Gavin wins Maiden Toyota Tour title with Corolla Cross Cup victory

PUTRAJAYA - The country’s top professional golfer Gavin Green carded six birdies and a bogey on the final round to clinch the Corolla Cross Cup at the Palm Garden Golf Club here, today.

The 29-year-old repeated his first round score of five under 67 today, by carding six under 66 yesterday for a three-day total of 16 under 200 to walk away with the RM31,500 prize money.

Veteran Nicholas Fung (69-68-68) and Sarawakian Paul San (68-65-72) emerged joint runner-up with an overall score of 11 under 205, while Hanoi SEA Games champion Ervin Chang (71-70-65) placed fourth with 10 under 206.

Gavin, who made his Toyota Tour debut during the sixth-leg at the Supra Cup two weeks ago with a tied eighth placing, after being hampered by a raging fever and headache since returning from Europe, was delighted to finish strongly.

"A bit of revenge for myself...obviously Paul and Ervin played well, there are a few good players coming up, and for me more of myself. I pushed myself to be better, stronger and trying to keep my nose in front of everybody else.

"I do miss it (playing in Malaysia), especially when big events comes here, that’s always been our history of Malaysian golf. It’s quite sad there isn’t anything at the moment.

"But I hope in the near future something will come up, the only way all our boys are going to get exposure, experience and get better,” he said after the prize giving ceremony.

Gavin, ranked 199th in the world, is set for a busy top plight competition overseas with up to 10 tournaments awaiting him in Czech Republic, Switzerland, Ireland and London in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, amateur Liyana Durisic took the ladies crown after edging professional Aretha Pan in a two-hole playoff, after both were three on 213.

Liyana, who began the tournament with a 67, recovered from yesterday’s 75 to hit 71 today, repeating her performance of 72 from the second round, after carding 69 on the first round.

Despite the defeat, Aretha still walked away with the top prize of RM10,000 as the best ladies professional in the field.

The Tour would next move to Johor with the School Leg 2 event from Sept 12-14 at the Palm Resort Golf and Country Club and Camry Cup at the Forest City Golf Resort from Oct 3-5. - BERNAMA