Kajang [SELANGOR]: Mathiam Keyser of South Africa kept his composure and won his third Asian Development Tour (ADT) title after carding a final-round two-over-par 73 at the PGM UMW Championship on Saturday.
The 31-year-old Keyser, who had to play 33 holes today as a result of weather disruptions in the preceding rounds, stumbled over the finishing line as he made three bogeys over the last four holes of the RM225,000 (approximately US$58,000) event.
His relatively poor score did not matter in the end as he signed for a 12-under-par 272 total for a wire-to-wire, two-shot victory at Impian Golf and Country Club.
“I struggled over the last few holes, so it felt great to get it over the line and win this tournament,” said a relieved Keyser.
“The victory has been coming for a while. I’ve been playing well this year (he posted four top-10s prior to the PGM UMW Championship) but I wasn’t able to get everything working at the same time. Finally, we’re here with a win!
“I’m very happy with my game at the moment and my personal life. Having everything going in the right direction makes it easier to give it your best when you’re out here competing.”
Philip Matsson made a final-round surge up the leaderboard by sinking six birdies before signing for a 64. The Thai, who started the final round in tied-10th, finished the tournament in second place.
Kenneth De Silva was the highest-placed Malaysian in the field in tied-eighth. He made an eagle on hole three but could not capitalise on the momentum in the rest of the round and eventually signed for a 70.
The ladies’ championship saw Nur Durriyah Damian capture her fourth Tour title this season, extending her lead on the PGM Ladies Order of Merit.
The 23-year-old totalled four-over-par on the back of rounds of 74,71,74 and 69 to finish two strokes clear of Sabah lass Aretha Pan Herng.
LEADING FINAL RESULTS (PAR-71)
MEN
272 – Mathiam Keyser (RSA) 61-72-66-73
274 – Philip Matsson (THA) 73-67-70-64
277 – Poom Pattaropong (THA) 67-67-72-71, Itthipat Buranatanyarat (THA) 70-69-68-70, Donlaphatchai Niyomchon (THA) 71-66-67-73, Ryonosuke Seki (JPN) 73-67-68-69
278 – Janne Kaske (FIN) 71-73-67-67
280 – Shakhawat Sohel (BAN) 68-72-68-72, Johnson Poh (SIN) 71-70-66-73, Shinichi Mizuno (JPN) 74-69-70-67, Jeremy Wendelken (USA) 74-68-67-71, KENNETH DE SILVA 71-69-70-70
LADIES
288 – Nur Durriyah Damian 74-71-74-69
290 – Aretha Pan Herng 74-75-73-68
294 – Michelle Koh 73-75-75-71
295 – Ainil Johani Abu Bakar 73-76-74-72
