SAMUI, THAILAND — Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung overcame nerves to secure a maiden Asian Tour title at the Queen’s Cup on Sunday, and dedicated the career breakthrough to his father.
The 27-year-old Fung, who was the overnight leader, courageously holed a four-foot par putt on the 18th hole at Santiburi Samui Country Club for a closing four-under-par 67 and a one-stroke triumph over Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond.
His impressive 15-under-par 269 winning aggregate saw him join countrymen Danny Chia, Airil Rizman and Ben Leong as winners on the region’s premier Tour. Fung is also the fifth first-time winner this season.
Jazz, 21, kept on Fung’s coattail throughout a frenetic last day, staying bogey free for the second successive round at a tricky Santiburi Samui to shoot a 66 while Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao birdied his last three holes for a 67 which gave him third place, two behind the new champion.
The slightly-built Fung paid tribute to his father, En Ping, who was with him on the holiday isle on what was also Father’s Day on Sunday around the world. With Jazz, this season’s Bangladesh Open winner, setting the clubhouse mark on 14-under with birdies on 17 and 18, Fung needed to stay calm to claim victory.
The Malaysian chipped in for birdie on 16 from off the green and then nailed a radar-guided wedge to two feet for another birdie on 17 which kept his nose ahead of the field. After a pushed drive and an aggressive fourth shot from the back of the 18th green, Fung safely holed his par putt which earned him US$90,000.
Scores after round 4 of the Queen’s Cup 2017 being played at the par 71, 6,851 Yards Santiburi Samui CC course (am – denotes amateur):
269 – Nicholas FUNG (MAS) 66-68-68-67.
270 – Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 67-72-65-66.
271 – HUNG Chien-yao (TPE) 66-71-67-67.
272 – Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) 68-67-68-69.
273 – Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 70-63-70-70.
275 – Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 65-70-71-69, Rashid KHAN (IND) 65-70-70-70, Angelo QUE (PHI) 65-70-69-71.
276 – Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 70-68-71-67, Danny CHIA (MAS) 69-68-67-72.
277 – Pasavee LERTVILAI (THA) 69-66-71-71.
278 – Keith HORNE (RSA) 71-70-68-69, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 69-67-70-72.
279 – Danthai BOONMA (THA) 68-69-72-70.
