PHNOM PENH  - American rookie David Lipsky produced a superb chip-in birdie to beat Filipino Elmer Salvador in the first play-off hole and win the inaugural $300,000 Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic on Saturday.
The 23-year-old, who won the Asian Tour's Qualifying School in January, enjoyed his maiden professional victory in front of six-time Major champion Nick Faldo at the Angkor Golf Resort, a course Faldo designed. Starting the day seven shots off the lead, Lipsky closed with a stunning seven-under-par 65 for a 15-under-par 273 total. A gritty Salvador had a 10-foot birdie putt at the last hole in regulation play for the outright win but he missed for a 68.
It was a frenetic final day, with six players tied for the lead at one stage before Lipsky and Salvador, who also lost in a play-off at last year's ISPS Handa Singapore Classic, edged ahead of the pack.
"I really can't believe I'm here right now," said a jubilant Lipsky, quoted in a press release from Asian Tour News. Lipsky earned US$47,550 and a priceless winner's exemption on the Asian Tour till the end of 2014. "The chip-in was unbelievable. I practice my short game pretty hard and I thought I had a chance to make it. It was one of those makeable ones up the hill... give it a good strike and see what happens," said the Korean-American.
The 42-year-old Salvador had a good look for an outright win but misjudged his putt at the 72nd hole. "It was a good chip (by Lipsky), it was like a billiard shot ... the way he stopped the ball (into the hole). Can't do anything about that. I still feel happy. Two times losing in a play-off now, I don't know why. I'll keep trying," added Salvador. The lanky Irishman Niall Turner was disappointed with his third place, one shot shy of the play-off after an even par 72, while overnight leader Kim Hyung-sung settled for joint seventh position after signing off with 75.