Mr 59 Suttijet returns
Thailand’s Suttijet Kooratanapisan has a big advantage over the rest of the field at this week’s US$1million Laguna Phuket Championship: he knows what it is like to shoot 59 on the Laguna Golf Phuket layout!
In 2017, Suttijet returned an 11-under-par 59 in the Singha Phuket Open on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) to become the first player to shoot sub-60 in the history of the Asian Tour and ADT.
Preferred lies were played so it could not stand as a record, but a 59 is a still 59.
“Actually, I just kept going birdie, birdie, birdie that day,” said 34 year old.
“I didn’t think about my score at all until the last hole, when I knew I needed a birdie to shoot 59.”
He drained a 30-foot birdie putt to break 60. His compatriot Naras Luangphetcharaporn is the only other player to shoot 59 ‒ achieved at the Tour’s Qualifying School in 2019 – also when lift, clean and place rules applied.
Suttijet made an eagle and nine birdies to finish in third place in the Singha Phuket Open; he also birdied the last four holes.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Suttijet Kooratanapisan of Thailand pictured on Tuesday November 30, 2021 during an official practice round ahead of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, December 2-5, 2021, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He added: “I remember hole number seven was a par-five last time, now it’s a par four. I loved that because when I shot 59 I made eagle there.”
The Thai golfer is looking for his first win on the Asian Tour ‒ his best is second place in the 2016 Bashundhara Bangladesh Open ‒ but he does have one ADT win to his name: the PGM Palm Resort Championship, also in 2016.
“This week is a lot harder though as the rough is very long and the fairways are very narrow. It’s not the same as last time. My goal this week is just to play under par every day. Right now my putting is so good.”
This week’s Laguna Phuket Championship is the second and final part of the Asian Tour Phuket Series ‒ which marked the restart of the Tour’s 2020-21 season.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Suttijet Kooratanapisan of Thailand pictured on Tuesday November 30, 2021 during an official practice round ahead of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, December 2-5, 2021, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang, who claimed last week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship is again competing, along with a powerful line-up of the Tour’s best players including: current Order of Merit leader Wade Ormsby from Australia and his countryman Scott Hend, a 10-time Asian Tour winner, reigning Order of Merit champion Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand, Korean teenager Joohyung Kim ‒ who was joint runner-up last week ‒ and Malaysian number one Gavin Green.
We have put together 10 things you need to know ahead of this week’s Laguna Phuket Championship, which marks the second event of the Asian Tour Phuket Series.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat of Thailand, 14 year old amateur, pictured on Tuesday November 30, 2021 during an official practice round ahead of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, December 2-5, 2021, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
- Laguna Golf Phuket, revamped and revitalized by architect Paul Jansen in 2014, had previously hosted the Laguna Phuket Open on the Asian Development Tour from 2017 to 2019. The 2017 edition was made special by Thailand’s Suttijet Kooratanapisan, who recorded the first ever 59 on the ADT and Asian Tour in the final round.
- A talented field of 144 players from 25 countries, including five Order of Merit champions and 40 Tour champions, are set to compete in the event.
- Reigning Order of Merit champion Jazz Janewattananond will be looking to redeem himself after uncharacteristically missing the halfway cut last week. Place seventh on the current Order of Merit, Jazz will be vying to become the first player to successfully retain the Merit crown in back-to-back seasons on Tour.
- Current Order of Merit leader Wade Ormsby of Australia, who won the season-opening Hong Kong Open for his third Asian Tour title in 2020, will be looking to end his year on a high with a good showing this week. He came in tied-23rd last week to retain his lead on the Merit rankings.
- Scott Hend, the first Australian to lift the Order of Merit crown in 2016, will be in search for his 11th title on Tour after enjoying a top-five result last week. Three of his 10 victories came in Thailand.
- Korean sensation Joohyung Kim, who won the 2019 Panasonic Open India in only his sixth start on the Asian Tour, will aim to go one better this week for his second title on Tour. The 19-year-old Kim was crowned the Order of Merit champion on his domestic Tour earlier this month and had come in runner-up last week thanks to a closing 66.
