
Rawang [SELANGOR]: Shunya Takeyasu of Japan edged a luckless Namchok Tantipokhakul of Thailand to claim his career breakthrough at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) UMW Championship on Saturday.
The 23-year-old closed with five-under-par 67 to triumph with a winning total of 16-under-par 272 at Templer Park Country Club.
Namchok settled for second place after his birdie attempt on the last hole lipped out as he returned with a 69 to finish one shot from the champion at the RM200,000 (approximately US$46,600) ADT event.
Doohwan Bang of Korea and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent shared third place following rounds of 65 and 69 respectively to finish on matching 274s.
Kemarol Baharin (73) was Malaysia’s best-placed player in the field; the 30-year-old battling with a cracked driver from midway through the round to settle for a share of 10th spot.
Takeyasu posted a blemish-free card of five birdies, included successive gains on the 16th and 17th to claim his first title since turning professional in 2013.
“I’m very happy with the win. It is my first ever title!” said the ecstatic Takeyasu, who won US$8,397.
After finishing tied 18th at Qualifying School last month, the Japanese believes this win will be the perfect confidence booster ahead of his first Asian Tour event at the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open next week.
“I enjoy playing in Asia because I like the warm weather. It is very cold in Japan now. My game has been consistent since Qualifying School so this win comes at the right time,” he added.
A devastated Namchok rued the missed opportunity to win his second ADT title in a span of two months after narrowly missing his birdies putts on the last hole for the second day.
“It was the same yesterday, it looked like a sure birdie but it jumped out. I threw the game away. I didn’t give myself many birdie chances and didn’t take the scoring opportunities on the par fives. It is okay Shunya played well and he deserves the win,” said Namchok.
Leading final results (Par-72) >
272 – Shunya Takeyasu (JPN) 72-65-68-67
273 – Namchok Tantipokhakul (THA) 70-66-68-69
274 – Doohwan Bang (KOR) 67-72-70-65, Scott Vincent (ZIM) 71-71-63-69
276 – Oscar Zetterwall (SWE) 74-69-69-64
277 – Samuel Chien (USA) 69-69-72-67
279 – Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 68-70-73, Jay Bayron (PHI) 69-72-69-69, Paul Harris (USA) 71-66-70-72
280 – Johannes Veerman (USA) 70-72-73-65, John Michael O’Toole (USA) 69-75-68-68, Kemarol Baharin (MAS) 68-68-71-73