Rookie pro Marcus Lim finished tied third and best Malaysian finisher
Indian stalwart Rahil Gangjee gritted his way to a memorable victory at the PKNS Selangor Masters, fighting off a host of challengers to win the US$175,000 event and claim his second Asian Development Tour (ADT) title.
Heading into the final round with a five-shot lead in overcast conditions at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor, Gangjee survived a nervous finish to eke out a narrow victory in the tournament, which is jointly sanctioned by the ADT and domestic Toyota Tour. Using every ounce of his vast experience, the golfer from Kolkata prevailed with a closing 73 for a total of eight-under-par 272 (66, 66, 67, 73), edging Australian Deyen Lawson (69, 71, 64, 69) by one shot.
Malaysian rookie Marcus Lim, the tournament’s surprise package, closed with a solid 69 to finish joint third on six-under-par 274 (68, 66, 71, 69) with Thailand’s Runchanapong Youprayong (67, 72, 66, 69).
Gangjee made four bogeys on his front nine to allow the chasing pack to make up ground, and the tournament soon developed into a four-horse race between the 45-year-old and Lawson, Runchanapong, and Lim.
At the tight par-four 10th hole, Gangjee leaked his tee shot into the water on the right and made bogey, which allowed Runchanapong to tie him for the lead on seven-under-par. The experienced Indian responded well with birdies on 12 and 13 to regain the lead on minus-9, one ahead of Runchanapong.
Gangjee looked to have sealed the deal when he birdied the par-four 16th from five feet, while Runchanapong made a messy double bogey after short-siding his approach to the left and three-putting from 20 feet.
However, the pressure began to tell, and Gangjee three-putted the 17th green after charging his birdie to try six feet past, while Lawson lasered his approach to two feet and made the putt to get within one shot.
Gangjee and Lawson found the green at the par-four 18th in regulation but had long birdie attempts to a tough back right pin position. After Gangjee three-putted for bogey, Lawson had a chance to force a playoff but just missed his par putt from five feet.
“Having a five-shot lead has got its own challenges. You think it’s going to be easy, but there are certain nerves that show up that you don’t expect … and they definitely showed up on a golf course like this!
“Having said that, I think also I had a good head on my shoulders today. I just kept it down and kept going through. Played one shot at a time and kept believing in myself,” said Gangjee.
Gangjee paid tribute to his wife, Ruhi, who caddied for him throughout the week. “My wife, Ruhi, she’s basically been a rock to me. She keeps putting positive thoughts into my head, and that’s what basically helped me win.”
Gangjee counts two Asian Tour titles and one ADT win among his numerous victories since turning professional in 2001 but had not won since 2018. He only recently returned to competitive action following a seven-week layoff due to a chest injury.
“I lost my Asian Tour card last year, went to Q-School, and didn’t get it back. I wasn’t really in the best shape. I have been playing well back home and am now ranked number three in the order of merit, but my goal is to get my Asian Tour card back via the ADT. This win is a great stepping stone,” noted Gangjee.
Lawson was stoic in defeat, although the missed putt on the 18th obviously stung.
“I hit a really good putt but just misread it. It’s a tricky pin and just so hard to get to, but I think everyone would have struggled with it. It’s a good result in the end; I finished second,” said the 33-year-old, who also finished runner-up in 2023 jointly with Runchanapong.
Runchanapong, 23, noted that the double bogey cost him the tournament. “I got off to a pretty good start and kept the momentum going but didn’t have many chances for birdies on the back nine. But I double bogeyed 16, which cost me the tournament. Even so, everything feels good. I’m playing solid golf right now and am excited for the next few events,” he said.
Lim was elated with his performance and noted that he learnt a lot this week. “I definitely learnt a lot about myself, how to carry myself on the golf course, and a lot about my game. It’s been a great week because I played with a lot of experienced players. This gives me a lot of confidence going into the rest of 2024.”
Lim moved up to 12th place on the ADT Order of Merit with the US$11,025 cheque he received for finishing joint third. The 22-year-old also pocketed a RM10,000 bonus as the leading Malaysian, with Paul San the next best local player in joint seventh on one-under-par 279 (70, 71, 68, 70).
“I have a lot of respect for all the other Malaysian pros. They’re all great players, and I think I just got lucky this week. A lot of them have given me good advice since turning professional,” said Lim.
Lim won once on the Toyota Tour as an amateur in 2023 but noted that playing as a professional was very different. “The feeling is a little different because this week, I’m actually playing for money. I tried to keep that thought away, but the nerves were there.”
Playing with professionals in a tour event proved a valuable experience for Malaysian teenager Muhammad Danial Nazari, the only amateur from the 13 who started to make the halfway cut. The talented 17-year-old finished in 49th place on 20-over-par after rounds of 70, 74, 74 and 82.
Muhammad Danial Nazari was the best amateur player
“It’s been a great week and great experience for me. This is my first ADT event and, in fact, my first pro event, and making the cut feels really good! I wasn’t stressed about the scores or making the cut, but focused on enjoying my game and what I need to do,” said Danial, a student at UUM International School Melaka on a scholarship from the Selangor State Government.
The prizegiving on the 18th green was graced by the presence of His Highness Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah, who also witnessed the last few holes of action.
This is the 11th edition of the PKNS Selangor Masters, which is promoted by PKNS Golf Management Services, a subsidiary of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS). PKNS has been the title sponsor of the event since 2022. Since the tournament’s inception in 2007, it has seen two local winners with Ben Leong triumphing in the second edition and Shahriffuddin emerging victorious two years ago.
With its hefty prize fund of US$175,000, the PKNS Selangor Masters will have a strong bearing on the top 10 players on the final 2024 ADT Order of Merit, who will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for the following season.
Leading Final Scores
272 (-8) Rahil Gangjee (IND) 66-66-67-73
273 (-7) Deyen Lawson (AUS) 69-71-64-69
274 (-6) Marcus Lim (MAS) 68-66-71-69
Runchanapong Youprayong (THA) 67-72-66-69
278 (-2) Poosit Supupramai (THA) 70-71-71-66
Sarut Vongchaisit (THA) 70-68-69-71
279 (-1) Paul San (MAS) 70-71-68-70
Kosuke Hamamoto (THA) 70-66-72-71
280 (E) Danthai Boonma (THA) 69-73-74-64
Siddikur Rahman (BAN) 71-70-70-69
Shahriffuddin Ariffin (MAS) 69-70-71-70
