The newly established Toyota Tour has got off to a sizzling start and after three legs, 24-year-old Ervin Chang leads the Money Earnings’ List having collected a whopping RM56,808.00 – almost RM22,000 more than second placed Danny Chia.
Chang, who hails from Kajang, competed in all three legs and first won RM18,500.00 when he finished joint second in the first leg – the Tun Ahmad Sarji Trophy at the Saujana Golf & Country Club. He then won the Mirai Cup and RM31,500.00 in Kuching before finishing solo sixth at the Hilux Cup in Kota Kinabalu. His earnings at the challenging Sabah Golf & Country Club were RM6,808.00.
Chia competed in only one event so far, which was at Saujana and the RM35,000.00 first prize was enough to place him second in the Toyota Tour Money Earnings’ List. He is ahead of Sabahan Nicholas Fung who won the Hilux Cup and RM32,200.00 by a three-stroke margin.
Less than RM5,000 separate the next four players, namely Paul San, veteran Khor Kheng Hwai, Shahriffuddin Ariffin and Galven Green. Rounding up the Top 10 are R Nachimuthu, Ben Leong and Danial Faidz.
Aretha Pan
Leading the ladies’ challenge with earnings of RM27,020.00 is another Sabahan Aretha Pan. She won RM10,000.00 for winning in Saujana and a further RM17,020 for finishing joint second in the men’s division with Ben Leong at the Hilux Cup. Aretha was the only golfer at Kota Kinabalu who played under par for all three rounds – 71, 71 and 69.
Lying second with RM6,000.00 is Jocelyn Chee while third place is taken up by Ainil Johani Bakar with RM4,000. These two competed in only the opening leg at Saujana. Charlayne Chong is the leading amateur after three rounds. She was Best Amateur at Saujana and at the Hilux Cup.
The lowest score in relation to par so far was the seven-under 65 achieved by Shahriffuddin during the second round of the Mirai Cup won by Chang.
Charlayne Chong is the leading amateur after three rounds
Meanwhile, the Vios Cup, which is the fourth leg of the Toyota Tour is expected to garner more excitement when the professionals attempt to master the challenging and scenic layout of Temper Park Country Club which is from June 20-22. Locals will be rooting for Nachimuthu who is the club’s golf ambassador. His intimate knowledge of the Jumbo Ozaki layout should help propel him up the Money Earnings’ List.
Remaining Schedule:
Vios Cup (20-22 June), Templer Park CC
Corolla Cup (11-13 July) Royal Perak GCC
Supra Cup (25-27 July) The Mines RGC
Alphard Cup (8-10 Aug) Palm Garden GC
Q-School L2 (12-14 Sept) Palm Resort GCC
Camry Cup (3-5 Oct) Forest City GR
Corolla Cross Cup (17-19 Oct) Kota Sieriemas
ADT Toyota Championship (15-18 Nov) Saujana GCC
Toyota Tour Money Earnings List (top 15):
- Ervin Chang RM56,808
- Danny Chia RM35,000
- Nicholas Fung RM32,200
- Paul San RM29,324
- Khor Kheng Hwai RM26,128
- Shahriffuddin Ariffin RM25,944
- Galven Green RM25,194
- R Nachimuthu RM17,691
- Ben Leong RM17,020
- Danial Faidz RM14,751
- Wilson Choo RM13,581
- Daeng Abdul Rahman RM11,190
- Sukree Othman RM9,180
- Umar Kushairi RM9,005
- Kenneth De Silva RM8,631
