Volvo Masters of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 13th - 16th November

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Crunch Putt Gives Pena Volvo Title

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 16th November - American Christian Pena holed a pressure packed five foot par putt on the last to beat Taiwan's Hsieh Yu-shu by a stroke in the US$200,000 Volvo Masters of Malaysia. At Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, Pena fired a three-under-par 69 to finish the Omega Tour event on 12-under-par 276. Leading by a stroke from Hsieh with only the 393-yard par-four last to play, the outcome was far from over after Pena hit his seven iron approach short of the green while the Taiwanese player hit his second to 15 feet.

Pena, from Tuscon, Arizona, chipped up to the hole and then waited anxiously as Hsieh played his putt. Fortunately for Pena, Hsieh played a poor putt which came up four feet short. He holed out leaving Pena with a putt for victory, worth US$32,300.

"I missed a two foot par putt on the last in round three and it was on my mind standing on the green," said Pena. "It was such a relief to hole the putt. Hsieh, Simon (Yates) and I had such battle all day. My mind was racing all the way round. When I made a birdie I'd think I was going to win but then if I had a bogey I'd start thinking I'd be happy to finish in the top five." The crucial hole proved to be the 201-yard par-three 17th where Pena hit a six iron to ten feet and holed the putt to give him a one stroke advantage heading for the last. "I was a little lucky there," said Pena. "Hsieh hit a great tee shot right at the flag but it went a little long. My shot was a bit off target but the steep slope on the green brought the ball down to the hole – it wasn't a deliberate shot."

Pena and Hsieh had started the day a stroke behind Scotland's Simon Yates but at the turn Hsieh led by one from Pena and two from Yates.

Yates played steadily for much of the round but was unable to fire the 69 which, as he predicted, would have won him the title. He eventually carded a one-over-par 73.

It was a surprise victory by 29-year-old Pena whose best performance this year on Tour had been joint seventh in the Ta Shee Open last week in Taiwan. That had been his only top ten finish on Tour this year out of nine events played in.

South African Craig Kamps finished third on 10 under par after birdieing the last for a 69. In joint fourth place with Yates was Korean Kwon Young-suk, who returned a 68.