--Source: http://www.theclubhouse.com.my/--

SHANGHAI [China]: Michelle Koh closed with a sizzling final round six-under 66 to capture her first professional title win at the CTBC Shanghai Ladies Classic on Sunday.

Trailing by four strokes at the start of the day, the 24-year-old played spoiler at the RM800,000 (RM483,000) China LPGA tournament, finishing at 10-under 206 to clinch a two-shot victory over joint overnight leader Cheng Ssu-chia (72) of Chinese Taipei.

Chinese veterans Yan Panpan (69), Pan Yanhong (69) and Ye Ziqi (72) were equal third on 209 alongside Korean Jang So-young (70) and Titiya Plucksataporn (66) of Thailand. 

The tournament itself was a historic, given that it featured a strong field of Taiwan LPGA professionals playing on the Chinese’s mainland for the first time.

Michelle, the first Malaysian to win on the China LPGA Tour in its seven-year history, came out firing with six birdies through the first 12 holes for a flawless display.

“My putter should get the credit. I didn’t hit so close but I made some nice putts,” said the second-year pro from Kuantan, who played collegiate golf at Campbell University in the United States.

“At the turn, I heard I was tied for the lead, but I just played my game. On the back nine I made two more birdies. I watched the leaderboard closely at the last two holes. I felt a little bit of pressure. But I was pleased that I could play with two winners – Yan Panpan and Pan Yanhong. They were nice and said some inspiring words to me.

“I’ve really stepped up a notch this year. It has taken me a year to find my groove on the play-for-pay ranks and being in contention regularly has definitely pushed my level of confidence up. I knew that if I was patient, the win would come eventually but to conjure up a six-stroke turnaround for my breakthrough title is something special,” added Koh, who dedicated the win to her father, Ricky, who has been on her bag.

Rookie Cheng stumbled in her quest for her first pro title as the 18-year-old could not mount a challenge playing in the final group with overnight co-leader Supamas Sangchan (75) of Thailand. Sangchan finished equal eighth at five strokes off the pace in a group of five players that included top Chinese rookie Shi Yuting (73).

Leading results 
(Chinese unless stated)
206 – Michelle Koh (MAS) 70-70-66
208 – Cheng Ssu-chia (TPE) 68-68-72
209 – Yan Panpan 70-70-69, Pan Yanhong 69-71-69, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 72-71-66, Ye Ziqi 70-67-72, Jang So-young (KOR) 72-67-70
211 – Shi Yuting 70-68-73, Narisara Kerdrit (THA) 72-72-67, Yu Pei-lin (TPE) 76-70-65, Wichanee Meechai (THA) 69-69-73, Supamas Sangchan (THA) 67-69-75
212 – Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras (THA) 67-73-72
213 – Thanuttra Boonraksasat (THA) 69-72
214 – Shih Huei-ju (TPE) 70-74-70, Ye Li-ying 71-72-71, Zhang Na 70-74-70, Wu Sha 73-71-70, Chen Liqing 70-71-73, Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro (THA) 74-70-70
215 – Kumi Uchiyama (JPN) 67-73-75, Tian Hong 70-70-75, Zhang Jienalin 71-71-73, Chen Yu-ju (TPE) 71-73-71 - See more at: http://www.theclubhouse.com.my/2015/06/michelle-stuns-field-for-breakthrough-win/#sthash.FWWofRO4.dpuf

Source: PGM Tour.

Jake Stirling shot a fourth and final round two-under 70 to hand himself the perfect birthday present – victory in the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour’s RM250,000 PGM Rahman Putra Championship today.

The Australian, who turns 26 years old tomorrow, finished with a 21-under 267 total at Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia in Sungai Buloh, Selangor for a two-shot win and his first triumph here in Asia.

Delighted with his week’s work, Stirling, who hails from Melbourne, said: “I am really happy with this performance. It’s my first win in Asia and I believe if you can win in this region then you have a good chance of winning almost anywhere. “Also, it’s my birthday tomorrow so this will give me good reason to celebrate,” added the player who earned an Asian Tour card at Qualifying School in January.

“I haven’t played too much golf in Asia but when I did I enjoyed it. I came close on a few occasions back home and in New Zealand, but this is just great. This tops it all,” said Stirling, who shot a 10-under 62 in the third round, which would have been a new course record, but for the preferred lies this week.

