Elmer Salvador upbeat despite playoff loss

KUALA LUMPUR—Elmer Salvador of the Philippines is not disheartened despite two playoff losses now on the Asian Tour as he takes pride in his battling display at the Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic last week.

The 42-year-old Salvador is fast gaining a reputation as the dark horse on the Asian Tour after going into extra time with rising star and eventual winner David Lipsky of the United States at the newest $300,000 Asian Tour event at the Angkor Golf Resort.

With a never-say-never attitude, Salvador almost stole the show before a magical chip-in birdie by Lipsky on the first extra hole dashed Salvador’s hopes of erasing last year’s play-off defeat to Himmat Rai of India at the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic.

“It was a good chip, like a billiard shot the way he stopped the ball,” said Salvador, who has an average of 28.1 putts per round in three Asian Tour events thus far.  “You can’t do anything about that. My putting was sometimes good and sometimes bad.”

His second-place finish pushed him up the Order of Merit to 14th place where he has won $37,612 this season.

“I still feel happy despite losing two times in a playoff. I don’t know why but I’ll keep trying. I’m happy with my performance. I played well last week,” added Salvador.

The story of the week belonged to the jubilant Korean-American Lipsky, whose come from behind win at the Cambodian Classic mirrored his victory at the Asian Tour Qualifying School in Thailand.

Lipsky overcame a seven-shot deficit and was one shot from the overnight leaders at Qualifying School before making a final round charge. Asian Tour News