Australian veteran Scott Hend claimed his third European Tour and 10th Asian Tour title with a dramatic playoff victory over Spaniard Nacho Elvira in the Maybank Championship at Saujana Golf & Country Club.
The 45-year-old Hend carded a closing 67 to finish on 15-under-par 273, a score that was matched by Elvira thanks to the latter’s stunning 30-foot birdie on the par-five closing hole. In the playoff at the same hole, Hend got up and down for birdie from a greenside bunker to clinch the US$500,000 winner’s cheque.
Elvira, who co-led after the first round and had a two-shot advantage going into the final day, had earlier missed a 20-footer for birdie.
Elvira (right) congratulates Hend (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Two incidents made the final round one of the most memorable here in recent memory. The first occurred as the final group approached the 18th green – a clap of thunder on Elvira’s backswing during his third shot caused him to hit it fat and leave it 30 feet shot. Play was then suspended with Hend also on in regulation, about 25 feet from the hole.
Following a one hour and forty minute suspension, Elvira drained the putt which forced a playoff as Hend’s shorter effort drifted wide.
There was more drama to come on the first extra hole. Hend’s drive hit a tree trunk and deflected back to the fairway, while his second shot hit another tree and wound up in the right greenside bunker. Elvira meanwhile got on in three after his drive landed in a bunker, leaving himself a 20-foot downhill putt for birdie.
After Elvira left his putt short, Hend holed from three feet for his first win since the 2016 Queen’s Cup in Thailand. Elvira, a four-time European Challenge Tour winner, was left still looking for his maiden win on the main circuit.
“I’m a grinder and a fighter … so is my caddie Tony. Obviously, I had a bit of luck on the play-off hole … if you don’t have any luck you won’t win,” said Hend.
“I had the luck today, unfortunately for Nacho. His time will come … he’s a great player, he’s going to win,” added the burly Australian, who won the 2016 Asian Tour Order of Merit title but has been struggling with his game over the past year or so.
Nicholas Fung
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond birdied the last hole for a 69 to finish in sole third place on 13-under-par, one shot ahead of American journeyman Johannes Veerman.
Spurred on by boisterous home support, Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung recorded his best finish in a European Tour event in joint 15th place on eight-under-par after a closing 70. The country’s top player Gavin Green meanwhile settled for joint 30th on five-under-par when he bogeyed the last two holes.
“I’m very happy as this is my best finish ever in my home country,” said Fung. “You know, its’ not so easy to play out there because of so many friends, supporters, sponsors coming out to cheer me on. Its actually quite a lot of pressure and I just had to keep my momentum.”
Leading Round 4 scores:
273 – Scott Hend (AUS) 69-70-67-67, Nacho Elvira (ESP) 65-72-66-70.
275 – Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 66-72-68-69.
276 – Johannes Veerman (USA) 72-69-69-66.
277 – Oliver Fisher (ENG) 70-70-68-69, Maximilian Kieffer (GER) 71-67-68-71.
278 – Jordan Smith (ENG) 74-68-71-65, Darren Fichardt (RSA) 76-65-71-66, Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR) 72-72-66-68, Andy Sullivan (ENG) 72-70-67-69, Ernie Els (RSA) 68-70-69-71, Benjamin Hebert (FRA) 69-73-65-71.
