Quek 'gets the job done' again

New-found confidence helps him clinch first title on PGA China tour after recent ADT win

Quincy Quek earned his biggest professional win at the Haikou Classic, becoming the first Singaporean to win on the PGA Tour Series-China. He raked in 288,000 yuan (S$55,890).
Quincy Quek earned his biggest professional win at the Haikou Classic, becoming the first Singaporean to win on the PGA Tour Series-China. He raked in 288,000 yuan (S$55,890). PHOTO: PGA TOUR SERIES-CHINA

Thrice, he had come close to bagging his first PGA Tour Series-China win, but all three times he had fallen short.

Quincy Quek has endured a tumultuous last few years that have been riddled with missed chances, but five years and 38 starts later, the 32-year-old's patience was rewarded when he clinched his first tour title in the Haikou Classic at Mission Hills Haikou yesterday.

He wrapped up the tournament with two-over 73 for a 16-under 268 to secure a two-stroke victory over China's Bai Zhengkai.

This comes on the back of his win at the PGM Northport ADT Championship in Kuala Lumpur - his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) title in seven years - less than a month ago.

He said: "It's the self-belief that I can get it done and not being afraid to do it. The first win has helped me aim higher a bit.

"In the past, it's been up and down; you make some silly mistakes, unforced errors, your mind starts to wander, you get stressed out.

"But now I know that I have the ability and it's just about going out there and getting the job done."

Even after putting in an impressive performance in the first three rounds that saw him take a six-stroke lead at 18-under 195 at the 7,146-yard Sandbelt Trails Course, thoughts of winning did not surface in his mind.

Instead, he focused on concentrating on the present so as to stave off any unnecessary pressure.

This proved crucial in the final round of the tournament, which saw Quek hang on to his lead despite carding three bogeys.

In between shots, he would think of other things like the fond memories he has with his two-year-old daughter and not get too obsessed with how he was faring in comparison to others.

"When you're out there on the green for five hours, it takes a lot out of you if you constantly let yourself think about the results," said Quek.

"There have been times when I find myself slipping and getting distracted by the position and how many more birdies I have to get to this position, but I've tried to let my mind not think so much about the result, think more about process."

After his biggest professional win, which saw him take home a winner's cheque of 288,000 yuan (S$55,890) - more than four times the RM39,375 (S$12,980) he earned at last month's tournament - he is quietly confident.

But Quek, who shot up the PGA Tour Series-China Order of Merit from 32nd to ninth, is not immediately targeting more titles.

With several ADT events in the region over the next few weeks in line, he said: "It's very encouraging, it's gotten me quite excited for the weeks to come.

"Honestly, I don't think I'll be doing anything different - the idea is to always stay patient and just go along with it.

"It's a fine line between (that and) trying to force it."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 16, 2019, with the headline Quek 'gets the job done' again. Subscribe