Seri Kembangan: Shaaban Hussin confirmed his place alongside the stars of the PGA Tour and Asian Tour this October after coasting to a five-stroke victory in the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic, Malaysia – National Qualifier at The MINES Resort & Golf Club today.

The defending champion, who was joint leader on day one and took the outright lead in the second round, sealed the deal with a a flawless round of two-under-par 69 for a tournament total of 10-under 203, five strokes ahead of the trio of Mohd Hanafiah, S. Svachandran and R. Nachimuthu, who all managed five-under-par 208.

Hanafiah won the tie by virtue of a coin toss between the three players and will step up to play at the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic if a reserve is required or if Shaaban qualifies through the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Nicholas Fung was fifth on 3-under 210, while M. Sasidaran was next best with a 212 total in sixth spot with S. Murthy a further stroke back in seventh.

Beaming with delight, Shaaban declared immediately after his victory that he would do whatever it took to make an impression at the US$6.1 million tournament proper next month at the same venue.

“I played according to my game plan and it worked out just right,” said Shaaban. “I came into the third round thinking that if my closest rivals made a move up the leaderboard, then I would have to go on the offensive and attack the pins more. However, I maintained my lead and therefore just had to place the ball in the centre of the greens, which is exactly what I did.

“The birdies at No. 6 and 18 ensured that I did not come under any great pressure and with pars the rest of the way, I am more than happy with the way it turned out,” said Shaaban, who pocketed the RM22,000 first prize.

Hanafiah said he was pleased with his 4-under-par 67 that took him from overnight fifth into joint second place. He did lament though that his first day 1-over 72, which was followed by a second round 69, did not do his chances any favours.

Sivachandran, who shot a three-under 68 today, said his putting let him down somewhat. “I gave myself a few chances at birdie over the three days which I did not convert and in the end it proved the difference between finishing first and joint second,” said Sivachandran.

The three-day event, jointly organised by CIMB Group, The MINES Resort & Golf Club and the Professional Golf Association of Malaysia (PGAM), attracted a field of just under 90 local professionals with a total prize purse of RM150,000 on offer.

Leading final round scores
203 Shaaban Hussin (68-66-69)
208 Mohd Hanafiah Jamil (72-69-67), S. Sivachandhran (69-71-68), R. Nachimuthu (69-71-68)
210 Nicholas Fung (68-71-71)
212 M. Sasidaran (68-72-72)
213 S. Murthy (68-71-74)
214 Akhmal Tarmizee Nazari (69-72-73)
215 Solhairy Sharif (74-69-72), Sahal Saedin (74-68-73)