Human touch the key to Kota Permai’s success
Few golf clubs can come close to matching Kota Permai Golf & Country Club’s trophy cabinet, which is virtually spilling over with awards for its sublime golf course and superb facilities.
It’s not just the hardware that makes Kota Permai – an Asian Tour Destinations partner – one of the great success stories of Malaysian golf. Driving the venue’s rise to the pinnacle of the industry in this region is a talented and highly committed management team, helmed by the visionary leadership of Gamuda Land Executive Director Tang Meng Loon, writes Jonathan Ponniah.
“The human element plays a crucial role in keeping Kota Permai at the forefront of the golf industry. While the course design, maintenance, facilities and other infrastructure are obviously important, it is the people who bring life and character to the club and contribute to its success,” said Tang, who has been with Kota Permai since 2007.
“We have a competent and visionary management team who help set the club’s strategic direction, while making critical decisions and ensuring efficient operations. We empower them and give them a free hand to showcase their abilities. Once you set the goals and empower the department heads, they feel engaged, motivated and committed towards achieving those goals. They don’t just come to work … they come here filled with passion and with a sense of ownership. That’s the key to success,” he elaborated.
Kota Permai’s stunning Ross Watson-designed layout is always in pristine and tournament-ready condition
Tang was quick to point out that teamwork was another key element. “Collaboration and coordination among all the departments and individuals is crucial. Everyone plays a unique role in creating a welcoming, enjoyable and top-notch golfing experience for members and guests. Everyone’s important. Everyone plays a part, and we appreciate and acknowledge that,” he noted.
“We always push our team beyond boundaries and encourage them to strive for even higher standards. No doubt we are up there now, but it’s not easy to stay at the top … so we have to keep on pushing forward.”
And the awards continue to pile up. Recently, Kota Permai was voted Golf Club of the Year for Malaysia at the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) Awards in Abu Dhabi.
Indeed, It’s hard to believe that Kota Permai only celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. In the space of slightly over a quarter century, the club is already an icon of the Asian golf industry and is invariably the first choice when it comes to international tournaments in Malaysia. Among the marquee professional events that have been played on its pristine fairways and super-slick greens are the Malaysian Open (2008, 2020), Selangor Masters (2011, 2012), Volvo Masters of Asia (2002-2004) and Volvo Masters of Malaysia (1997-2001).
Kota Permai will once again be in the limelight this November when the 2024 season-ender of the local professional circuit, the Toyota Tour Championship, tees off as a co-sanctioned event with the Asian Development Tour.
“We always push our team beyond boundaries and encourage them to strive for even higher standards” – Tang Meng Loon
Tang stressed that the hosting of big events enhances the club’s reputation and serves as an effective branding platform.
“Hosting these events enhances the reputation of Kota Permai and establishes the club as a premier golfing destination. They also provide the opportunity for us to showcase our golf course, facilities and hospitality to a wider audience,” he said.
“The events also bring significant media attention and exposure to the club, generating positive publicity and coverage locally and internationally. This definitely helps attract new members and corporate partnerships, as well as additional revenue streams.”
The big events also serve as additional fodder for the fire of continuous improvement. “When we host a major tournament, our maintenance team will strive to keep the course in top-notch condition. We undergo inspections by agronomists from the tours and they will give feedback on any areas that need improvement, and we also work closely with the tournament directors and referees on golf course set-up and markings,” Tang shared.
Having said that, Kota Permai’s Ross Watson-crafted course is always in tournament-ready condition. Long-time course superintendent Lee Chee Keen, aka ‘Bunker Lee’, is one of the best in the business – and it helps that Tang himself has an agronomy background, having started out in the industry as a greenskeeper.
“I always stress to the team that they must look at the details, especially the greens. We have to keep the greens healthy and the speed must be a minimum of 10.5 for normal play, pushed up to 11 to 11.5 for tournaments. That is the benchmark that we set,” Tang stressed.
“When I play golf, I will also look at the details. If I observe certain things that are not right, I will immediately tell the team.”
Kota Permai’s swanky new cigar lounge
Golf aside, Kota Permai is very much a social hub, offering the full range of sports and recreational facilities. These are also continuously improved on and enhanced, with recent developments including a swanky new cigar lounge.
