Que bags Selangor Masters via playoff

MANILA, Philippines -  Angelo Que bungled a one-shot lead with a bogey on the 72nd hole but still salvaged the championship in beating Englishman Chris Rodgers in a thrilling playoff at the close of the Selangor Masters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday.

Que, 31, ended a two-year title drought, bagging his first Asian Tour crown since topping the Philippine Open at Wack Wack in 2008.

He won the playoff with a par on the playoff hole and claimed the champion’s purse of $59,717 with steady rounds of 70-70-69-70 over the par-71 Seri Selangor Golf Club course.

“It feels great. First time I won was in 2004 and then I waited for four years for my second win. Now I’ve just waited for two years for my third. It’s good and a great feeling. Hopefully I’ll keep winning and I won’t stop,” said Que.

“Three is a charm. Winning a third time tells you that you can really do it no matter what. You just need to have the right mind set and believe in yourself that you can do it,” he added.

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant could have stolen the championship or made it a three-man playoff if not for his double-bogey mishap in the final hole.

Wiratchant waged a fierce chase from 10th place, winding up at third with a 68 for a total of 280, a shot behind Que.

Juvic Pagunsan submitted an even-par 71 and settled for fourth, two shots adrift.

Mars Pucay finished joint eighth at 70-282, Jay Bayron got a piece of 16th at 75-285 while Antonio Lascuña was the fourth Filipino best finisher with a 74-286 for joint 21st.

Que hardly wavered in the face of Rodgers’ and Wiratchant’s tough stands, staying afloat with birdies on the fourth, fifth, 13th and 16th holes.

After temporarily yielding the lead on a bogey on the 14th, Que drew even with a birdie on the 16th then regained a one-shot edge following a bogey by Rodgers on the 17th.

Que had looked on the way to clinching the crown without trouble when a wayward shot caused him a closing bogey.

But the long-hitting Filipino quickly regained his poise and beat Rodgers in the sudden death.

Que said a 20-foot birdie conversion on the 16th which drew him level with Rodgers was pivotal.

“No. 16 was the key. After I holed my bogey putt in regulation, I was so relieved and I was calmer than earlier this morning. I was happy to be in the play-off as it was just me against Chris and I wasn’t fighting against the field anymore. Chris played well but he was unlucky in the play-off,” said Que.

Rodgers, who was searching for a second victory after his 2006 Pakistan Open victory, took the defeat in strides.

“Finishing second is never fun. It was neck and neck and it was done in good spirit and good fun. We were battling away in a good way as we’ve known each other for a long time. It is a good tournament for me but a disappointing finish,” said Rodgers.

He found the greenside trap from a poor lie and then left his third shot well short of the pin and took three putts for a six.

Que, who split the fairway with a monster drive, had the luxury of a two-putt for the win.