Poh shows good form to win maiden title
THE Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour featured another first time winner when Johnson Poh triumphed in style as he clinched a four-shot victory at the Johor Championship.
The 26-year-old dominated the RM225,000 tournament that also saw Nur Durriyah Damian claim the ladies title.
Poh closed out the event with a seven-under-par 65 to leave Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski in second place at Palm Resort Golf and Country Club. The Singaporean, who is coached by his father Ah Hai, finished with a four-day 21-under 267 total.
Ben Leong posted a last round 70 to finish as the best Malaysian, in third place, while Singapore’s Mardan Mamat was in fourth alongside Australia’s Kieran Pratt, Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong and Malaysian Arie Irawan.
Speaking of his success, Poh said: “It feels awesome to finally win on Tour and this is my lowest four-round total in any tournament that I’ve played.
“I think the biggest thing for me was that I stuck to my game plan and stayed calm on every shot,” added Poh, who won silver medals in the individual and team events at the 2009 and 2015 South-East Asian (SEA) Games
He also said he hoped the Johor victory would help him finish inside the top-five on the final 2018 Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit, which comes with a 2019 Asian Tour card.
For his part, Kokocinski said: “I actually played really well all week and it was just that Johnson did a little better.
“I hit all 18 greens (on the last day) and I only missed four in total all week. Overall I am happy with my finish and I like where my game is right now so I see good things happening pretty soon,” added Kokocinski.
For his week’s work, Poh took home a cheque of RM39,375 and is the third Singaporean to win on the Tour after Mardan Mamat and Quincy Quek, became winners in 2012.
Durriyah, who clinched her third straight tournament on the Tour, said: “I, too, am very happy to have won and I’m pleased with my game.
“It was tough out there, but I played well and I am looking forward to going to play in Hong Kong and Taiwan with some confidence.”
The next PGM Tour event is the Sime Darby Closed Championship at Impian Golf & Country Club in Kajang, Selangor from April 18 to 21.