“Our on-going projects are a new two-storey gym and the upgrading of the badminton courts, and we also going to create two new F&B outlets – a seafood restaurant and a poolside café,” Tang revealed.
There’s thus always something new or improved each time one pops by Kota Permai. And a new award or two in that already over-crowded trophy cabinet!
The Aramco Invitational Tournament, the showstopper event on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) last year, will return to the schedule this year, and be played at Rolling Hills Golf Club, in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia from November 27-30.
With a total purse of US$250,000, which matches last year’s prize fund, it will be one of the most lucrative events on the ADT – playing a decisive role in determining who finishes in the top-10 on the Order of Merit, which will reward players with Asian Tour cards for the 2025 season.
Today’s news follows the exciting announcement last year of Aramco’s title sponsorship of the event for three years, starting in 2023, making it the biggest and most significant partnership in the history of the ADT. Headquartered in Dhahran, Aramco is one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies.
Nabil Al-Nuaim, Chairman of the Saudi Aramco Golf Association (SAGA) and Aramco’s Senior Vice President of Digital and Information Technology, said: “Aramco is proud to continue to support golf through partnerships with key national and international partners. We aim to support the Asian Development Tour and encourage young and aspiring Saudi nationals to become professional golfers.”
Rolling Hills Country Club.
The field size will be 120 players, including 70 from the ADT, 40 from Aramco, and 10 invitees.
Last year, in one of the most thrilling finishes witnessed on the ADT and Asian Tour, Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub (main picture) won the Aramco Invitational Tournament by beating England’s William Harrold in a sudden-death play-off at Rolling Hills Golf Club.
The win for Denwit was also enough to clinch victory in the season-long Order of Merit, as it was the final event of the season. Remarkably, the following week, he triumphed in the Thailand Open on the All Thailand Golf Tour, and the week after that, he won the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund, the last stop of the year on the Asian Tour.
Ken Kudo, General Manager of the Asian Development Tour, said: “We all saw the incredible impact the Aramco Invitational Tournament made on the Asian Development Tour last year, in terms of how it dramatically transformed Denwit Boriboonsub’s season and the opportunities it offered him, and also the overall level of excitement it contributed to the circuit.
“The ADT is on the rise, and it is because of partners like Aramco. We thank them for their ongoing support and commitment to the development of our Tour, its members and golf in our regions as a whole.”
Minhaj Khan, Vice Chairman of the Saudi Aramco Golf Association, said: “Aramco aims to expand, enhance and enrich the Asian Development Tour, and players will have an opportunity to compete in the event while experiencing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the fullest.”
Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij was victorious in the inaugural event in 2022, when it was also played at the Rolling Hills Golf Course.
The Aramco Invitational Tournament announcement is the sixth ADT event to be unveiled so far this season, with many more to come.
Last year, the schedule featured 12 events, offering lucrative overall prize money of US$1.38million.
Located in Dhahran, Rolling Hills is a private course for employees of Aramco.
Hua Hin-based American John Catlin is now a five-time winner on the Asian Tour after a dramatic victory at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, on Sunday.
He became the first player to break 60 on the Asian Tour after shooting a cracking 11-under-par 59 on Saturday and defeated Spanish sensation David Puig on the second hole of an exciting and entertaining sudden-death play-off.
Not surprisingly, both players dominated the week’s statistics, especially as they both finished on 23-under-par, on the par-70 Macau Golf and Country Club layout.
Preferred lies were adopted but that did not detract from the remarkably low scoring.
John Catlin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Catlin’s 59 dominated the headlines and will do so for some time. His record-breaking round included nine birdies and an eagle, on the last hole; he needed only 22 putts; hit 16 Greens in Regulation (GIR) (89%); and found 10 out of 13 Fairways in regulation (77%).
Instrumental in Catlin’s win was him excelling in the putting stats for the whole week, with 1.56 Putts per GIR he ranked second only to Puig.
In fact, putting was the standout stat category for the week with the top three players, Catlin, Puig and Lucas Herbert of Australia – who finished two shots shy of the play-off in solo third – ranking second, first and third respectively in the Putts per GIR category.
Both Catlin and Puig also managed to avoid three-putts for the entire week on the tricky Macau greens.
