Bertam: S. Murthy completed a virtuoso display with a birdie on the second extra hole to clinch the rain-delayed Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) MNRB Penang Classic on Saturday.

The 41-year-old could have sealed a regulation victory with a birdie on the closing hole but sent it wide to finish with a  final round six-under 66 at Penang Golf Resort. His total of 17-under 271 was matched by pacesetter Shaaban Hussin, who recovered well from two straight bogeys with a gain on the 18th to force a play-off with an identical 66.

Md Rashid Ismail (66) took sole third on 16-under 272 while Overnight leader S. Sivachandhran, who started the day with a four-stroke advantage, traded two birdies against as many bogeys to return with an even-par 72 to finish fourth on 15-under. Kemarol Baharin was a shot back in fifth with a round of 71.

National player Muhd Afif Muhd Razif claimed the low amateur prize with a four-day total of one-over 289 on the back of rounds of 75,70,68 and 76.

With nothing separating Murthy and Shaaban in the first extra hole, the former nailed an uphill birdie from 12 feet to claim his second PGM Tour title after Shaaban had failed to connect with his own seven-footer for birdie on the second call.

“It is a great feeling to be back on top of the leaderboard with a really good round. I really didn’t rank my chances when we started off this morning as Sivachandhran was playing really good golf over the last three days,” said Murthy who started off on the wrong foot with an opening bogey. After a birdie on the third, he ramped up the challenge with four straight birdies through seventh before adding a further two gains on the back nine to set the clubhouse lead.

“I could have settled it with a birdie on the last but I just misjudged it a little to open the doors to Shaaban. My wife told me to calm down and should we have to go into a sudden-death play-off, then so be it. That really helped me put things into perspective,” added Murthy, who lifted his maiden win on the burgeoning domestic circuit at the PGM Lanjut Classic last October.

A veteran of six play-offs, Murthy was not coy on sharing his winning strategy. “I was happier to lay it off a little longer on both the holes because from experience, it’s always better to be the first player to take your approach shot. That definitely worked in my favour,” he shared.

The PGM Tour now travels to the East Malaysian state of Sarawak for the Asian Development Tour (ADT) co-sanctioned PGM Sarawak Classic from October 5-8.

Leading final round scores
271 – S. Murthy (67-68-70-66), Shaaban Hussin (Murthy wins on second extra hole)
272 – Md Rashid Ismail (68-70-68-66)
273 – S. Sivachandhran (66-67-68-72)
275 – Kemarol Baharin (67-69-68-71)
277 – R. Nachimuthu (68-71-69-69), Zurie Harun (66-72-69-70)
278 – Nicholas Fung (68-75-69-66), Shaifubari Muda (71-69-69-69)
279 – Mohd Rizal Amin (72-73-66-68), Mohd Sukree Othman (69-72-68-70)