KUALA LUMPUR: Seasoned campaigner Danny Chia left it late before rallying to win the RM150,000 SapuraKencana National Qualifier in dramatic fashion.
The 41-year-old was staring at defeat before sensationally coming back from four strokes down with five holes remaining to force a playoff against Khor Kheng Hwai at the West Course of the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) on Wednesday.
And it was Danny’s vast experience that proved to be crucial in the par-five 18th hole decider.
The one-time Asian Tour winner kept his cool to seal victory in the first playoff with a par while Kheng Wai blew it with a bogey.
And Danny’s reward is a third appearance in four years at next month’s prestigious US$7mil (RM22mil) CIMB Classic.
The PGA Tour and Asian Tour co-sanctioned event will be held at the same venue on Oct 30-Nov 2.
“This has to be one of the greatest comebacks in my career ... it all happened in the last five holes,” said Danny, who closed with back-to-back birdies for a one-under 71 and a three-under 213 total.
“I had some bad vibes coming into this week. I was getting ready for something bad to happen but I also kept telling myself that I needed to keep fighting.
“It’s fantastic to be playing in the CIMB Classic again. It means so much to me to win this playoff and to feature in the event again.
“I’ve been trying to work on my body condition and I was trying too hard to get my strength in my shoulder and hurt my back earlier this month.
“I’m 41 ... I’m not young any more, so I’ll have to take it easy and keep myself healthy until the CIMB Classic.”
For Kheng Wai, it all went wrong at the 14th hole.
After getting off to a rousing start with four birdies on the front nine, his game fell apart when he double bogeyed the 14th.
“I had the best start but the 14th hole was the turning point ... I lost focus and made a double bogey,” said Kheng Hwai.
“I made a big mess out of it. I stumbled home after that. I hit my tee shot into the bunker.
“I had about 30 metres to the green but I lost it there and duffed my chip. My confidence tipped to the other side after that.”
Danny, who notched his second victory of the season after defending his Northport Glenmarie Championship title in May, pocketed RM22,000 for his triumph while Kheng Hwai received RM14,500.
With the champion of the national qualifier now decided, the second spot will be awarded to the highest-ranked Malaysian in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as at Oct 20.
Nicholas Fung, who finished 63rd in last year’s event, is currently the highest-ranked Malaysian at No. 322.
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