Takahashi wins maiden PGM Tour title

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MAIDEN TOUR WIN: Masru Takahashi poses with his prizes after capturing his first PGM Tour title when he won the MIDF KLGCC Masters at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday.

KUCHING: Masru Takahashi captured his first PGM Tour title when he won the MIDF KLGCC Masters at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday.

The Japanese player shot a final round of 69 that gave him an 11-under-par 273 total and a three-stroke victory over PGM Tour Order of Merit leader Nicholas Fung, who also carded a last day score of 69.

Shaaban Hussin, who started the day in second place on the leaderboard, fell into a tie for third with Singapore’s Koh Deng Shan (69) and Irishman Niall Turner (72), after signing for a three-over 74.

They ended up another three shots back on 279.

In the PGM tournament that is co-sanctioned with the Asian Development Tour and carries world ranking points, Lee Cho-chuan made up the most ground on the final day after he carded a five-under 66 that proved the lowest of the round.

The Taiwanese climbed from 21st at the start of the fourth day to take sole possession of sixth place at two-under 282.

Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski (68), Malaysian Mohd Iylia Jamil (71), who shared the first round lead, and Thailand’s Wittawat Sae-Ung (68) and Somsak Kaopratum (71) were joint seventh on even-par 284.

Scotland’s James Byrne (69) – another winner on the PGM Tour this season – along with Pavit Tangkamolpraset of Thailand and Malaysia’s Airil Rizman (72) finished tied for 11th on one-over-par. Takahashi, the 27-year-old who became the second Japanese player to win on the Tour this season after his countryman Mitsuhiko Hashizume clinched the PGM LADA Langkawi Masters in Langkawi in April, regrouped on the back nine to secure the victory.

He was even-par for the first nine and then hit back with a two-under over the homeward nine – courtesy of four birdies and a couple of bogeys.

Pleased with his maiden win on the Tour, Takahashi said, “It was not an easy victory and I had to work very hard because there are many good players on the PGM and ADT Tours.”

“I tried to play steady golf and did that over the first nine but I could not go under-par. I managed to do a two-under for the back nine and that helped me to this win – I am very happy,” he added.

Commenting on the event, PGM Tour chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji said the quality of the course and standard of play was heartening and he added that they were looking forward to a strong finish to the season.

“So far this year we have been treated to an improved standard of play from the Tour players and the courses that we visited have been equally good, as this East Course of KLGCC testifies,” said Sarji.

“Now we are preparing to wrap-up the season with plans already underway for an enhanced 2014 campaign,” he added.

The next event on the PGM tour schedule is the 10th Satellite Tournament at Impian Golf and Country Club in Kajang from Nov 14-16, followed by the Impian Classic from Nov 20-23.