Published July 17, 2008 on April 6, 2018

Poh Edges Ahead at PGM Johor Championship

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Singapore’s Johnson Poh stayed on track for his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory after posting a third round three-under-par 69 at the PGM Johor Championship on Friday.

The 26-year-old Singaporean, who is chasing for his breakthrough win, dug deep into his reserves to lead by two shots with a 14-under-par 202 total at the RM225,000 (approximately US$58,000) event.

Three players sit in third place just two strokes shy of the lead at the Palm Resort Golf and Country Club – Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski (66), Malaysia’s Ben Leong (67) and Singapore’s Koh Deng Shan (68).

Starting on hole one, the in-form Poh widened his lead with an eagle on his third hole after making a massive putt.

“I hit a good drive on the fairway and then a solid second shot just past the pin and had a tough downhill putt with a huge break from right to left. I saw the line in my head and just told myself to trust it and roll it in,” said Poh.

Poh, who joined the play-for-pay ranks in 2015 made birdies on holes seven and twelve before making a double bogey on hole 15 where he hit his drive into the hazard.

“My club slipped out of my hand and I hit my drive into the hazard. But I had a good lie, so I decided to play it which was a bad decision because I hit it heavy and made double bogey. But I recovered right after with another eagle on hole 16 when I chipped in from 20 metres off the green,” added Poh.

Compatriot Koh who is also vying for his breakthrough win suffered a drop shot on holes two but would finish out strong with four birdies and an eagle on hole 16 before another dropped shot on his final hole.

“All three of us in the same group eagled that hole. I was the first one to putt from 20-feet off the green and it was nice to celebrate three eagle putts in the group. Playing with all my friends helped because I was very relaxed throughout the round and I was in my comfort zone. Today felt like any other day and I was just taking it one hole at a time,” said Koh.

Excited with his lead going into the final round but still sticking to his game plan of taking it one shot at a time and visualizing the putts roll in, Poh is confident that his maiden win will be right around the corner.

“This feels like home because I come to Johor a lot to play with my father. I like where my game is at now and I hope to put in another low round tomorrow. It has always been my goal each year to have an ADT win in the bag and I will give it my best tomorrow,” added Poh.

Malaysia’s Arie Irawan took fifth place on his own following a 69 while three players take sixth place a stroke behind him – Myanmar’s Ye Htet Aung (67), Thailand’s Sorachut Hansapiban (70) and Finland’s Janne Kaske (72).

Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points are offered on all ADT events with the winner earning a total of six OWGR points while the top-six players and ties earn points on a sliding scale.

The leading five players on the ADT Order of Merit at the end of the season will earn playing rights on the premier Asian Tour for the 2019 season.

Leading round three scores:

202 – Johnson POH (SGP) 68 65 69

204 – Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE) 68 70 66, Ben LEONG (MAS) 67 70 67, KOH Deng Shan (SGP) 70 66 68

205 – Arie Irawan (MAS) 71 65 69

206 – Ye Htet AUNG (MYN) 68 71 67, Sorachut HANSAPIBAN (THA) 67 69 70, Janne KASKE (FIN) 65 69 72

208 – Nitithorn THIPPONG (THA) 70 69 69, Nicholas FUNG (MAS) 71 68 69, Kieran PRATT (AUS) 70 68 70