Malaysia's Ervin Chang struck gold in his final Southeast Asian (SEA) Games outing, beating Indonesia's Amadeus Susanto Christian in a playoff to win the men's individual competition in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Chang carded rounds of 73, 67 and 69 to finish 54 holes of regulation play tied on seven-under-par 209 with Christian (70-71-68). Following two squared extra holes at the par-five 18th, Chang hit a superb approach at the par-four 10th to within three feet of the pin.

After the Indonesian missed his birdie attempt from around 15 feet and made par, Chang calmly sank his putt to win the first SEA Games golf gold for Malaysia since 2001. The bronze medal went to Thailand's Weerawish Narkprachar on six-under-par 210 (68-72-70).

A graduate of Liberty University in Virginia, USA, Chang turns 24 on July 17 and aims to turn professional later this year.

"I'm happy and proud that I'm able to win a gold medal for Malaysia after 21 years, I've been trying to acheive that since the 2017 SEA Games and I'm very happy that I'm able to do it today," said Chang, who played in the two previous SEA Games. 

Malaysia's 2001 SEA Games gold medal came in the men's team event through S. Sivachandran, Airil Rizman, Shaaban Hussin and Sahal Saedin on home soil at Sungai Long Golf & Country Club.

The other Malaysians in the men's competition were Marcus Lim (T13 on four-over-par [75, 73, 72]), Nateeshvar Anatar Ganesh (T13 on four-over-par [74, 70, 76]) and Rhaasrikanesh Kanavathi (20th on 10-over-par [75-77-74]).

Jeneath Wong

17-year-old Jeneath Wong meanwhile secured a bronze for Malaysia in the women's individual competition with a solid performance, carding rounds of 71, 71 and 69 to finish on five-under-par. Thailand's Natthakritta Vongtaveelap was the runaway gold medalist on 14-under-par 202 (67-67-68), seven shots ahead of Aloysa Mabutas Margiela Atienza (74-70-65) who won silver for Team Singapore.

This was the Melbourne-based Wong's maiden appearance in the SEA Games. The two other Malaysians in the women's competition were Mirabel Ting (7th on two-over-par [79-69-70]) and Ng Jing Xuen (15th on 19-over-par [84-76-75]).

The men's and women's team competitions start tomorrow at the same venue.