Taiping [PERAK]: Nicholas Fung turned on the style late on to capture the inaugural Taiping Championship with a two-stroke victory at the Taiping Golf Resort on Saturday.
The former Order of Merit champion shot a fourth and final round of five-under 67 for a 14-under 274 total, clinching a record 12th win on the flourishing domestic circuit.
Fellow Sabahan Ben Leong claimed his second runner-up finish in as many weeks, carding a closing effort of three-under 69 in the RM180,000 tournament.
In third was Khor Kheng Hwai, who mounted a final round charge with an eagle and six birdies only for a costly bogey on the 72nd hole scupper his title hopes despite a tournament best round of seven-under 65.
Sasidaran Muthiah, who led by a single shot going into the final round, could only manage an even-par 72 to finish fourth.
Having won the Nilai Springs and Johor Championships earlier in the year, Fung got off to a good start after birdies on #2 and #3 but then gave a shot back at the par-three #4. It would prove to be his only blemish of the day as he rallied to birdie three of the last four holes to overhaul Ben for the title.
“I’m happy to start the second half of my season with a win and really pleased with how I rallied towards the end. I needed something special today and drained an outrageous 50-foot uphill putt for birdie on the #15 to move level with Ben and Kheng Hwai on 12-under. That birdie was the turning point for me because I knew that I could manage two more on #16 and #18, which I did to finish comfortably ahead,” said the 25-year-old.
With two top-five finishes in two starts after the Ramadhan break, Nicholas is fired up to add to his burgeoning collection of titles.
“I’m still hungry for more and I’m relishing the chance to increase my tally, especially in Asian Development Tour co-sanctioned events. My brother (Kelvin) is on my bag temporarily and his presence has been a real game-changer. He understands my emotions, is always honest on the golf course and knows how to calm me down when things start to heat up.
“During the break, I tweaked my irons set-up a bit and I’m delighted with the way I’m striking the ball, especially on my short approaches,” he noted.
Leading final results (Par-72)
274 – Nicholas Fung 70-67-70-67
276 – Ben Leong 66-69-72-69
277 – Khor Kheng Hwai 69-75-68-65
278 – M. Sasidaran 68-67-71-72
279 – Hans Jamil 74-70-68-67 280 – Kemarol Baharin 69-72-71-68, Kenneth De Silva 70-71-69-70
281 – Iylia Jamil 74-71-67-69, Anis Hassan 68-70-71-72
282 – Mohd Azman Basharuddin 70-72-74-66, Muhd Wafiyuddin Abd Manaf 71-70-71-70, R. Nachimuthu 70-69-71-72
