Malaysia’s Danny Chia concluded his Japan Golf Tour Final Qualifying Tournament campaign a round of 75 at The Royal Golf Club in Ibaraki, finishing in sole 66th spot on 17-over-par 305 (78-76-76-75).
The veteran campaigner struggled to cope with the long set-up of the golf course, where the location of many fairways bunkers forced him to lay up and leave himself with long shots into the greens.
“I’ve never hit so many three-irons into the greens on par-fours before! I think I’m too old for this golf course,” said Danny, who turned 48 on November 29.
Danny will remain in Japan until December 22, getting in more practice as he gears up for what is as yet an uncertain 2021. Apart from the local PGM Tour, he plans to compete on the Japan Golf Tour’s secondary circuit, the AbemaTV Tour which usually starts in April, and is hoping to get invites into some Asian Tour events once they resume.
“I’ll be working on my strengths and play whatever events I can get into,” he said.
Over the course of his decorated career which will hit the quarter century mark next year, Danny has set a host of milestones for the country including becoming the first Malaysian to play all four rounds of a Major in the 2010 Open Championship at St Andrews. He is also the only Malaysian to have won twice on the Asian Tour with his victories in the 2002 Acer Taiwan Open and 2015 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