- Despite missing out on his second Asian Tour victory last week, Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand is keeping his head high as he continues to enjoy a solid run where he has yet to shoot over-par in his last 20 competitive rounds.
- Sadom claimed his fourth victory in two months when he won the Singha Classic on his domestic Tour mid-November. He has not finished outside of top-10 in his last nine professional starts. His joint runner-up finish last week saw him jump to 251st place on the OWGR and eighth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
- Thai Amateur Ratchanon Chantananuwat enjoyed a memorable debut last week where he became the third youngest player, at the age of 14 years old, to make the halfway cut on the Asian Tour. Ratchanon, who goes by the nickname TK, impressed with a solid tied-15 place finish last week, thanks to weekend rounds of 68 and 65.
- The Order of Merit race continues in Phuket as players vie to finish inside top-30 on the final Merit rankings to qualify for the lucrative US$5 million Saudi International, which will be the season-opener for the Asian Tour’s 2022 season.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Wade Ormsby of Australia pictured on Tuesday November 30, 2021 during an official practice round ahead of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, December 2-5, 2021, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Jeddah: The Asian Tour will present the strongest field in its history when the 2022 Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers takes place at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, near Jeddah, from 3-6 February 2022.
The landmark occasion will bring together household names across recent generations of the global game, as well as future stars of Asian golf, to compete for an increased prize purse of $5 million and one of the highest Official World Golf Ranking point totals in international golf.
Players confirmed so far for the 2022 Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers include:
The leading lights of the Asian Tour will also have a significant presence with the inclusion of the top 30 ranked players at the end of the 2020/21 season within the Saudi International field. The final 30 will be confirmed in January following a season-ending double-header in Singapore, with the likes of Jazz Janewattananond, Scott Hend, Gavin Green, John Catlin, Shiv Kapur, Wade Ormsby and Joohyung Kim already having participated in the Asian Tour’s returning event, the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021, won by Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei. Click here to view the current Order of Merit.
Golf Saudi is a staunch supporter of men’s and women’s professional golf and continues to view the participation of the world’s best players in Saudi-based events as a key driver of interest amongst residents and growth of the sport’s popularity throughout the country.
Majed Al-Sorour, CEO and Deputy Chairman of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, said: “The 2022 edition of The International is the strongest yet, but we are still only in the formative years of our vision for golf in the Kingdom.
“We are seeing great progress in participation with boys and girls through our national grass roots and schools’ programs, and are enjoying a significant uptick in demand from men and women throughout The Kingdom. We are also enjoying a rich vein of form with our national amateur teams.
“Whilst this is a product of many factors, there is no denying the massive impact the best players in the world can have on creating multi-generational interest in the sport. This is why we place such importance on securing the strongest field possible, each and every year.”
The recently announced partnership with the Asian Tour, which included a 10-year sanction of the Saudi International from 2022, has created widespread interest but also great benefit within the sport. After an 18-month suspended season, it will contribute to the Asian Tour’s reemergence and generate new opportunities for players across the global golf landscape.
Al-Sorour added: “While we do not allow ourselves to be distracted from our long-term objectives by any external voices, we have been encouraged by strengthening discussions around the importance of fresh competition and innovation in the professional game.
“We are strong advocates for this, as we see it as the only way to achieve golf’s true global potential and realize the game’s considerable untapped value. All we will say is it is better for the sport if the competition remains healthy and respectful, as opposed to hostile, as all parties look at new ways to benefit this great game.”
The Saudi International field will include a broad spectrum of exemption categories that will see new competitors visit Saudi Arabia for the first time. This means new opportunities for many of the Asian Tour’s best performers to try their luck over the Royal Greens course.
Teenager, Joohyung Kim, currently 3rd on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, said: “The Saudi International will give us a new opportunity to compete against the world’s best, something many Asian Tour players have never been afforded. Given the way events and ranking points are weighted on different tours, it was historically more challenging for players rising through the Asian Tour to find their way into the biggest events.
