MANY had tried but failed, but golfer Ervin Chang certainly changed the script.
And perhaps it was written in the stars that Ervin, at 24, would go on to etch a historic milestone for Malaysian golf.
As a writer with The Star, it has been an honour to chronicle the 27-year-old Ervin’s transformation on the greens – from a shy, budding youngster into the country’s No. 1 golfer.
“The first time I saw him was more than 10 years ago, when he was a shy kid playing on the SportExcel Tour. He was still in his teens then,” recalled the writer.
“Now, he is more eloquent and mature, and knows what he wants. He has set a good example for others, and I’m glad StarSport has been able to capture his growth through the years.”
Former The Star journalist Tan Ming Wai, who was also on the golf beat and covered the early years of Ervin’s career, remembers him as one of the most humble athletes he had encountered.
“He was very friendly, even with someone who was interviewing him for the first time,” he said.
“I remember there was one occasion when Ervin brought back a souvenir from the United States, where he was studying at the time, and gave it to me as a gift.
“I was very touched because it is not every day that an athlete makes the extra effort to show his gratitude to you for simply doing your job,” added Ming Wai.
There was, however, one snag when Ervin achieved his historic double in Hanoi – none of the Malaysian media covering the SEA Games were actually at the golf venue that Sunday afternoon.
Understandably, the venue was on the outskirts of Hanoi while much of the media attention that day was focused on other events in the city.
But word soon got around that Malaysia had struck gold – not only in the men’s individual event but also in the team competition.
The writer tapped into his contacts and eventually managed to get in touch with Ervin through team manager Teoh Piek Kee.
“Yeah, I could not believe that I had won it for Malaysian golf,” Ervin had gushed then.
“The SEA Games win was the catalyst that gave me the confidence and belief that I could achieve big things in golf.”
It was that newfound confidence that eventually led Ervin to turn professional.
But Ervin, who had finished fourth at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, recalled how close he had come to quitting the sport before his breakthrough in Hanoi.
“I was not in the right frame of mind as I had not played in a competition for more than three months before arriving in Hanoi for the 2022 SEA Games.
“In fact, just a day before the competition, I had texted my father to tell him that I should return to the United States to look for a job in the golf industry.”
Then came the two gold medals, and everything changed.
The Hanoi triumph proved to be the turning point in Ervin’s career.
His performances and easy-going demeanour also won over the Asian Tour, who presented him with the Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Award at the start of the following year.
“It was quite an honour and I never expected it. I was the first winner of the award and I got to play in six events on the Asian Tour.”
Ervin also secured his first professional title on the Toyota Tour that year before earning his full playing rights on the Asian Tour following a strong finish on the Asian Development Tour.
He has since retained his card for this year, and the national No. 1 is trusting the process as he chases his first title on the prestigious Asian Tour.
“I believe that day will come as long as I stay focused on the process and learn from every mistake. The Star has also been following my career since my amateur days.
“I’m thankful to have the support of a national daily like The Star, which covers so many different sports.
“Hopefully, I will have more good news to share with The Star’s readers in the future,” said Ervin.
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