Stirling, who picked up a cheque worth RM43,750, said his plans for the second half of the season would be to “try and get better, and continue to work hard in training.”

Japan’s Masaru Takahashi signed for a last day 69 and second place, and also said he was pleased with his week’s performance. 

“I played solid golf,” said the 28-year-old, from near Yokohama, who added that he was looking forward to returning home this week for an event on the Japan Golf Tour, before making his back here for another Asian Development Tour event. The ADT co-sanctioned the PGM Rahman Putra Championship, which also carries world points.

American Jason Todd, playing his first event on the PGM and ADT Tours, was third, having shot a fourth round 72 for a 15-under 273 total.

“I didn’t putt well on the first day (70) and today,” said the 28-year-old from San Diego, California, “and that cost me here.” He shot 65 and 66 in the second and third rounds.
“But I’m happy with the week as a whole.”

Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung fired the low round of the day and it propelled him to fifth spot. He was 12-under 276.

“I felt much more comfortable today than I did yesterday when the second round had to be completed before the third got underway. “Overall I am happy with how I played, especially today,” added the Sabahan.

The much-followed pro debut of Gavin Green ended in a tie for 25th place. The lad who just finished college in the US at New Mexico University had rounds of 70, 71, 73 and 71 for a three-under 285.

The PGM Tour will break for the Holy Month of Ramadan and resume with the PGM Swiss Garden Closed Championship at Damai Laut Golf & Country Club in Lumut, Perak from 22-25 July 2015.

-Full Result-

Source: PGM Tour.

Danny Chia registered a comfortable 4-and-3 win over R. Nachimuthu in the final to claim the inaugural Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Matchplay Championship title at Impian Golf & Country Club in Kajang, Selangor today.

In the playoff for third place, Sukree Othman took the honours after Kemarol Baharin withdrew through injury at the 10th hole with the former 1-up at the time.

Pleased with his week’s work Chia said: “I like this format and hopefully the Tour can introduce another one or two next year.”

He added: “I played solid the whole week although I did have it tough at times, especially in the first round where Khairul (Nizam Rasip) took the match to 17 holes.

“In the final today I made sure that I stayed focus on not giving anything away after I went in front and I’m happy with how it all turned out.”

Chia went in front after at the 7th hole with a birdie-two and was 2-up after the 8th hole. But Nachimuthu hit back at the next hole to reduce the arrears. However, a double-bogey at the 10th saw Chia move two in front again and from there Nachimuthu never really had any chance of coming back.

Chia birdied 11th and then nearly knocked it in for an ace at 12th for another birdie. The two players then halved the next three holes, which left Nachimuthu to concede the match after the 15th hole.

Despite coming up just short, Nachimuthu said he was happy with how he played overall and in reference to Chia’s display today, added: “He just made too many birdies – he played really well. 

“I played okay overall but didn’t putt very well today when it mattered.”

Sukree too said he was pleased overall with his performance, but added: “I did struggle at times. My putting was not as good as it should have been.”

Kemarol, meanwhile, said he hurt his wrist yesterday and aggravating it and feeling more pain this morning decided he did not want to risk causing further harm to it.

“But I should be okay to play in the Rahman Putra Championship (from Wednesday-Saturday),” he added.

With the win, which was worth RM30,600, Chia took his seasonal earnings pass the RM200,000-mark. He is now just under double what second-placed Nachimuthu has accumulated in the PGM Tour Order of Merit with RM220,230.

On a Tour that is growing in stature and seeing its players perform more admirably on the regional circuits, the top-five have now all earned more than RM100,000 – and the first half of the year is not yet done.

PGM Order of Merit
Pos Name Earnings (RM)
 1 Danny Chia 220,230.53
2 R. Nachimuthu 131,493.03
3 Sukree Othman 127,738.66
4 Nicholas Fung 116,240.94
5 Kemarol Baharin 114,951.00
6 Arie Irawan  96,887.71
7 Shaaban Hussin  86,716.50
8 Airil Rizman Zahari  64,938.33
9 Wilson Choo  64,810.07
10 Kenneth De Silva  62,686.07