Catlin’s victory was built on a solid week across the other stat categories. He was joint 22nd in GIR on 79.17%, 23rd in Driving Distance averaging 302.90 yards, and tied ninth in Fairways in Regulation on 71.15%.
Puig, winner of the IRS Prima Malaysian Open a month ago, is known as one of the best putters and longest drivers on the Asian Tour, finishing first in the Putts per GIR category and fourth in the Driving Distance last year.
David Puig. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He again had a stellar week on the greens in Macau ranking first in both Putts per Round (25.50) and Putts per GIR (1.49), and as usual he was one of the longest drivers with a median of 314.60 yards, ranking fifth.
The 22-year-old also made the most birdies with 28.
Statistics categories leaders at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn (of players making the cut):
Putts per Round: David Puig (25.50)
Putts per GIR: David Puig (1.49)
GIR: Jbe Kruger (88.89%)
Fairways hit: Takumi Kanaya (86.54%)
Driving Distance: Li Haotong (324.10 yards)
Total Eagles: Charng-Tai Sudsom and Kieran Vincent (3)
Total Birdies: David Puig (28)
Fewest Bogies: Martin Trainer (1)
Teen sensation Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat has revealed that maverick LIV Golf star Bryson Dechambeau is his inspiration while he puts his game on pause this summer to focus on his studies as he prepares to attend the prestigious Stanford University in the United States this year.
The Thai amateur star, who turned 17 earlier this month, will play the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund in April, before taking a break to concentrate fully on his studies from the summer onwards.
‘TK’, as he popularly known, has already sounded out American DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open champion, over his study plan. The captain of the Crushers GC is notorious for his meticulous approach to all aspects of golf, from club fit through to his diet, as he seeks to make marginal gains on all aspects of his game.
‘TK’ is hoping to take a similar approach and said: “In the US the way it works is you don’t pick your major until your third year. So basically you study the mandatory stuff and things you are interested in.
Ratchanon Chantanuwat, amateur of Thailand pictured during Round Three on Saturday March 16, 2024, at the International Series Macau, presented by Wynn, at the Macau Golf and Country Club. The US$2 million Asian Tour event is staged from March 14-17, 2024. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I talked to Bryson recently and he said that if I wanted to study things that will help in golf, I should study Newtonian mechanics, particle physics and maybe dabble in engineering and anatomy and economics. My areas of interest are physics and economics and so I’ll study something along those lines.
“Or I could study something easy,” he laughed. “At the end of the day I want to be a professional golfer and that’s my priority, that is not going to change. I have liked science ever since I was around six years old – it explains everything that works and how everything works.
“As an athlete the best thing you can do for yourself is to learn everything about your sport. For Bryson, that approach has worked out.”
The Thai impressed once again throughout the International Series Macau presented by Wynn last week, with a 14-under total for four days. On day four he carded a three-under round of 67 to finish T14 in a field packed with LIV Golf League stars, major champions and the best players from the Asian Tour
He got off to a flying start on his final round, with a birdie on his first hole. A dropped shot on five threatened to derail his round but back-to-back birdies on eight and nine got him back on track, before an eagle three on the testing par-five 12th.
He picked up a careless double bogey on 16 but hit back hard with a birdie on 18 and walked off the Macau Golf and Country Club course at Grand Coloane in positive fashion shortly before American star John Catlin beat Spaniard David Puig on the second play-off hole for a fifth Asian Tour victory.
Ratchanon Chantananuwat helped conduct a clinic earlier in week. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
‘TK’, who won the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup on the Asian Tour aged 15 in 2022, said: “Fourteen under as a score is not bad, I was similar in Malaysia and the Saudi Open last year, and averaging three to four under each day on the Asian Tour is ok. I had pretty decent shot control, I was manipulating a draw and fade when I needed to, and so I am pretty happy overall.
“I hit one bad shot all day and this weekend has shown what I have to improve upon and that’s my mindset. I overthink things and stress too much and I have to remind myself I’m still amateur, I’m not playing for a lot of money just yet.”
A particular highlight for ‘TK’ this weekend was his second shot on 12, when he hit driver off the deck and managed to make an eagle. He might be eager to learn all aspects of his sport while at college, but he’s not about to change the basics that have served him so well so far.
He said: “In the most humble way, I’ve played a good score here and that’s with a few stupid mistakes in there, I hit one bad shot today and got double bogey.
