Shahriffuddin Ariffin clinches PGM Labuan Championship 2018

LABUAN: Malaysia's young professional golfer Shahriffuddin Ariffin broke out of a crowded pack after firing a total score of seven-under to win the PGM Labuan Championship 2018 at Labuan International Golf Club (LIGC) on Saturday.
The 19-year-old golfer won his first PGM Asian Development Tour (ADT) and bagged nearly RM40,000 in prize money and trophy, after racing neck-to-neck with former national number 1 player Nicholas Fung, who carded a total score of five-under and received almost RM30,000.
"This golf course, the way it is set up and the condition of the course, definitely made me a lot mentally stronger, I guess it is suitable for long and shot iron… it is an awesome experience to this point.''
"Nevertheless, my putting was good, with no three-putts throughout the games," he told Bernama after receiving the prize from Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji at the LIGC.
Shahriffuddin had proven himself to be a tour-winner, but this was the first time he had ever seen his name atop a leaderboard at a major.
"I did not play well on the opening day but played pretty well for the most part in the first two rounds and made the final day with one eagle, two birdies and one bogey.
"I'm aiming to make another cut in PGM ADT, Sarawak, hopefully, I will play well there," he said.
Rizal Amin who led Malaysian charge on the second and third day, finished third with four-under and received RM15, 750, followed by a consistent player, R. Nachimuthu with a total score of 288 par (RM12, 600) and former Sabah PGM winner Ben Leong shared the fifth spot with Sukree Othman with one over par 289 and each received RM9, 112.50.
Indonesia's Elki Kow, Nitithorn Thippong (Thai), Miguel Carballo (Arg), Thitipat Phatam and Jesse Schutte finished seventh with two-over par.
The temperature rose drastically on the final day and created a tough condition for all 53 competitors who fought through it with a lower scoring average. — Bernama