Batu Gajah: A friendly wager with his best friend on Tour spurred Anis Helmi Hassan to earn his career breakthrough at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Clearwater Classic on Sunday.
Trailing by one at the start, the 28-year-old displayed great confidence with three birdies in his opening nine holes before closing with a flawless three-under 69 to clinch a slim victory over defending champion R. Nachimuthu (69) and a marauding Haziq Hamizan (65) at the Clearwater Sanctuary Resort.
A further two strokes adrift in fourth was Mohd Rizal Amin (69) while reigning PGM Tour champion Nicholas Fung and overnight leader Iain Steel settled for a share of sixth on 273 with rounds of 72 and 73 respectively.
National amateur Abel Tam carded a two-over 74 to finish as the low amateur on five-over 293 ahead of promising local youngster Lucas Yee, who was three shots behind.
Anis could not hold back his tears after tapping in a par on the last for a 14-under 274 total and his maiden winner’s cheque worth RM25,200. “I was in the zone and it’s a great culmination to a fantastic week of golf. Hopefully, this is the first of a few more,” exclaimed the 28-year-old, who had four rounds in the 60s.
“I was a bit worried after I topped my second on the first but birdies on the second, fourth and sixth settled my nerves. I knew I was in the lead at that point and just kept my game in check. My buddy [Nicholas] challenged me to a small wager and that really helped me stay on my toes and I scrambled where necessary to come back without a bogey on the card,” he added.
The former national contemplated a career in coaching as he missed much of the 2012 season due to recurring health issues.
“I am really grateful to be just back on Tour and playing some good golf. It is one of the best feeling in the world to be able to turnaround my career after all that problems that I had. Even a month back, I was thinking if I should concentrate on teaching but this victory is definitely the new leash of confidence I was hoping for and I am going to soldier on,” shared Anis, who dedicated the victory to his wife as “the perfect first wedding anniversary gift”.
Leading final round scores
274 – Anis Helmi Hassan 68-69-68-69
275 – R.Nachimuthu 67-70-69-69, Haziq Hamizan 75-68-67-68
276 – Mohd Rizal Amin 69-70-68-69
277 – Nicholas Fung 71-65-69-72, Iain Steel 73-64 -67-73
280 – Shaifubari Muda 71-72-69, Nicholas Pua 73-69-70-68
283 – Mohd Azman Basharuddin 69-71-77-66, Hanafiah Jamil 70-72-73-68
