Zulaikah Nasser claimed victory at the Toyota Tour Qualifying School 2nd leg with a closing bogey-free three-under 69 at Kota Seriemas Golf & Country Club.
Her three-day total of 214 put her five strokes ahead of Afif Fathi and amateur Chan Kai Zhane, earning her RM3,350 just in time for her 22nd birthday. “It feels great, knowing that I belong on Tour,” said Zulaikah. “I kept on practicing hard and played really solid today. I’m so proud I played bogey-free today.”
A total of 25 players, including eight amateurs and 17 professionals, finished at 15-over or better, securing their Tour playing rights for the next year and qualifying for the Harrier Cup at Kelab Golf DiRaja Pahang, the next event on the Toyota Tour.
The much-anticipated duel between Zulaikah and Liyana Durisic faded on the back nine, with Liyana bogeying three holes and finishing with a three-over 75. Both players, who turned professional on August 27, are now Golf Ambassadors for Kelab Golf Seri Selangor. Zulaikah, a graduate of Sam Houston State, is focused on starting her professional career strong, while Iowa State alumna Liyana prepares for the Maybank LPGA Championship against top names like Nelly Korda, Rose Zhang, and Lydia Ko.
The Qualifiers
214 (-2) Zulaikah Nasser (73-72-69)
219 (+3) Chan Kai Zhane (a) (78-70,71), Afif Fathi (76-71-72)
220 (+4) Liyana Durisic (75-70-75)
221 (+5) Afif Razif (75-76-70)
222 (+6) Rozaini Rosli (a) (75-74-73)
223 (+7) Syady Sheikh (74-77-72), Anis Helmi Hassan (75-76-72)
225 (+9) Sheikh Razak (77-75-73)
226 (+10) Maveen Kumar (77-76-73)