“I four putted once and three putted twice on the first day. If I can minimise that then I’d be scoring better, I’m still eight off the lead for a bang on average week, and that’s without even considering my putting. My putting is not bad but it is far from good. They just don’t go in. If I putted like the LIV guys I played with, I could be in contention every week.”
John Catlin claimed the International Series Macau presented by Wynn today after a monumental finish to the inaugural event, that saw the irrepressible American beat David Puig on the second hole of a wild sudden-death play-off.
Catlin, who shot an 11-under-par 59 yesterday to become the first player to break 60 on the Asian Tour, backed that up today with a typically tenacious performance – which culminated in him winning after getting up and down for a birdie four on 18, after Puig missed his four from five feet.
The pair had ended the tournament tied on 23-under with Catlin shooting 65 and Puig 60, while Australian Lucas Herbert returned a 64 to finish third, two shots behind. Patrick Reed from the United States secured fourth, one stroke further back, following a 63.
This is Catlin’s fifth victory on the Asian Tour, and first since the 2019 Thailand Open – which also came after a play-off – plus first success on The International Series, and it came after an unexpectedly close finish.
John Catlin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Catlin had a two-stroke lead at the start of the day and put one hand on the trophy when he went out in four-under-par 30 – thanks to three birdies in a row from the fourth and another birdie on nine – for a four-shot advantage at the turn. A birdie at 10 then extended his lead to five.
However, he dropped a shot on 11 before Puig, playing four groups ahead, made a late charge. He emerged from the chasing pack and moved to within two when he birdied 12 and eagled 13, both par fives. The Spaniard then made a birdie on the 15th to sit one back before drawing level with another birdie on 16.
Catlin made a clutch eight-foot birdie putt on the par-three 14th to slide one ahead, but Puig draw level once again when he got up and down for a birdie on the par-five 18th.
On the par-three 17th, Catlin appeared to be in trouble after missing the green with his tee shot. He chipped to nine feet, but once again rose to the challenge and drained the putt, meaning he needed to birdie the last to win.
The final hole has seen birdies and eagles all week and Catlin was hot favourite to win in normal time, especially the way he was putting. However, after chipping to five feet he missed his putt for birdie to the disbelief of everyone watching.
On the first play-off hole, the tournament appeared to be going Puig’s way when Catlin’s second shot, with a fairway wood, sailed past the right side of the green and looked to be heading out of bounds. Fortunately, his ball came to rest on the road behind the main hospitality marquee and from there he was able to take a free drop.
John Catlin celebrates with his caddie Barry Cornwall. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
As that was happening Puig sensationally nearly made an eagle after his bunker shot from 20 yards hit the pin. It left him with a tap in for birdie.
Catlin had to negotiate a difficult chip, with little green to work with, and left himself much to do after leaving himself with a tricky six-foot putt.
But putting the memory of his miss moments earlier behind him, he confidently made the putt to keep the play-off alive.
The next time round Puig again had the upper hand when he found the putting surface in two, although he faced a long-range putt, while Catlin’s second shot missed the green on the right leaving another awkward chip.
Surprisingly, Puig’s first attempt was not up to his usual standard while his American opponent, sensing an opportunity, took the pin out and nearly holed out. After Puig missed his putt, Catlin was left with an easy tap in for an epic victory.
“We made that a little more difficult than we had to,” said Catlin to caddie Barry Cornwall immediately after holing the winning putt.
As well as winning the Thailand Open in extra time he won the 2021 Austrian Open on the DP World Tour in overtime. He’s never lost in a sudden-death play-off and he’s always won if he’s held the third-round lead.
“Still hasn’t quite sunk in, and that was one heck of a battle,” said the 33-year-old Californian.
“I mean, if you had told me I would finish minus 23 on the tournament, and I still have to be in a play-off, I’d be like, you’re kidding. But I mean, it was special all week, I fought really hard. You know, I was battling all week long and to come out on top is really, really special.”
On his struggles on the first play-off hole he said: “Basically I just figured I had nothing to lose, I mean he’s already made four. So, I either got to make four or it’s over, and it actually kind of took a little bit of the heat off and I had a decent chip and a good putt.”
