SRI KEMBANGAN, SELANGOR, 7 NOV 2024 – Danny Chia once again proved why he’s considered one of the best in the business when he came from behind to card a four-under 67 in a rain-affected final round of the Yaris Cup at the Mines Resort Golf Club here today.
The 51-year-old veteran trailed overnight leaders Ben Leong and Afif Fathi by three strokes when play finally started. He ended with a seven-under 206 to defeat the latter by two. Leong carded a three-over 74 for a joint fifth finish. In joint third were Syahiran Syakir and Shahriffuddin at 209.
Chia shrugged off a double-bogey six start on his first hole but drilled in six birdies for a three-under 33 for his outward nine. “This was almost the same start I had at Royal Perak last year when I tripled bogeyed the first hole but went on to win the Corolla Cup,” said Chia who laughed when he said he had only one par after nine holes.
“After the double bogey I wondered to myself if this could be another special day for me.” He added two more birdies on the back nine and was eight-under going into the final hole. By then Afif, who had levelled with Chia at -7, dropped a stroke when he bogeyed the 17th.
At the 18th, Chia failed to get onto the putting surface with his approach and left his chip a little more than five feet. “I knew a par would win me the tournament outright and I was surprised to have left it that far from the pin. The green played slower than I thought.” Chia missed the putt and the door was slightly opened for Afif.
One shot behind and needing a birdie on the final hole to force a playoff, Afif found the right greenside bunker with his approach and failed to convert his sand shot, handing Chia victory. He also missed the par putt but still ended up alone in second position. “Disappointed, really, but it is what it is,” quipped Afif after his round.
With this victory, Chia who pocketed RM31,500, joins Galven Green with having recorded three wins on the Toyota Tour which is into its second season. He added: “I’m proud of myself for hanging in there despite struggling with my irons. Still playing a bit of golf and giving some lessons here and there.” Chia recently finished 34th in the Japan Senior PGA Championship.
Edven Ying produced the tournament’s best round with a flawless scorecard of seven birdies to finish in joint 7th while Kuching-born Anson Yeo was awarded Best Amateur. Yeo performed creditably to finish at one-under 212 in joint 10th.
As expected, amateur Ng Jing Xuen recorded her second Ladies Championship victory when she played par golf for a seven-under 206 three-day aggregate and a four-shot victory over Winnie Ng. Jing Xuen earlier this year won at Templer Park CC.
Jing Xuen the overnight leader, started the day with a five-shot cushion. At one time during their round, Winnie caught up to being just one stroke behind. “She was playing really well but I managed to shrug it off and focus on my game,” said Jing Xuen. “I’m pleased with my game overall especially this being my second Toyota Tour win and having won the China Ladies PGA series event in Singapore last month. Looks like I’m tracking in the right direction.
“The Toyota Tour is a very prestigious golf series and I’m honoured to be a part of it. My goal next is to compete in the China LPGA Tour qualifying school at the end of the year and hopefully turn professional after that,” said the 16-year-old who had her mother Yew Chee Yee caddy for her.
Men’s Final Round scores
206 Danny Chia 69-70-67
208 Afif Fathi 66-70-72
209 Syahiran Syakir 69-73-67, Shahriffuddin Ariffin 70-70-69
210 Edven Ying 73-73-64, Daeng Rahman 67-73-70, Ben Leong 69-67-74
211 Daniel Faidz 70-71-70, Tan Yih Heng 68-71-72
212 Anson Yeo (am) 69-72-71, Nor Heikal Hadi 69-71-72
214 Nasrullah Zulkifli 69-73-72, Yusoff Affandy 69-72-73
Ladies
206 Ng Jing Xuen (am) 66-69-71
210 Winnie Ng 68-72-70
214 Wang Xin Yao (am) 73-73-68
216 Zulaikah Nasser 72-72-72
218 Geraldine Wong 71-77-70