Chikkarangappa finishes T16 as Trevor Simsby wins Malaysia Open

Trevor Simsby made birdie on the second playoff hole to clinch his first Asian Tour title over Andrew Dodt and Jarin Todd. Chikkarangappa finished in T16 while Rashid Khan ended the week in T31

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08 March 2020: The weather marred Malaysia Open had to be negotiated over 54 holes after the conditions in Kuala Lumpur caused several disruptions to an otherwise exciting week of golf on the Asian Tour. Tevor Simsby rode his second round 64 all the way to a thrilling playoff victory against Jarin Todd and Andrew Dodt. The three men were tied at 13-under 203 at the end of the third round. Chikkarangappa was the best placed Indian, finishing in T16 at 8-under ahead of Rashid Khan who worked his way back to T31 despite a miserable 76 in the opening round.

Simsby sank a birdie on the second playoff hole to win by the tip of his nose over Todd and Dodt for his first Asian Tour victory. The ADT graduate made 70 on Sunday at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club. The American endured a painstaking wait in the clubhouse even as Todd (70) and Dodt (72) worked their way into a tie for the lead at the end of regulation play.

“This is the biggest win I have had in my career so far. It’s just amazing where I am right now,” said Simsby. “We were just hoping to get a full round of golf in today, and just knowing that this is going to be the final round, we were just giving it our all.

“I missed the cut in the last event on the ADT last year and just barely snuck into the top-eight on the Order of Merit. I got really motivated when I got back home to California and I met up some friends who are succeeding on the PGA TOUR as well. I just worked very hard after that and I’m just excited for the rest of the season now. I hope to keep the momentum going,” added Simsby.

“I shouldn’t have hit driver in regulation probably but you know the mind was spinning a little bit and I knew I was tied for the lead and trying to play a smart role and permit drivers to play for sure when opportunity sets.

“I was just excited to even have a chance on the back nine. I made a little mistake on the par-five and I thought I was a bit out of it but I just stayed in it mentally, and somehow managed to birdie 16th.”

Chikkarangappa shot a 67 on Sunday to force his way inside the top twenty after suffering a 73 in the previous round. Rashid Khan, the leading Indian in the race to the Olympics, fired a second straight 67 to finish in T31. He was well below the cut line when he shot 76 in the opening round, but bounced back with seven birdies in the second round.

Shiv Kapur was steady as a rock all week. He shot 71-70-70 to finish in T38 at 5-under 211. Rahil Gangjee was even or better through the week with scores of 69-72-72, ending the week in the company of Aman Raj at 213.