Shih-chang fights hard to clinch title in Langkawi

KUALA LUMPUR: Taiwan’s Chan Shih-chang survived an early scare and a late charge by Singapore’s Koh Deng Shan to claim his second Asian Development Tour (ADT) title at the PGM Lada Langkawi Championship.

Shih-chang was at two-over after seven holes but swiftly recovered with an eagle three on the eighth, followed by four birdies, to seal the win with a four-under 68 in the final round at the Gunung Raya Golf Resort in Langkawi on Thursday.

His winning total of 19-under 269 was one shot better than Deng Shan, who fired the day’s lowest round of 65 at the RM250,000 Asian Development Tour (ADT) tournament.

England’s Grant Jackson (70) , the joint overnight leader with Shih-chang, struggled to maintain his title charge as he finished third on 271 while Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai was a shot further back following a 70.

Shih-chang got off to a good start with a birdie on the second hole. But a bogey on the third hold and a three-putt on the sixth hole resulted in two dropped shots and ensured a dramatic finale as Deng Shan closed in.

“I got into trouble on the front nine and, after three-putting, I thought it was game over because Grant and Poosit were doing very well. I didn’t know Deng Shan was making a charge... but I’m proud that I fought back,” said Shih-chang, who won US$13,416 (RM43,856) and earned six Official World Golf Ranking points.

Deng Shan, meanwhile, eagled the second hole from 12 feet before going on to add five birdies in a flawless round. He could have forced a playoff but his 18-feet birdie putt agonisingly lipped out on the last hole.

The 25-year-old will carry this momentum into the US$1.5mil (RM4.9mil) The Championship, an event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour, in Singapore next week.