Scott Hend claimed his third European Tour title in dramatic circumstances as he beat Nacho Elvira at the first play-off hole to win the weather affected Maybank Championship.
The 45-year-old began the fourth round three shots behind overnight leader Elvira but went in front courtesy of five birdies on the front nine and remained ahead by one stroke as the final group arrived at the 18th tee.
But there was late drama as the heavens opened, with a clap of thunder on Elvira's backswing disrupting his approach into the 18th green just before play was suspended at 1450 local time.
But there was late drama as the heavens opened, with a clap of thunder on Elvira's backswing disrupting his approach into the 18th green just before play was suspended at 1450 local time.
That left the Spaniard with a 30 foot putt to keep his hopes alive and when play resumed at 1630, he coolly drained his birdie effort to join Hend on -15 and force a play-off.
Hend got a lucky break when his tee shot at the first extra hole hit the base of a tree and landed on the fairway, while Elvira's ball went straight into a fairway bunker.
The Australian hit 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 at the Omega European Masters in both 2016 and 2017.
The victory is Hend's first since the 2016 True Thailand Classic and takes him into the top ten of the 2019 Race to Dubai Rankings.
The victory is Hend's first since the 2016 True Thailand Classic and takes him into the top ten of the 2019 Race to Dubai Rankings.
Elvira's runner-up finish was his second in as many starts after he ended the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in a T2 in his last outing
Meanwhile, four time Major Champion Ernie Els secured his 300th career top ten finish after closing with a 71 to join the large group in a T7.
Bryan Angus
(europeantour.com)
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