Leun Kwang turns on the power to nail first win on the ADT.
Leun Kwang wins maiden ADT title
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian golfer Kim Leun Kwang’s persistence paid off when he finally landed his maiden victory on the Asian Development Tour (ADT).
The 24-year-old overcame a four-shot deficit to win the RM225,000 PGM MNRB ADT Championship with a total of seven-under 137 at the Kelab Golf Sarawak in Kuching yesterday.
Leun Kwang, who started the day four shots behind compatriot Daeng Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz, racked up seven birdies to offset three bogeys on his way to card a superb four-under 68 in the final round.
He finished one shot ahead of Daeng, who could only muster a 73 to be tied second with Samuel Cyr of the United States.
The tournament was shortened to 36 holes after they could not play the second round in the last two days due to haze but the organisers proceeded yesterday when the Air Pollutant Index reading dipped below the acceptable level of 200.
Leun Kwang began the day on the back foot when he bogeyed the opening hole but it did not dampen his spirit.
He bounced back in style by firing three birdies in a four-hole stretch starting from the third.
After making the turn, he traded four more birdies with two bogeys to become the first Malaysian to win on the ADT circuit this year.
“It feels awesome!” said Leun Kwang, whose first professional victory came at the CIMB Classic national qualifier in Kuala Lumpur 12 months ago.
“I never expected this win, I’m still trying to take it all in.
“Daeng entered the day with a healthy lead and he was playing in the other flight.
“So, I didn’t know that I had won until I left the 18th hole, which was nice.
“But I did not give up from the start. I was targeting to get around eight to 10-under total.
“I knew if I shot between that, then I probably had a chance,” added Leun Kwang, who received a well-deserved RM39,375 winner’s cheque.
Meanwhile, Daeng was left to rue a disastrous start that cost him the title.
The 19-year-old made four bogeys, including three in his opening four holes, and managed three birdies, a stark contrast to his opening round where he rolled in nine birdies en route to a superb 65 on Wednesday.
“I’ve never won an ADT event and was really looking forward to winning this. But it is difficult when you make four bogeys out there,” said Daeng.