Fakhrul Akmal secured a dominant wire-to-wire victory at the Harrier Cup, winning the seventh leg of the Toyota Tour with a 16-under 200 total over three days.
His triumph at Kelab Golf DiRaja Pahang saw him finish nine strokes ahead of his closest competitor, Lee Chong Li. Starting the day three strokes in front of Kim Leun Kwang, Fakhrul made a shaky bogey on the par-5 first hole, while his playing partners Kim and Brandon Lai birdied. However, Fakhrul quickly recovered with birdies on the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 10th holes, extending his lead to 10 strokes at one point.
“I’m quite speechless,” said the 28-year-old who was soaking it all in.
“I’ve come so close on many occasions, and I keep wondering if I will ever win as a professional. And to achieve it here is priceless, this being my first time playing at KGDP and the crowd support here has been fantastic. They made me feel at home," he added.
Fakhrul, who earned RM31,500 for his victory, believed this breakthrough win will boost his confidence going forward.
“Even though I started with a three-shot lead I did not think of margins during my round. I was just targeting to go to 20-under and thought that that score might be enough to win," said Fakhrul.
In the Ladies Championship, Zulaikah Nasser continued her strong form after winning the Toyota Tour Qualifying School two weeks prior, taking the title with a 213 aggregate over three days.
Despite a double bogey on the par-4 third hole, the 22-year-old bounced back with birdies on the 6th, 7th, 10th, and 16th, along with a bogey on the 17th, finishing with a one-under 71. She ended six strokes ahead of Geraldine Wong, who posted her third consecutive round of 73, while local favorite Michelle Koh finished third with a 222 total.
“It’s surreal, it hasn’t sunk in yet,” Zulaikah said after submitting her scorecard. “I’ve proven to myself that I deserve to be here on tour and that being a professional golfer is the right career for me.”
Zulaikah, who turned professional a month ago after completing a mass communication degree in the US, hasn’t yet decided on pursuing other regional tours. For now, her focus remains on competing in the Alphard Cup in Penang next month and the Yaris Cup at The Mines in November.
In the amateur ranks, Izzat Syamin claimed the Best Men’s Amateur title with an even-par 216, finishing tied for 17th. He has plans to turn professional and compete in the Alphard Cup, the eighth leg of the Toyota Tour.
The Ladies Amateur title went to 16-year-old Wang Xin Yao, who finished with a 9-under 225 total. A member of the Toyota Tour Junior Elite Programme, Wang is set to pursue a golf scholarship at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University next year, where she plans to study nutrition.
Leading Final Scores
Mens'
200 (-16) Fakhrul Akmal 66-66-68
209 (-7) Lee Chong Li 70-71-68
210 (-6) Zurie Harun 70-72-68, Edven Ying 72-69-69, Ben Leong 69-69-72, Kim Leun Kwang 67-68-75
211 (-5) Casper Loh 74-69-68, Daeng Rahman 69-72-70, Brandon Lai 69-69-73
212 (-4) Ruhanraj Vinayagam 72-73-67, Zia Izzuddeen 69-73-70, Kemarol Baharin 71-70-71
Ladies'
213 (-3) Zulaikah Nasser 73-69-71
219 (+3) Geraldine Wong 73-73-73
222 (+6) Michele Koh 75-73-74
225 (+9) Wang Xin Yao (am) 73-78-74
229 (+13) Amalia Shahzan 76-76-77
