Kuching [SARAWAK]: Shahriffuddin Ariffin hopes to make a habit of contending on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) after securing his second podium finish in three starts at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) MNRB Championship on Saturday.

Shahriffuddin, who was in the lead in the first three rounds, settled for second following a closing one-under 71 at the Damai Golf & Country Club.

The 2017 PGM Tour Order of Merit champion finished two strokes behind Japan’s Yutaka Araki, who broke into the winner’s circle for the first time after carding a final round three-under-par 69.

The 38-year-old Araki became the third Japanese to win on the ADT this season following Shohei Hasegawa and Kazuki Higa, totalling 17-under-par 271 at the RM225,000 (approx. US$58,000) event.

Compatriot Shinichi Mizuno (65) and Finland’s Janne Kaske (68) shared third place on 275.

Shahriffuddin took pride in his second-place finish, which led him to move up to sixth place on the  ADT Order of Merit. The top-seven players at the end of the season will secure playing rights on the Asian Tour in 2019.

“I didn’t do well on the greens this week and luck just wasn’t on my side but overall I am happy with my performance. Now that I am in the top-seven I have my eye on an Asian Tour card and I hope to stay consistent the rest of this season,” added the 18-year-old Malaysian.

Leading final round scores (Par-72):
271 – Yutaka Arataki (JPN) 69-69-64-69
273 – SHAHRIFFUDDIN ARIFFIN 64-71-67-71
275 – Shinichi Mizuno (JPN) 71-69-70-65, Janne Kaske (FIN) 69-70-68-68
276 – Itthipat Buranatanyarat (THA) 69-69-71-67
277 – WILSON CHOO 72-71-68-66, AIRIL RIZMAN ZAHARI 67-75-67-68, Nattawat Suvajanakorn (THA) 69-69-70-69, Hamza Amin (PAK) 69-72-66-70, Justin De Los Santos (USA) 67-68-68-74