Puchong [SELANGOR]: Airil Rizman Zahari secured his second Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) title of 2015 with a play-off victory over Nicholas Fung for the I&P Group Championship on Saturday.
The 37-year-old tapped in for par on the first extra hole to emerge victorious after Fung failed to convert his own from four feet, landing his seventh win on the flourishing domestic circuit.
The pair had finished the regulation 72 holes on 13-under, Airil closing with a solid 68 at Kinrara Golf Club while Fung – his playing partner in the final round – fired a brilliant five-under 66.
Kenneth De Silva’s bid for a second title at the same tract this year came undone as a cold putter saw him settle for a 70, leaving him three shots back in third.
First round leader Shaaban Hussin returned with a 68 to finish fourth on 275 – a single stroke clear of fifth-placed Jeremiah Kim Leun Kwang (66).
Leading by one overnight, Airil fell behind a marauding Fung, whose hot start of three birdies and an eagle through seven holes saw the latter open up a two-shot lead.
But the reigning Order of Merit champion, who made the turn on 34, moved back into a share of the lead with a quick eagle-birdie run through 15th with both players conceding a bogey each in the closing stretch to finish level.
“I’m really happy to lift this title and it’s a nice tribute to event sponsor I&P Group, who have been so gracious in sponsoring me this year,” he noted.
“At the start of the day, I had a number in my mind, which was what I totalled (13-under) but Nicholas’ strong start really caught me off-guard. My caddie was instrumental out there, keeping me focused on my own game and I managed to find my stride mid-way. Had a chance to win it outright but fluffed my chip on the 17th to drop a shot and then Nicholas made a great par save on the last to force the issue,” added Airil.
He admitted that adrenaline rush almost cost him the title as he over-hit his approach shot on the deciding play-off hole. “Had to wait a bit to take my approach shot and wound up hitting it ten feet past the pin. Luckily, it was a good lie just off the green and I managed to play a delightful chip to set-up a simple tap-in par.”
“I told myself to pick up the pace in the second half of the season and everything is going as planned. I’m working hard on my game and I believe that I’m on the right track for a few more wins this year,” shared Airil, who won the Swiss-Garden Championship in July.
Leading final results>
271 – Airil Rizman Zahari 66-72-65-68, Nicholas Fung 69-67-69-66
(Airil wins on the first play-off hole)
274 – Kenneth De Silva 70-67-67-70
275 – Shaaban Hussin 63-73-71-68
276 – Jeremiah Kim Leun Kwang 69-69-72-66
277 – Low Khai Jei (A) 70-72-68-67, Hans Jamil 71-66-71-69
278 – Khor Kheng Hwai 68-72-69-69, Sukree Othman 66-71-69-72
279 – S. Sivachandhran 70-71-70-68
