Affable Aussie Scott overcame a wasp sing, bird droppings and a final green storm delay to capture the Maybank Championship in remarkable play-off at the Saujana Resort in suburban Kuala Lumpur.

For the 45-year old Hend it was also a European Tour third time lucky after losing out in both 2016 and 2017 in a play-off at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

The victory is also Hend’s 14th professional success, a third on the European Tour, a 10th counting Asian Tour title and with all 14 victories for the Florida-based Hend on the Asia continent.

Scott Hend proudly holding the Maybank Championship trophy. (Photo – European Tour)

The week began for Hend tweeting: “Been a gr8 day so far in the @maybankchampion Pro-am…… had 2 birds crap on me, got stung by a wasp…. just need the Monkeys to steal my phone and that would top it off… ahhh also lost 6 balls so far.”

When the co-sanctioned tournament got under way it as Hend’s good friend and 2016 Maybank winner, Marcus Fraser leading the way with a 65 and Hend close behind in signing for a 67.  Hend then posted  a 71 and then began to make his presence felt with a third day 67 so that he headed into day four three shots behind overnight leader Elvira.

Hend soon stormed to the front courtesy of five birdies on the front nine and remained ahead by one stroke as the final group arrived at the 18th tee.

Dramatically, there was a large a clap of thunder on Elvira’s backswing disrupting his approach into the 18th green just before play was suspended at 2.50pm local time.

When play resumed at 4.30pm local time, Elvira delivered his own lightning strike holing his 30-foot putt for birdie to tie Hend on 15 under par and force a play-off.

Then if there was not enough drama already over the final round with Hend getting not one but two breaks up the 18th hole for a second time when his tee shot hit the base of a tree and landed on the fairway, while Elvira’s ball went straight into a fairway bunker.

The big-hitting Queenslander struck another tree with his second shot but holed his birdie putt from three feet to clinch the title and banish memories of previous play-off defeats in Switzerland.

“What a putt by Nacho,” said Hend. “If I was to go out there and hit that putt you would say you would hole it one in ten times. It was an amazing putt, and in the situation he holed it. All credit to Nacho, it was fantastic.

“I had to get off to a fast start as I was three shots behind. That’s all there was to it. I was fortunate enough to turn in five under and on the back nine I shot level par. I can’t ask for much more on a Sunday when the golf course is playing quite tricky.

“I felt like I played fantastic on the back nine. I nearly holed a lot of putts, just missing. I just had to keep my head on and stay patient, stay in there. The worst case scenario was a play-off.

“I’m a grinder and a fighter. So is my caddie Tony. We both have the same mental attitude. It doesn’t matter how old we are, we work hard at what we do. It just takes a bit of luck to win.

“Obviously I had a bit of luck on the play-off hole. If you don’t have any luck you won’t win. I had the luck today, unfortunately for Nacho. His time will come, he’s going to win. He’s a great player.”

The victory is Hend’s first since the 2016 True Thailand Classic Presented by Chang and takes him into the top ten of the 2019 Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex.

He’s still smiling, but that’s so unlucky for Elvira. #MaybankChampionship pic.twitter.com/ej1rtgwfgf

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 24, 2019

First to congratulate Hend was his fellow former Tour player and now coach and caddy, Tony Carolan.

Elvira was pleased with his performance despite just missing out on a first European Tour title.

He said: “It was thunder in a bad moment but the gods did give me one back with that putt. I think I played great all week, solid, consistent, I’m very happy with that. I’m happy that my game has finally showed a little bit of consistency.

“I tried to give it all on the play-off hole. I just missed my driver a little bit and gave myself a little chance to make birdie, but I’m happy.

“Lifting trophies is the point, that’s what we try to do every week. Hopefully it works out soon.”
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