Puchong: Malaysian golf history was created Thursday when S. Sivachandhran and R. Nachimuthu were declared joint winners of the RM160,000 Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Kinrara Championship after their play-off was abandoned due to inclement weather.

Both players finished regulation play on 12-under-par 272 after Sivachandhran holed a monster 35-foot birdie putt on the 17th to move level with the overnight leader, who had a one-shot cushion coming into the final round at Kinrara Golf Club.

As both players prepared to return for the shootout, an electrical storm hit the area, forcing play to be suspended. With no sign of the rain halting, Tour tournament director Brid Gen (R) Ron Mahendran stepped in to speak to the players about their options and the duo agreed to share the prize money and title rather than return tomorrow to contest a deciding hole.

Danny Chia carded a closing three-under 68 to finish three strokes back in a tied for third, alongside Khor Kheng Hwai, who missed a couple of short birdie attempts to end with a 69. Hanafiah Jamil (66) and Airil Rizman (67) shared fifth on 277.

It is the first time in the burgeoning domestic tour’s history that joint winners have been declared, but the decision has precedents overseas, notably in 2002 when Peter Lonard and Jarrod Moseley were declared joint winners of the Australian PGA Championship as well as Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer in the European Tour’s Volvo Masters – both instances due to fading light.

Leading final round scores
272 – R. Nachimuthu 69-67-70-67, S. Sivachandhran 72-66-68-66
275 – Danny Chia 73-68-66-68, Khor Kheng Hwai 71-67-68-69
277 – Hanafiah Jamil 71-72-68-66, Airil Rizman Zahari 73-68-69-67
279 – Zurie Harun 75-69-69-66, Arie Irawan 70-67-69-73
280 – Akhmal Tarmizee Nazari 69-73-65-73, Iain Steel 70-68-68-74