Ervin Chang birdied the third playoff hole to bag the SEA Games men’s individual title effectively edging out Indonesia’s Amadeus Susanto Christian for the coveted gold medal at the Heron Lake Golf Course & Resort in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The 24-year-old Malaysian posted rounds of 70-71-68 for total seven-under-par 209 to tied with Christian who carded three rounds of 70-71-68 in regulation play.
The duo squared the first two extra hole at the par 5 18th, however, at the third playoff hole on the par 4 10th, Ervin played an excellent approach shot while Christian saw his ball land some distance away from the pin. Christian missed his long birdie putt while Chang easily rolled in his birdie attempt from three feet to capture Malaysia’s first individual SEA Games gold medal.
The Liberty University graduate who plans on turning pro this year said that he did not expect to win the gold medal as the field was a strong one. He last two SEA Games endeavours were unsuccessful (he came in seventh in his SEA Games debut in 2017 Kuala Lumpur and fourth in 2019 Manila), so his target was for either a silver or bronze. Thus, bagging the gold and creating history for being the first to do so is indeed a fist-pumping feat for the player.
“Thank you for the support from (everyone in) Malaysia and also here in Vietnam. I was looking to win outright but had to win it via the playoff, but I am very happy and proud to win the gold medal for Malaysia after 21 years,” he said.
Malaysia’s best achievement previously in the individual event was the silver medal won by Airil Rizman and Gavin Green in the 2001 and 2013 editions respectively. The men’s team won the gold medal in 1989 and 2001 while the women’s team last won in 1993.
Thailand’s Weerawish Narkprachar, who had rounds of 68- 72-70 for a six-under 210 total, settled for the bronze medal.
The other Malaysians in the field namely Marcus Lim Pan Chuen (75-73-72) and A. Nateeshvar (74-70-76) finished tied 13th with a four-over total score of 220. K. Rhaasrikanesh (75-77-74) finished in 20th place on total 10-over 226.
Jeneath Wong captured the bronze medal in her SEA Games debut
In the women’s individual event, Jeneath Wong struck bronze in her SEA Games debut by carding rounds of 71-71-69 for a total five-under 211 score. The Australian-based golfer finished nine strokes behind gold medallist Natthakritta Vongtaveelap (67-67-68) of Thailand. Singapore’s Aloysa Margiela Atienza Mabutas (74-70-65) bagged the silver with 7-under 209 total.
The other Malaysians in the field namely Mirabel Ting Ern Hui posted a two-over 218 for seventh place while Ng Jing Xuen (84-76-75) finished 19-over 235 in 15th spot.
