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August 21, Kuala Lumpur:  Mardan Mamat showed astounding strength and stamina to win the US$60,000 Mercedes-Benz Masters Malaysia today at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club.
 
The Singaporean, battling with the effects of fasting and not being allowed to drink a drop of water, beat Pariya Junhasavasdikul from Thailand on the first extra hole of a sudden-death play-off for one of the most remarkable victories seen in the region.
 
“This is a month of blessings and this victory is truly a blessing,” said an emotional and exhausted Mamat.
 
The 42 year old nailed a pressure packed downhill birdie putt from 10 feet on the par-five 18th to win the Mercedes-Benz Tour event. Pariya missed his birdie putt from 18 feet.
 
The pair had finished tied on 13-under-par 275 with Mamat carding a 69 and Pariya a 72.
 
Brilliant young Thai player Thanyakon Khrongpha closed with a 67 but bogeyed the last to miss the play-off by one.
 
“This was really tough both mentally and physically. You feel like you are doing two things are the same time when fasting and playing golf. It is a very special victory,” added Mamat, who dropped to his knees in prayer after holing the winning putt.
 
Mamat is fasting as it is the month of Ramadhan - the Islamic month in which Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset.
 
Overcoming the intense heat and humidity made his performance even more impressive.
 
He had started the final round three strokes behind overnight leader Pariya but drew level with a round made up of four birdies and one bogey. A crucial birdie on the 16th saw him catch his playing partner.
 
It was Mamat’s second victory on the Mercedes-Benz Tour as he won the Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore in 2009.

 
Pariya, who claimed the same Singapore event in 2008, was unable to shake Mamat as he made nine straight pars on the homeward half.
 
“I played some really good golf so I am not disappointed. Mardan is a really good friend of mine so I am really happy for him. I can take a lot from this tournament,” said Pariya.
 
The 26-year-old from Bangkok knew he was in for a fight when a he double bogeyed the par three fourth while Mardan made a two. 
 
Thanyakon, aged 20, made a brave bid with a bold final round. He was on course for a flawless scorecard when reaching six under for the day helped by birdies on 11, 13, 14 and 15.
 
However, he played two poor chips shots on the final hole to record his only bogey of the day.
 
It was a performance that came close to matching his victory in this year’s Kariza Indonesia Championship on the Mercedes-Benz Tour where he stormed through on the final day to force a play.
 
Khor Kheng Hwai finished as the leading Malaysian in joint fourth place. He closed with a 68 for his best finish on the Mercedes-Benz Tour.
 
The next event on Tour is the Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam from September 29 to October 2
 
Leading Final Round Scores:
 
Par 72
 
275 - Mardan Mamat (SIN) 66 75 65 69, Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA) 68 69 66 72
 
(Mamat won on first hole of sudden-death play-off)
 
276 - Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA) 70 69 70 67
 
278 - Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 72 70 69 67, Khor Kheng Hwai (MAS) 71 67 72 68
 
280 - Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 73 70 67 70, Danny Chia (MAS) 72 68 67 73
 
282 - Mohd Sukree Othman (MAS) 71 73 69 69, Gene Bondoc (PHI) 71 71 69 71, Kim Young-jin (KOR) 72 70 67 73
 
283 - S Sivachandran (MAS) 71 69 72 71
 
284 - Mars Pucay (PHI) 75 66 75 68, Nicholas Fung (MAS) 72 74 69 69

From Golf Digest Singapore August 2010 issue