“But the Asian Tour’s talent pool runs deep and, as we see every week, players from a diverse cross section of nationalities are more than capable of competing at the highest level. More big events will help to create a more prosperous Asian Tour and, without doubt, create new talent that can compete on the biggest stage, giving the sport in Asia and around the world a very welcome shot in the arm.”
PHUKET-THAILAND- Joohyun Kim of Korea pictured on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 during the Pro-am event ahead of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
CEO of the Asian Tour, Cho Minn Thant said: “With a new showpiece event and a field of such outstanding caliber lined-up for the Saudi International in 2022, there can only be positives for the game as a whole. We are extremely optimistic about how these new opportunities will encourage emerging talent, expose a broader base of players to elevated competition and attract a deeper and more engaged fan base.
“History will reflect upon how developments like the Saudi International and Golf Saudi’s partnership with the Asian Tour helped see in a new era in the professional game. With the right guidance, it’ll be the sport that benefits most, with more top athletes from across a wider geographical spectrum present at the very top level and more interest from a more diverse and committed group of stakeholders.”
For more information about the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, visit
Chan Shih-chang ‒ who moved into second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit following his victory in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship yesterday ‒ says it took maximum concentration on the famous par-four 18th hole at Blue Canyon Country Club to secure the title.
“I knew I was tied with Sadom [Kaewkanjana] heading into 18 and I told myself I needed to be more focused,” said the Chinese-Taipei star, who finish one ahead of playing partner Sadom from Thailand.
“I was first to go on the tee and I thought if I can hit it on the fairway, I can put some pressure on Sadom. I hit it to the left rough, but Sadom was even more left in the rough. I thought I still had the chance again, but I hit the ball to the front of the green and had a tricky shot there.
“I told myself to just get it on the green as Sadom had a difficult up and down for par too. Fortunately, I made the putt from there to win. It wasn’t easy out there but I’m glad I got the job done.”
He holed his par putt from four feet while his Thai opponent missed from 12.
Chan shot a final round four-under-par 68 to finish on 18 under par while Sadom carded a 67 to tie second with Joohyung Kim from Korea.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei pictured on Sunday, November 28, 2021 during the final round of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“This is also my third Asian Tour win and first since 2016. It’s been a long time. Good to be winning again and on a course, where my childhood idol Tiger Woods has won here before. It’s amazing,” he added.
Both his previous wins came in 2016, first in the King’s Cup here in Thailand and then the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup. He is also a six-time winner on the Asian Development Tour ‒ the last of those coming in 2018.
Said Chan: “I didn’t start well [on Sunday] but I told myself to focus on every shot. The turning point came on the ninth hole where I eagled. Heading to the ninth tee, I knew I was a few shots behind, as Sihwan Kim putted so well and had moved a few shots ahead. I told myself I need to try and make an eagle there which I did.
“Didn’t manage to ride on that heading into the back nine. Hit some wayward drives but then I birdied the 13th. That gave me a lot of confidence. On 14th, I actually felt nervous standing on the tee, but I told myself I just have to get it on the green. I made two birdies on that hole this week already so I should be confident. Hit a very accurate shot off the tee there and made birdie again! Then I continued riding on that momentum.”
The 35 year old competes in this week’s Laguna Phuket Championship at Laguna Golf Phuket.
Both Phuket events, called the Asian Tour Phuket Series, boast prizemoney of US$1million and will be followed by two events being planned in Singapore in January that will bring to a conclusion the 2020-21 season.
Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang prevailed after a gripping finish to win the US$1million Blue Canyon Phuket Championship today and become the first winner on the Asian Tour following a 20-month hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He shot a final round four-under-par 68 to finish on 18 under par and beat Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana and Joohyung Kim from Korea by one shot.
Sadom fired a 67 while teenager Kim returned 66 ‒ on the iconic Canyon Course at Blue Canyon Country Club.
“It’s impossible, it’s amazing!” said Chan, whose last win on the Asian Tour came in the 2016 Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup in Japan.
