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.
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