Arie Fauzi
Arie Irawan won his first tournament on the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour today and did it at the biggest and last event of the season – the RM350,000 Maybank Players’ Championship, hosted at Impian Golf & Country Club in Kajang.
Just a year-and-a-half after turning professional, the 24-year-old, who was born in Miri, Sarawak and now resides in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, secured a deserved triumph in a tournament that he led from start to finish, en route to a two-stroke victory over Airil Rizman, who himself was crowned Player of the Year, having clinched the Order of Merit title on the last day of the season.
Arie shot a closing three-under 69 to finish with a 14-under 274 total, while Airil carded the low round of the day, a seven-under 65, which nailed down second place on 12-under 276.
“It feels surreal to stand here and speak about having won this tournament,” said Arie. “It is the biggest event on the PGM Tour and I am absolutely happy to have managed to pull it off.
“It is not easy to win on this Tour as there are maybe 15-to-20 players in each field who stand a good chance of winning.
“I started today with a four-stroke lead and knew that if I played positive and also aggressively, I could do it. I came close a few times before today but did not manage to go all the way and I think in some ways that helped teach me to focus on the right things.”
Arie, who picked up the biggest cheque of his budding career – a RM60,000 payout – added that he would endeavour to do even better next season, having climbed to second among the Malaysians in the world rankings.
“My goal this year was to finish in the top-five on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), but I fell just short of that, missing out by one spot. Still I’m happy with how this season went and I can best describe it as being very good.”
Tan Sri Megat Zaharuddin with Airil Rizman
Airil, too, said he was pleased with how his campaign as a whole unfolded – winning in his home state Perlis in June – and with a number top-10s, claimed the Order of Merit crown. His runner-up cheque of RM40,000 here at Impian lifted him to some RM35,000 ahead of R. Nachimuthu, who led for a long period of time, following his two victories earlier in the season.
“I could not ask for more,” said Airil. “Today I tried to push Arie for the win but he did well to stay in front. I played very well today and was really zoned in. But in the end it was not enough.
“But I’m still very happy with how 2014 turned out for me. To win the Order of Merit is very nice and I am honoured and hope to continue with this next season.”
Tan Sri Megat Zaharuddin with Ben Leong
Ben Leong, who won the PGM I&P Group Closed Championship at Kinrara Golf Club in Puchong in August, finished third, three strokes off the lead on 11-under 277. He collected RM24,147.
And he too said he was delighted with his season’s effort.
“This was my comeback campaign,” said Leong, in reference to a back injury that required surgery and kept him out of the game for almost two years. “And I am just happy to be playing again and competing each week.
“Of course, I am also very happy that I have been able to get my game to a winning level, which is something that I did not expect so soon after the injury.”
Turning to the Maybank Players Championship, he said: “I played in the last (championship) flight today with Arie and he really played well. He deserved to win here.
“But I’m also pleased that I was able to compete at the top of the leaderboard. I was in with a slim chance but towards the end on the back nine I had a couple of bogeys that took me out of the running. But still, I am very happy.”
Mohamad Azman Basharudin (67) was tied for fourth with Sukree Othman (70) and Nachimuthu, who also closed with a 70. They ended with nine-under 279 totals, while Kemarol Baharin (69) was seventh a shot further back and Akhmal Tarmizee (71) eighth on six-under 282.
Wilson Choo (71) and M. Sasidaran, who carded a fourth round five-under 67, were joint eighth on five-under 283.
Speaking after the prize-presentation, Maybank chairman Tan Sri Megat said they were happy to see the Players Championship bring the curtain down on the season and that there were many young and promising golfers coming through the ranks.
PGM Tour chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji said they were now looking forward to next season with greater enthusiasm.
The 2015 campaign will for the first time feature more than RM6 million prize money, up on the RM5.1 million on offer this year.
Leading Fourth Round Scores
274 Arie Irawan 64-70-71-69
276 Airil Rizman 69-70-72-65
277 Ben Leong 72-69-68-68
279 Mohamad Azman Basharudin 72-68-72-67, R. Nachimuthu 67-72-70-70
279 Sukree Othman 70-71-68-70
280 Kemarol Baharin 73-65-73-69
282 Akhmal Tarmizee 72-72-67-71
283 M. Sasidaran 71-73-72-67, Wilson Choo 70-71-71-71
Leading Final Order of merit Standings
1 Airil Rizman Zahari 218,921.83
2 R. Nachimuthu 185,129.19
3 Arie Irawan 145,549.33
4 Shaaban Hussin 124,666.36
5 Sukree Othman 121,416.80
6 M. Rizal Amin 114,081.58
7 Kemarol Baharin 113,803.08
8 Khor Kheng Hwai 112,421.58
9 Ben Leong 109,510.67
10 Danny Chia 92,542.92
11 Shaifubari Muda 78,130.73
12 Nicholas Fung 76,591.25
13 Hans Jamil 65,625.94
14 S. Siva Chandhran 65,075.50
15 Wilson Choo 62,831.36