David Puig. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
This is also his first appearance on The International Series and is redemption for being beaten by Puig in the season-opening IRS Prima Malaysian Open. He tied for third there and also missed out on a place in The Open due to a countback based on world rankings.
The win also justifies his decision to return to playing on the Asian Tour. He has been competing in Europe for the past four seasons – where he won back-to-back titles in 2020 and once in 2021 – but after a poor couple of years he opted to play in this year’s Asian Tour Qualifying School, where he made it through in 19th place.
He moves into second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, while Puig has the consolation of becoming number one. On The International Series Rankings, Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz is still first, with Catlin second and Puig third.
“Yeah, good day, obviously the score says it right?” said Puig.
“And I played good. Had a very good back nine and I’m happy that I got into the play-off and I had a chance. It has been a good week. I mean different course for sure but pretty fun. Also, you know, I’m pretty tired being the seventh week in a row, so I’m glad I finished on a good note and ready for what’s next.”
The Asian Tour has a break now before it heads to the US$1million Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund, at Riyadh Golf Club, from April 17-20.
Kieran Vincent has only been on the LIV Golf League for just over a month, but it is clear that this new chapter of his fledgling career has already had a huge impact on him, not just because at the first event, in Mayakoba, he was part of Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII winning team.
“I mean it’s been nothing short of spectacular,” said the Zimbabwean, speaking at this week’s inaugural International Series Macau presented by Wynn.
“You dream for it to go really, really well, and I think it’s done that and more. Obviously to get paired up with such an awesome team, with Jon, Tyrrell [Hatton] and Caleb [Surratt] you can’t ask for better teammates and just the acclimatisation of now being part of the LIV Golf League it’s been awesome. I’m excited for what’s in store for us the next few events coming up.”
Vincent is playing the LIV Golf League by virtue of the fact that he successfully negotiated last year’s tension-packed LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi – where he secured one of the three places on offer, after surviving a sudden-death play-off, to add even more drama and emotion to a lifechanging week.
Kieran Vincent. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Above all else the 26-year-old feels the greatest part of the experience so far is getting the chance to spend an extended amount of time with the best players in the world.
He explains: “It’s just kind of seeing the day-to-day life, what they get up to on a day-to-day basis is awesome. You know you always think of the life of a tour pro, awesome and glamourous, and I think that Jon and Tyrrell and even Caleb have kind of shown me that there is so much more to it than just playing on the golf course.
“I’ve learned so many things just being around them for the last four weeks now, and as I said I think the world of them. They’re such awesome guys both on the course and even off the course, they want the best for everybody. I think that’s what makes that whole LIV lifestyle so unique, it’s that you get to spend so much in-depth time with all these guys, so it’s really, really cool.”
The team element of the LIV Golf League is also something he is enjoying immensely.
“Yeah, it’s so different in so many different ways,” said Vincent, who won the International Series Vietnam last year, for his maiden victory as a professional in his first full season on the Asian Tour.
“You know that in a team event like this, where on the last day all four scores count, everyone has to do their bit to really jump up the leaderboard. And I think that’s what we did so well in Mayakoba, that all four scores were really good scores, and that we put the best scores that we could out there.”
There is no doubt that having his brother Scott playing on the LIV Golf League also provides extra inspiration, and on that front, at this stage, they are about even stevens. Legion XIII are fourth on the team rankings, while Scott’s Iron Heads GC team are joint 12th, however the latter is equal 44th individually, one place ahead of his younger brother, with everything to play for over the next eight events.
Talented Thai sensation Denwit Boriboonsub was left to rue a number of missed putts around the Macau Golf and Country Club, but still managed to stay in contention going into the final round of the International Series Macau presented by Wynn.
A wonderful eight-under round of 62 would surely have made the headlines on any other day – until American John Catlin’s stunning 59 and two other 62s from LIV Golf stars, Ripper GC’s Lucas Herbert and Smash GC’s Jason Kokrak.
Denwit picked up a birdie on his first as he started on 10, after hitting his approach to five feet, and he was motoring after three more on his front nine at 13, 15 and 18. Birdies on the first and third, as well as two more on the spin on eight and nine, ensured a blemish-free eight under round that moved him to T8.
Things might have been even better for the 20-year-old had his flat stick been as hot as his driver and irons.
