Edven Ying announced his arrival in the Toyota Tour in the best way possible, when he strolled to a three-stroke victory over pre-tournament favourite Ervin Chang to win the Vios Cup at the scenic and challenging Templer Park Country Club in Rawang, near here today.
The 21-year-old played the first nine at even par after two birdies against two bogeys, but then finished strongly when he eagled the par 5 13th and added a birdie immediately after on the short dog-legged left par 4. From then on it was plain sailing for the Kuantan lad who parred home for a three-under 69 and a 11-under 205 three-day aggregate.
“I really had no expectations today, and didn’t feel too nervous during the round,” said a visibly happy Ying whose first professional win came with a RM31,500 cheque. “My intention was to stick to my game plan and play some good golf, regardless of whether I win or lose.
“After last year’s ADT Selangor Masters, I made it a goal to win a pro event this year and to achieve it on the Toyota Tour is so satisfying. My father introduced the game to me when I was six. So it was awesome that he drove all the way from Kuantan to follow me today after learning I was the overnight leader.”
The Toyota Tour is presented by UMW Toyota Motor. On hand to present the prizes were UMW Toyota Motor deputy chairman Takashi Obata, PGM general manager Nik Mustapha and Templer Park managing director Datuk Manibalan Kutty.
Ervin’s late charge 13 rungs up the leaderboard began with birdies on the par fours 6th and 9th. The Kajang boy exploded in the homeward nine, playing six-under over seven holes from the 10th to the 16th which comprised an eagle and four birdies for an impressive eight-under 64. It was the second lowest score of the tournament, following Ying’s 9-under 63 yesterday.
“Today everything finally clicked. In the first two rounds, there were a lot of mis-read putts and lip-outs. That was the difference,” said Chang who will travel to Thailand to compete in two ADT events.
Jocelyn Chee won the Ladies Category and RM10,000 when she carded a final round 69 for a three-day aggregate 214, edging overnight leader Genevieve Ling by one stroke. Leading money earner Aretha Pan’s charge never materialised and she ended up in solitary third after a two-over 74 today.
Chee, who hails from Sungai Petani in Kedah, said the turning point was at the par 3 16th which she birdied and Ling bogeyed. It was a two-shot swing and opened the door for Chee.
“I was nervous at the start but still excited to play with the more experienced professionals. I had to steady myself and focus on playing shot by shot. Genevieve is a good player; I’ve seen her name around even before she headed for college golf,” said Chee.
Chee is a graduate of California Baptist University and turned professional in February this year. She intends to play in the next Toyota Tour two legs in Perak and at The Mines before competing in Thailand.
Ling will be heading out to Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand for tournaments in the following weeks to come.
Afif Fathi and Amalia Shahzan finished Best Amateur for boys and girls respectively.
The next leg of the Toyota Tour will be the Corolla Cup at the Royal Perak GC on July 11-13.
Leading Scores (Men)
205 (-11) Edven Ying 73-63-69
208 (-8) Ervin Chang 71-73-64
210 (-6) Paul San 67-71-72
212 (-4) Danny Chia 68-71-73
213 (-3) R. Nachimuthu 71-72-70, Galven Green 69-71-73, Wafiyuddin Manaf 67-73-73, Amir Nazrin 74-69-70.
Ladies
217 (+1) Jocelyn Chee 76-72-69
218 (+2) Genevieve Ling 72-73-73
222 (+6) Aretha Pan 77-71-74
223 (+7) Amalia Shahzan (am) 73-78-72
226 (+10) Liyana Durisic (am) 74-76-76