​Source: Asian Development Tour

Port Dickson, Malaysia, May 28: Thailand’s Panuwat Muenlek secured his third Asian Development Tour (ADT) title and second win of the season with a come-from-behind one-shot triumph at the PGM Port Dickson Championship on Saturday.

Panuwat, who turns 31 years old tomorrow, earned himself an early birthday present after signing for a flawless six-under-par 65 highlighted by six birdies to win on 14-under-par 270 total at the Port Dickson Golf and Country Club.

Jakraphan Premsirigorn, also of Thailand, matched his closing efforts to settle for second place with Singapore’s Johnson Poh, who carded a second consecutive 67 to cap his best result on the region’s burgeoning Tour at the RM200,000 (approx. US$46,600) event.

Malaysia’s Gavin Green, who held a one-shot advantage heading into the round, missed out on his third win of the season to earn his Asian Tour card for the remainder of 2016 after closing with a 71 to finish four shots back in fourth place with Australian David Gleeson (68).

Sweden’s Oscar Zetterwall returned with the week’s best score of 63 to take sixth place on 275 with 2013 ADT Order of Merit champion Nicholas Fung of Malaysia, who carded a 70 at the PGM Port Dickson Championship, which is the 15th leg of the ADT schedule this season.

Panuwat, who trailed by two shots at the start of the day, produced a gutsy performance as he birdied the last two holes to take home the winner’s prize purse of US$8,618 and receive six Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.

“This is a great birthday present for myself. Everything was good for me today. I felt very confident out there. I missed a three-footer and a six-footer for birdies on 15 and 16 respectively but I hung in there. I told my caddy we will try to birdie the last two holes and we did it,” said Panuwat.

“This is not an easy course. It is very narrow but it suits my game. I hit it good off the tee and I putted well. I guess playing in the second last group helps too as I didn’t really feel the nerves,” added the Thai, who just claimed his second ADT victory last month.

Despite being denied of a maiden ADT victory, Poh took in the positives as he capped his best result on the burgeoning Tour. The 24-year-old Singaporean fired three birdies against a lone bogey to turn in 33 and added two more birdies on 14 and 16 before missing a 20-feet birdie putt on the last to miss out on a play-off with Panuwat.

“I have stick to my game plan and it was great. I made some really good putts and I am very happy with my game. I focused on my game and did what I needed to do,” said Poh, who has enjoyed an illustrious amateur career prior to turning professional in 2015.

Poh has represented Singapore at the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014 and was crowned Singapore National Amateur Champion in 2010 and 2014. He also won the team and individual silver medals at the 2015 South East Asian Games.

The ADT, which was inaugurated in 2010 as the gateway to the premier Asian Tour, will reward the top-five finishers on the Order of Merit at the end of this season with Asian Tour cards for 2017.

​-Leaderboard-

Source: PGM Tour. 
​
Danny Chia won for the first time this season when he retained the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour's Bukit Jawi Championship title in Penang today.

A five-under-par 67 secured the crown at Bukit Jawi Golf Resort for the 43-year-old, who is also Malaysia's top ranked player.

Chia finished on 18-under 270 for a five-stroke cushion at the top of the leaderboard and took home RM35,000 for his week's work. Last year he won it with a six-shot margin.

Speaking after his victory, Chia said: "I feel great now. I kept my focus on what I needed to do and stayed compose through the day. 

"I didn't drive the ball that well today but I scrambled good enough to make it count. I had some good recovery shots and that really helped. 

"Generally, I have been doing well and it's great to win after coming close a couple of weeks back, he added in reference to finishing second to Sutijet at the PGM Palm Resort Championship, where he missed out by a single stroke.

Looking ahead, Chia said: "I am going to Japan next week for the US Open Qualifying and I'm also aiming to spending some time with my family before coming back to the Asian Tour." 

​In another strong showing by the home country, Malaysia filled the top three spots as Ben Leong and Gavin Green finished tied for second place.

Leong carded a fourth and final day 69, while Green, who led the tournament over the first two rounds, shot a 71. They were on 13-under 275.

Lexus Keoninh signed for the low round of the day after he returned with a six-under 66. That sterling display, which would have been even better but for a bogey-six at the last hole, had the American finish in a three-way tie for fourth place.

Alongside Keoninh on 12-under 276 were Thailand's Itthipat Buranatanyarat, who shot a final round 68, and Johannes Veerman of the United States, who stumbled to an even-par 72.

South African Mathiam Keyser fired a 70 that left him on 10-under 278, alone in seventh place.
Malaysia's Mohd Iylia Jamil (68), James Byrne of Scotland (68), Thailand's Tawit Polthai (68) and Singapore's Johnson Poh (69) were joint eighth on nine-under 279 in an event co-sanctioned with the Asian Development Tour and one that carries world-ranking points.

​-Leaderboard-