Kangar: The memories came flooding back to Airil Rizman Zahari as he held on to his overnight lead to claim the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Perlis Classic, despite only managing a closing 75.
With his father and childhood friends in attendance at the Putra Golf Club today, Airil who took up the game of golf as tender 10-year-old at the same tract, overcame sustained pressure from the trio of Shaifubari Muda, Md Rashid Ismail and S. Sivachandhran to claim a slender two-stroke victory with a winning total of seven-over 295.
It was the 33-year-old tenth professional victory and there was a sense of relief on the Perlis native’s face after putting an end to a barren run which dates back to 2007, when he became the second Malaysian to win an Asian Tour event at the Pakistan Open.
Rookie Mohd Azman Basharuddin once again underlined his potential, carding his second 74 of the week to round up in sole fifth with a four-day haul of ten-over-par 298. Taking a share of sixth on 11-over-par 299 were the young pair of Wilson Choo and Melakan Jonathan Pang, who nonetheless had a lot to smile after posting the tournament best round of two-under 70.
Having cancelled an early birdie on the fourth with a bogey on seventh, Airil made the turn with a solid three-stroke advantage over the chasing pack of Shaifubari and Siva but lapses in concentration almost derailed his march to the title as he bogeyed two straight holes from the 13th before dropping another shot on the tough par-three 16th.
With his rivals unable to capitalise on the mistakes, two par saves on the remaining holes were enough for him to collect the winner’s purse of RM21,000. “I am so happy to win here at the Putra Golf Club, where I started my golf, “ said Airil. “It’s been a long time since I won two titles in 2007 and I’m really thankful to God that I won today in front of my dad and my friends.”
Taking note of the demanding nature of the golf course with swirling winds coming into play on the back nine, Airil was just glad to stick to a simple gameplan coming into the final round. “I didn’t want to be the one doing the attacking out there today. The idea was just to hit the fairways from the tee, hit the green, make two putts and walk away. I would have loved to score four-0ver or better but really, I’m not going to complain after burying the duck,” added a trimmer Airil, who emerged as another new winner on the burgeoning domestic Tour.
In-form Shaifubari came within a whisker of a second consecutive victory to follow on his victory in Sungai Petani in January but was undone by bogey on the last. “I had a few chances in the last few holes but unfortunately I couldn’t materialise anything. It’s been a tough week overall but I’m glad that my course record of 69 was not broken this week,” shared Shaifubari.
Azman was happy to put aside his disaster at the last leg in Harvard where he let slip a leaderboard position with a poor finish. “I’ve learned my lesson and took it easy here as mistakes don’t go unpunished.”
The Tour now heads to the East Coast for its third leg at the Kelantan Golf & Country Club from February 19-22.
Leading final round scores
295 Airil Rizman 75-72-73-75
297 Shaifubari Muda 73-75-76-73; S. Sivachandhran 75=71-76-75; Md Rashid Ismail 73-73-74-775
298 Azman Basharuddin 73-74-77-74
299 John Pang 77-76-76-70; Wilson Choo 77-74-74-74
300 Akhmal Tarmizee 71-81-75-73; R. Nachimuthu 74-76-71-79
301 M. Sasidaran 79-75-75-72
302 Kenneth De Silva 80-78-71-79; Sukree Othman 74-77-71-80
303 Marcus Low 79-7875-73; P. Gunasagaran 74-77-7676
304 Jeremiah Kim 73-78-75-78
305 Zalizan Mad Har 7477-79-75; Haziq Hamizan 81-77-76-76; Kemarol Baharin 73-82-74-76