Denwit Boriboonsub. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The 20-year-old has already proved he can mix it with the big guns after beating 2016 Open champion Henrik Stenson at the Saudi Open late last year for his first ever Asian Tour title and his third title in an astonishing three-week spell where he also claimed victory in the Aramco Invitational and then the Thailand Open.
And he’s clearly not afraid of competing at the highest level in a field that includes major winners Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed and Graeme McDowell alongside a large number of LIV Golf League stars and the cream of the Asian Tour.
He said: “Today’s round, I hit my driver so good and I hit my irons so well too. But I missed a lot of putts, left a lot out there. But because of the irons that I hit so well, I hit it so close all day long – right from my second shot of the day which was close to five feet.
“I think today in the round I was pretty confident with my shots and drives, but luckily today there was no wind. It was very calm and the green speeds were the same over all three days, so I learned it all from the greens on the first and the second day.”
Denwit is young and hungry, not without ambition. The Asian Tour Order of Merit is the target for this season. He explained: “This season I really want to win the Order of Merit – you get a five-year exemption and that’s the main goal for me. The International Series events are a huge opportunity on the Asian Tour for players like me.
“Playing with the likes of Jason Kokrak, Sergio Garcia, and top players like Graeme McDowell, that’s a huge opportunity for players like me.”
Compatriot Charng-Tai Sudsom is a shot further back on -12 after an eventful round that yielded five birdies and a bogey in a seven-hole burst from his third. An eagle on 15 ensured a six-under 64 that moved him up to T14, six behind Catlin after his incredible 59.
Charng-Tai said: “I’m very happy with my result. I was driving the ball well and my wedge game was very good today – five birdies and one bogey in the front nine is a really solid round. The International Series is very important for my career – it helps me focus on my goal to try and get there, and I’m trusting my process.
“I want to try to finish top 30 in the International Series Order of Merit (Rankings) and I’m just grinding and grinding, I’m enjoying it and I just want to go out and have fun.”
John Catlin set his name in stone in the history books today by becoming the first player to shoot a 59 on the Asian Tour, at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn – emphatically announcing his return to the region.
The American, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour who has spent the last four seasons playing in Europe, carded an explosive bogey-free 11-under-par 59 to take the third-round lead at Macau Golf & Country Club.
He leads the event on 18-under by two from American Jason Kokrak, who shot a 62. Lucas Herbert from Australia also returned a 62 and is a further stroke back along with joint overnight leader Jbe Kruger from South Africa, who came in with a 66.
Spaniard David Puig, who shared the lead at the start of day with Kruger, returned a 68, which, on a day of tremendously low-scoring, saw him fall back into a tie for eighth on 13-under.
John Catlin celebrates his eagle putt on the 18th green with playing partner Patrick Reed. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Catlin holed a brilliant big left-to-right breaking 20-foot eagle putt on the par-five 18th to seal the deal, after making six birdies on the front nine and three on the back.
His ecstatic reaction to holing the putt marked yet another memorable milestone for the 33-year-old Californian on the Asian Tour. He first made his name here by winning on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2016 and 2017 before graduating to the main Tour where he won three times in 2018 and once in 2019.
Three victories followed in Europe soon after but having successfully passed through the Asian Tour Qualifying School in January it appears being back in the region has proved to be the correct career move.
“Yeah, I’m pretty much speechless,” said an emotional Catlin, who admitted later that he thought he would never break 60, even though all his passwords end with 59.
“It’s pretty, crazy. It hasn’t totally sunk in yet. Wow. Yeah, the emotions are hitting me for sure. Just everything I’ve been through over the last two years. To be here. It’s pretty special.”
Just prior to his remarkable three on the last he also made birdie on the challenging 239-yard par-three 17th, where he holed an eight-footer. A 10-footer to save par on the 12th also proved crucial.
Jason Kokrak. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The American was able to benefit from calm conditions and preferred lies but that didn’t detract from shooting the first sub-60. Sixty has been shot on three occasions on the Asian Tour before while a 59 has been carded once at both the Qualifying School and on the ADT.
When asked about his dip in form since last winning in Europe in early 2021, he said: “Yeah, it’s really difficult. You know, you sacrifice a lot, you put in a lot. I definitely want to thank my coach Noah Montgomery. He’s been with me now for 10 years and he really helped me through it. I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have him in my corner and we just kept pushing. We just kept pushing. And yeah, to be here right now is pretty special.”
