Chia downs Gavin in play-off

ASIAN Tour professional Danny Chia secured his sixth appearance at the CIMB Classic and claimed a “satisfying” win over compatriot Gavin Green through a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off at the CIMB National Championship yesterday.

“Getting into the CIMB Classic again is great and winning this event, beating Gavin in a play-off is very satisfying,” said Chia.

The overnight leader battled to a final round of three-under-par 69 at TPC Kuala Lumpur to overcome an early triple bogey with eight birdies for a tournament aggregate of eight-under-par 280.

Gavin, who qualified for the US$7 million (RM30 million) tournament through the previously known SapuraKencana National Classic last year, will get his shot at the CIMB Classic slot through his standings on Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

“I should get into the CIMB Classic through the Asian Tour Order of Merit, which is also good as the money earned at the event will count towards the Order of Merit unlike qualifying from this tournament,” said Gavin, who is currently in fourth place on the Order of Merit with US$248,071 after eight tournaments.

Trailing Danny and Gavin by one-stroke was Amir Nazrin Jailani in third spot after finishing his day with a 69 which included a missed birdie attempt at the 18th hole which would have put him into the play-off with first round leader, Ben Leong.

The CIMB National Championship is also an official event on the PGM Tour while the CIMB Classic will be played on Oct 1215, making it the second tournament on PGA Tour’s 2017/2018 schedule. Farah Azharie