for the rest of the season,” he added.

The PGM Tour’s next stop is the Port Dickson Championship at Port Dickson Golf & Country Club from May 27-30.


-Full Result-

Source: PGM Tour. 

Thailand made a clean sweep of the top-three places in the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour’s Sabah Championship today.

In a gripping finale to the RM200,000 event that is co-sanctioned with the Asian Development Tour and staged at Sabah Golf & Country Club, Nirun Sae-Ueng beat compatriot Pavit Tangkamolprasert in a playoff after both finished the tournament with eight-under 280 totals. The champion fired a closing round seven-under 65, while Pavit shot a 66.

Sixteen-year-old Phachara Khongwatmai, who won at Rahman Putra in March, was joint third after shooting a last round 67 and finishing just one stroke behind the top-two, on 281. He was tied with compatriot Danthai Boonma, who carded a 71.

Malaysia’s Ben Leong was fifth, making up 25 places with his final round 66. He was four-under-par 284.

Thailand took the next two places as well, with Pasamet Pogamnerd (68) and Sutijet Kooratanapisan (72) tied for sixth on 285.

After registering his first win on the PGM and ADT Tours, Nirun said he was delighted that his efforts in training had come to fruition. 

Adding that he liked the Sabah GCC layout, the 20-year-old who resides about an hour from Bangkok and won in his homeland just a month after turning pro in April 2014, said: “This is a very special win for me and I am very happy.”

Turning to his game, he added: “I am also very happy with how I played, especially today. And to win it in a playoff, against Pavit was tough, as he also played very well. 

“The competition is stiff in these tournaments as there are many good players in the field.”

Nirun started with a bogey on his first hole and gave no indication of what was to follow. But after he birdie the second, he strung together four-in-a-row from the 4th hole. He added another birdie at the 10th before picking up another two strokes at the 15th and 16th holes.

Pavit’s round, meanwhile, was almost as sharp. In a blemish-free display, he had two birdies on the front nine and then another four on the back nine.

He too said he was pleased with his week’s work in Sabah, but disappointed somewhat to lose out in a playoff.

Leong’s fourth and final round was marked by an explosive opening. After six holes he was five-under, thanks mainly to an eagle on the par-5 2nd hole. He picked up another three strokes before giving one back at the 7th. Two more birdies followed, before another bogey at the 14th and a birdie at the 18th hole.

The next stop on the PGM Tour is the MNRB Sarawak Championship, also co-sanctioned with the ADT Tour and to be played at Kelab Golf Sarawak from May 13-16 (next Wed-Sat).

-Full Result-