Danny and Nicholas finish in style
PETALING JAYA: Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung shot a closing six-under 66 for their best score of the week in the World Cup of Golf in Australia.
The duo had six birdies, including four on the front nine, in the fourballs for a five-under 283 at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne yesterday.
Still, it could only move Malaysia up by two places to finish joint 22nd with Wales, South Korea and India in the 28-nation event.
Danny and Nicholas shared US$63,000 (RM282,000) for their efforts. The two struggled in the foursomes, shooting a 77 in the opening round and 72 in the third round. In the fourballs second round, they posted a 68.
Soren Kjeldsen and Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark lifted their maiden World Cup after closing with a 66 for 20-under 268 to win by four shots from France, China and the United States.
Danny, however, was delighted with how his third World Cup pan out.
Danny had finished second last – 23rd in the then 24-team championships – in his previous World Cups with Rashid Ismail in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2000 and P. Gunasegaran in Gotemba, Japan, in 2001.
“It’s been a good learning curve as I learned a few shots this week,” said Danny, a two-time Asian Tour winner.
Debutant Nicholas added: “We got what we aimed for, a strong finish with a six-under. I enjoyed this week. Hopefully I’ll get to play in the World Cup again in the future.”
Malaysia’s best showing was a ninth placing by Gunasegaran and M. Ramayah in Puerto Rico in 1994.
Danny will now turn his attention to the final stage of the Japan Golf Tour Qualifying School, which gets under way at the Cocopa Resort Club in Mie Prefecture on Thursday.
After that, he will then join Nicholas at the Hong Kong Open, the last Asian Tour event of the season, from Dec 8-11.
I enjoyed this week. Hopefully I’ll get to play in the World Cup again in the future. Nicholas Fung