Catlin secured the 19th card at Qualifying School before going on to finish equal third at the season-opening IRS Prima Malaysian Open.
Kokrak, when asked if he felt he needed to play aggressively on a day of low scoring, said: “You have to. I mean it’s a golf course where if you’re in the fairway you have to attack it. The greens are soft, you have to attack this place with no wind. If it’s windy out there it can play a little tricky, but with it being calm we knew we had to go out there and shoot something low.”
Fellow LIV Golf League player Herbert added: “John [Catlin] has won plenty of tournaments, I have won plenty of tournaments and a few other boys have played plenty as well, and we all know how to get it done. So hopefully I can get in with a sniff with nine to play, and do the best I can do and it should be a good battle out there.”
Last year’s Hong Kong Open champion Ben Campbell (63) from New Zealand, Frenchman Martin Trainer (64), a Qualifying School graduate, and Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz (65), who won the International Series Oman last month, are four behind Catlin, in a tie for fifth.
Lucas Herbert. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Thailand’s 20-year-old star Denwit Boriboonsub, winner of the season-ending events on both the Asian Tour and ADT last December, signed for a 62 and is in a group of players one shot further adrift.
This week’s US$2million event is the fourth event of the year on the Asian Tour and second on The International Series.
Australian veteran Scott Hend has put himself in contention again for a second successive tournament after a two-under round of 68 left him just four off the lead at the halfway stage of the International Series Macau presented by Wynn.
And the 50-year-old has vowed to be his usual aggressive self as he goes in search of win No.11 on the Asian Tour, two weeks after missing out in agonizing fashion to Takahiro Hataji at the 103rd New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.
A fortnight ago, Hend rolled back the years with a vintage display and had either led or shared the lead over three days before Hataji took to the front with birdies on 12 and 15. And even though Hend caught up with birdies on 16 and 17, a missed four-footer for par handed the Japanese star outright victory at Queenstown’s Millbrook Resort.
In Macau, the 10-time Asian Tour winner and 16-time champion around the world, followed up his five-under first round 65, when he was out in the second group, with a steady round today to sit well-placed behind David Puig of Spain and Jbe Kruger of South Africa at the Macau Golf and Country Club.
Scott Hend. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Reflecting on his New Zealand experience, he said: “I am not a person to leave putts short, or a person who believes in tomorrow – I’m about the here and now. My nature is aggressive, and it comes out in my golf – up front.
“You win some, you lose some – you do not win by leaving putts short. I misjudged one (on 18) and hit a good putt coming back and it just lipped out. There is not much more I can do. Unfortunately, it cost me some money but it is not where I lost the tournament.
“I lost the tournament on the back nine, where I missed a three and a half footer on 13 for birdie, I did not birdie 12, and I did not birdie the par-five 14th. I cannot blame 18. I birdied 16 and 17 to get in position, and then I went for the win. I tried to get it done in real time and that is the way I am!”
Reflecting on his second round, Hend added: “I missed a lot of putts today and couldn’t get a grasp of the greens. On the first round, being out second in the morning, we did not have much grain to contend with.
“As it dried out a bit in the afternoon, the grains stood up and I was a quarter of a ball out from holing putts. I am playing really well, and we had wind this morning and this afternoon, and the other side of the draw had nothing! I’m well positioned for the weekend; the guys are shooting good scores and let’s see what happens. No one is going to get away with one club length preferred lie because of the condition of the fairways. It always comes down to a bit of a putting competition and not really a ball-striking thing. We will see, with the greens today, hopefully tomorrow we can get back into it.”
Spain’s David Puig and Jbe Kruger from South Africa took the halfway lead in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn today by the only way possible, shooting in the low 60s.
Puig, winner of the season-opening IRS Malaysian Open and arguably the hottest property on the Asian Tour at the moment, shot a six-under-par 64 while Kruger fired a 63.
They lead on 11-under on a day of low scoring here at Macau Golf & Country Club – the venerable venue that has hosted Asian Tour events since the late 1990s.
Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren and Mito Pereira from Chile are one shot back, after rounds of 65 and 66, respectively – in the inaugural edition of this US$2million event, which is the second stop on The International Series’ 2024 season and the fourth leg of the Asian Tour.
