Shah Alam: Malaysian number one Nicholas Fung may have failed to contribute a point to Team Asia’s cause this week at the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM but he nonetheless exited the stage with his head held high.

Fung, the reigning Asian Development Tour Order of Merit winner, fought tooth-and-nail with in-form European captain Miguel Angel Jimenez in the first singles and was denied a halve when the veteran Spaniard brilliantly birdied the 18th hole from about eight feet for a 1-Hole win at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

Heading off in the first singles match, Fung battled back from being 1-down on three occasions before agonisingly missing his birdie putt on the last which would have halved the match.

“This is possibly the best week of my golfing career. It was a great tournament and I had the chance to play with the top players from Asia and Europe,” said Fung, who played against Graeme McDowell and Jamie Donaldson in the fourball and foursomes format.

“I need to learn to be more patient because Jimenez played without any pressure. He was so patient. I need to improve my game for the future to prove that I deserve to be in Team Asia,” added the 23-year-old.

Jimenez praised Fung, who surprised many with his gutsy display. “In my match with Fung, I made a birdie and he made a birdie on the next. It was a very nice match. So he played very well. At the end of the match, he’s coming up to the 18th, and a chance to make another birdie but he missed it and I made my birdie so I won,” the Spaniard explained.

India’s Anirban Lahiri saluted Fung for going the distance against Jimenez and lifting the spirits of Team Asia.

“Nicholas was the first one off and when I looked at the scoreboard, it was inspiring to see that Nicholas was squared with Jimenez and the rest of my team were playing well. I think that was what brought out the best of me,” said Lahiri, who defeated Frenchman Victor Dubuisson 2&1.