Shahriffuddin Ariffin continued his excellent run of form with victory in the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour’s inaugural KIA Championship at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club in Shah Alam.
But it was a close-run thing as Ervin Chang, double gold medallist at the South-East Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam last week, pushed him all the way, and finished just one stroke back.
Shahriffuddin shot a 10-under-par 278 to win the RM120,000 tournament, while amateur lady golfer Mirabel Ting finished with an identical 278 to capture the ladies’ title by three shots, ahead of Dianne Luke.
In the weather-interrupted event, and on a day of fluctuating fortunes, Shahriffuddin carded an even-par 72. The 23-year-old opened with a seven-under 65 before shooting a second-round 69, which he completed on the morning of the third round after rain brought an early end to the second-round play.
Pleased with his performance, Shahriffuddin said he couldn’t put anything specific to his good form apart from just “staying focused”.
In March, he won the PGM Maybank Championship at Saujana Golf & Country Club before going to Thailand, where he emerged runner-up in the Laguna Phuket Cup.
“Overall, I played well here this week. The weather on the second day did not help us, but I didn’t let it bother me, and when I was out on the course, I just tried to stay focused on one hole at a time.
“In the end, it worked out really well for me, and I’m pleased with the win.”
Ervin Chang, possibly playing in his last tournament as an amateur, was happy with his game and added that he enjoyed mixing it with the pros.
“It was similar to the SEA Games,” he said. “It was intense out there, but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed playing alongside Shahriffuddin, and now I’m looking forward to turning pro.”
Declining to say precisely when he would turn professional, Ervin added that he would make his decision public on social media. Word has it, though, that his first event as a pro will likely be sometime next month.
Paul San shot a third-round four-under-par 68 to finish in third place on seven-under 281, while Khor Kheng Hwai was fourth on 282 after a 73. Asian Tour regular Nicholas Fung finished fifth on five-under-par 283. He shot a final-round 72.
Tied for sixth place on four-under-par 284 were multiple PGM Tour winners Kemarol Baharin, Daeng Abdul Rahman (71) and Sukree Othman (72).
In the ladies section, Mirabel Ting, who emerged the ladies champion with her 10-under-par 278 total, said that she was delighted to have set a new personal mark for Glenmarie.
“My best here at Glenmarie, before today, was a 67. So going out there and shooting a six-under 66 and winning is really great for me,” said the 17-year-old, who plans to start studying in the United States later this year.
Dianne, who led the RM20,000 ladies’ championship after an opening 67, managed an even-par 72 in the final round. She shot a 70 in the second round and eventually finished on 281.
Aretha Pan, winner of the PGM Maybank at Saujana, carded rounds of 70, 73 and 75 for a two-over total, while Ainil Johani Bakar, who only recently returned from playing on the Ladies European Tour (LET), stumbled to an eight-over total and finished in fourth place.
PGM KIA Championship – Glenmarie Golf & Country Club
Men
Total Par Name Scores
278 -10 Shahriffuddin Ariffin 65-69-72
279 -9 Ervin Chang (A) 66-69-72
281 -7 Paul San 68-73-68
282 -6 Khor Kheng Hwai 68-69-73
283 -5 Nicholas Fung 67-72-72
284 -4 Kemarol Baharin 68-74-70
284 -4 Daeng Abdul Rahman 71-70-71
284 -4 Sukree Othman 70-70-72
286 -2 M. Sasidaran 71-73-70
286 -2 Kim Leun Kwang 71-70-73
286 -2 Adam Arif (A) 72-68-74
288 E Danial Faidz 69-77-70
288 E Zurie Harun 71-74-71
289 +1 Hariz Hezri (A) 65-79-73
289 +1 Kenneth De Silva 69-75-73
289 +1 Amir Nazrin 72-71-74
290 +2 Kenneth Tobuse 71-75-72
290 +2 Hui Yong Sherng 74-68-76
291 +3 Rizal Amin 73-74-72
292 +4 U-Minn Woon 74-74-72
292 +4 Nor Harith Hadi 73-74-73
292 +4 Danny Chia 71-76-73
293 +5 R. Nachimuthu 78-72-71
293 +5 Fadzlan Faruk 75-73-73
293 +5 Airil Rizman 72-75-74
293 +5 Umar Khusairi (A) 73-73-75
Ladies
Total Par Name Scores
278 -10 Mirabel Ting (A) 69-71-66
281 -7 Dianne Luke 67-70-72
290 +2 Aretha Pan 70-73-75
300 +8 Ainil Johani Bakar 74-76-74