David Puig. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz (66), Japan rookie Yuta Sugiura (67) and Pat Perez from the United States (67) are a further stroke behind.
Overnight leader Li Haotong from China tumbled down the leaderboard with a 72. He is in a tie for 42nd on five under.
Puig, in his usual casual and relaxed approach, continued to do what he has done a lot of recently: hit big drives, hole a lot of putts and lead golf tournaments.
He made seven birdies, including on 17 and 18, and dropped one shot.
“A good day,” said the 22-year-old, who plays for Fireballs GC on the LIV Golf League.
“Kept it pretty good off the tee, which obviously helps. Pretty happy with my game and ready for the weekend.”
The Spaniard, who won the International Series Singapore last year for his maiden win as a professional, is playing his fifth event in a row and he is starting to feel the effects.
He added: “I am tired, very tired. It wasn’t the best preparation for this week. I mean, spent a couple of days just in the hotel and played nine holes on Wednesday. But again, I’m playing pretty good. I guess playing a lot in a row helps to score better and that’s pretty good. So hopefully I can keep doing the same this weekend and take the trophy home.”
Jbe Kruger. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Kruger is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour – his most recent being the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2019 – and based on today’s performance he is hungry for a third.
“I’m making putts, that’s as much as I can say,” said Kruger, who also won the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup on the Japan Tour last July.
“I’m not really hitting many fairways. I’m hitting the greens but I’m not getting it in the fairway and that makes life difficult for me actually. But when it’s on the green, I’m making them.
“I’ve always liked this course. You know it’s actually short, but it’s difficult with the wind. I told my wife Denise [who is caddying for him] it’s very funny not to have that much wind, because we are so used to hitting the same shots over and over. And today there was almost no breeze at the end there which was lovely.”
Hellgren, one of the biggest hitters on the Asian Tour, harnessed his power with precision to move into contention. He has been playing on the Asian Tour for the past two years and has overpowered courses with powerful and prodigious driving – which saw him ranked first in driving distance in 2022, with an average of 313.62 yards, and seventh last year.
That skillset has not yet led to a victory although one of his best performances on the Asian Tour came here on the same course at last year’s SJM Macao Open, when he tied for 11th.
“I think lines off the tee are crucial, there are some blind tee shots,” said 33-year-old Hellgren, who played on the same golf team as Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger at Florida State University.
“I try to take advantage as much as I can with my driver. So off the tee, if you can hit some long drives with good lines, you will pick up a few shots.”
Bjorn Hellgren. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He made an eagle, on the par-five 13th, five birdies and two bogeys.
He said: “With this new Callaway driver that I have, it’s fairly straight. I don’t try to hit it as hard as I can like I used to two years ago, you still have to hit it quite straight here. It’s tricky with the wind, we have to play what we feel. But I try to take advantage of my driving, yes.”
The Swede also has the added incentive of having his fiancee Lovisa here with him this week.
Ortiz won the International Series Oman last month by four shots from South African Louis Oosthuizen, with in-form Joaquin Niemann from Chile one shot further back, for arguably the finest performance of his career. He clearly has not lost any momentum.
He said: “Good, I’m happy. I feel like it’s a golf course, right now, that’s pretty gettable. And I’ve taken advantage not as much as I wanted to, but I’m in a good place for the weekend.
“It’s kind of a funky golf course, you have all kinds of different shots, all kinds of lies. So, it requires a lot of different shots and I think I do that well.”
Sugiura is emerging as this week’s dark horse. He is in his first season as a professional and made it through this year’s Asian Tour Qualifying School – something that surprised nobody as last year he sensationally won the Dunlop Phoenix as an amateur.
Carlos Ortiz. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I played really well today, same as yesterday,” he said.
“With the win last year, I managed to gain a lot of confidence in my golf. Currently I’m in contention for another win, so I hope I can keep my confidence up and have a good weekend.”
The 22-year-old has big plans for 2024. He wants to win the Money List title in Japan, and added: “If I have more chances to play on The International Series, I would love to play as many as I can.”
Thailand’s amateur star Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat carded a 64 and is in a group of players tied for eighth, just three behind the leaders, along with compatriot Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who returned a 63.
Recent Comments