Marcus Fraser the Inaugural Maybank Champion,,,

By Jugjet Singh

MARCUS Fraser of Australia kept his cool on a hot and windy afternoon at the Royal Selangor Golf Club to lift the inaugural Maybank Championship Malaysia crown on 15-under 269.
  He started the day three strokes behind overnight leafer Lee Soomin of South Korea, but kept biting at the lead and finally laid his hands on a title after a six-year drought.
  Soomin's game was badly affected by nerves in the last three holes, where he practically gave away the title as well as US500,000 prize to the Australian.
  Marcus, 37-years-old, had a final round of three-under 68, but his putter was shaking as he sank the final putt.
  The Australian was two shots behind Soomin as he stood on the 16th but a double-bogey from the Korean coupled with a nearly-holed chip opened the door for Fraser to win a third European Tour title.
  A steady ten-foot putt on the 17th kept Fraser in a share of the lead at 15 under going up the last and when Soomin double-bogeyed again, a par was enough to make Fraser the first winner of the Maybank Championship.
  "My putter was shaking and I had to grip it harder to steady my hands as I kept thinking that I can't miss this chance to lay my hands on a title after six years.
  "Yes, it has been that long since I last won (2010 Ballantines Championship) and so I felt I had to send that ball six inches into to ground. And it happened," said Fraser.
  All he wants to do right now is fly home and show his kids the trophy and walk them to school Monday.
  "My two young children always ask me when I'm going to win a trophy when I walk out the door for a tournament and finally I will be able to take home one and show it to them.
  "I will walk them to school, and let them show the Trophy to their school friends, that's how special this win is," said Fraser.
   Soomin double bogied the 16th and 18th to tie second with Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines on 13-under 271. Soomin had a final round of two-over 73, while Tabuena had a three-under 68. They took home US260,565 each.
  "I can't complain with the way I played here this week because I was down with food poisoning since Tuesday. I wan't 100 per cent my self so no complaints at all.
  "I bogeyed the 17th but came back to birdie the 18th, which almost went in for an eagle. I won't say this is mu biggest achievement by it is certainly my biggest paycheque so far.
  "I'm only 21 and have been on the Tour for the last five years now, and so I have plenty of experience and matured. I can't wait for the rest of the year to kick off," said Tabuena.
  Tabuena walked into the tournament as the reigning Philippines Open champion: "My big goal is to get into the Olympics (Rio de Janeiro) and this finishing here should help realise my dream."