COVID ‘BIRDIE’ FOR ERVIN
Golfer wouldn’t have won gold if not for pandemic
THE Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 turned out to be a blessing in disguise for golfer Ervin Chang. If not for the pandemic, the 22-year-old could have turned professional by now and thus would not have been eligible for the Hanoi Games.
Ervin reaped the reward for his extended stay as an amateur by etching his name into the history books as Malaysia’s first-ever individual gold medallist in golf at the Sea Games.
Yesterday, Ervin outlasted Amadeus Susanto Christian in the third playoff hole with a birdie at the Heron Lake Golf Course & Resort to win Malaysia’s only fourth gold in golf at the biennial Games and the first since the 2001 Kuala Lumpur edition.
“I actually think the Covid-19 pandemic is a blessing in disguise,” said Ervin, who plans to join the play-for-pay ranks later this year.
“People definitely went through different experiences during Covid. But as for me, I had another year of scholarship and playing opportunity in the United States and obviously one last chance to represent Malaysia in the Games.
“I am so happy that I have finally won a gold for Malaysia. I have always wanted to win it since my debut in 2017 (KL).
Ervin finished seventh in 2017 and fourth in the 2019 Manila edition.
“This victory will give me a great confidence booster before I turn pro.
“Winning gold in a multi-sport Games certainly ranks among the top achievements in my career. In the future, hopefully, I’ll have a chance to represent Malaysia at the Olympics and try to get on the podium too.”
In the women’s individual contest, Jeneath Wong marked her debut with a bronze-medal feat.
The 17-year-old is based in Melbourne, Australia, after emigrating there with her family in 2015.
“I am so thrilled to have won a bronze. The Sea Games give you a different feeling as you are representing your country. It was a memorable outing for me,” she said.