“I am so happy to be back after the problems everyone has had with COVID. My front nine was not very good but an eagle on nine turned things around.”
PHUKET-THAILAND- Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei pictured on Sunday, November 28, 2021 pictured celebrating on the 18th green during the final round of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour
The 35 year old was paired in the final group with Korean Sihwan Kim and Sadom and despite eagling the ninth he was still three behind Sihwan Kim at the turn.
But the Chinese-Taipei star showed why he is already a winner on Tour by birdieing four holes in a row from the 13th.
He was tied with Sadom on the par-four 18th hole, but while Chan got up and down from the front of the green to make par after holing out from four feet, the Thai player missed the green to the left with his approach and failed to make his 12-footer for par.
He added: “I always enjoy coming to Thailand. I feel very relaxed playing here. Actually, I feel less pressure playing here than playing back home. It’s my second win since my baby boy arrived eight months ago. I guess its baby luck!” He picked up a cheque for US$180,000.
Chan warmed up for this week’s event by finishing second in the Yeangder TPC on home soil last week ‒ an event normally played on the Asian Tour but could not this year because of COVID-19.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand pictured on Sunday, November 28, 2021 during the final round of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chan had two Asian Tour titles to his name, which both came in 2016 first in the King’s Cup here in Thailand and then the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup. He is also a six-time winner on the Asian Development Tour ‒ the last of those coming in 2018.
Sadom was looking for his fifth win in two months ‒ he has won four times on the All Thailand Golf Tour, including the Thailand Open ‒ and has now not shot over par in 20 consecutive rounds.
“I tried my best, I came so close,” said Sadom, who birdied three on the trot from seven and then birdied 13, 15 and 16 before his problems on 18, where he hit a wayward tee shot left.
“It’s disappointing to bogey 18 but I will learn from it and come back stronger next week.”
In contrast, 19-year-old Joohyung Kim birdied 18 to snatch joint second place at the end. He fired seven birdies and one bogey and was chasing his second win on Tour.
Korean Bio Kim (64), Berry Henson from the United States (66), Scott Hend from Australia (67) and Sihwan Kim (70), who slipped back with bogies on 13 and 17, tied for fourth two off the lead.
Ratchanon Chantananuwat, Thailand’s 14-year-old golf sensation, once again thrived playing in his first Asian Tour event when shot a brilliant 65 to finish in a tie for 15th on 12 under.
Ratchanon secured the low amateur award ‒ for the seventh time in a row in a pro event ‒ after a brilliant round made up of eight birdies and one bogey.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, amateur, of Thailand pictured with the Low Amateur Award on Sunday, November 28, 2021 during the final round of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He got off to a sensational start by holing 30-foot putts on the first holes: the first for a par and the second for birdie.
“I am going to be completely honest, if that didn’t happen on one and two, I probably would have finished two over,” said the rising star, who on Friday became the third youngest player to make the cut on the Asian Tour.
“Those putts turned my day around. I made all the birdie putts when I had to, but I did still miss quite a lot. I am really happy to win best amateur in my first Asian Tour event.”
He was 11 under par over the weekend and heads into next week’s Laguna Phuket Championship brimming with confidence.
Both Phuket events, called the Asian Tour Phuket Series, boast prizemoney of US$1million and will be followed by two events being planned in Singapore in January that will bring to a conclusion the 2020-21 season.
Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang put himself into position to win on the Asian Tour for the first time in five years after taking the third-round lead in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship today along with American Sihwan Kim, who is looking for his first victory.
They both carded four-under-par 68s on the Canyon Course at Blue Canyon Country Club to move to 14 under par for the US$1million event, that marks the resumption of the Asian Tour following a 20-month break caused by Covid.
Overnight leader Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand shot 72 to lie in third place two behind, while a further shot back are Australian Scott Hend (65), Joohyung Kim from Korea (69) and American John Catlin (72).
“Happy to put myself in a good position for Sunday. I haven’t played in the final group since 2016,” said Chan.
Chan has two Asian Tour titles to his name, which both came in 2016 first in the King’s Cup, here in Thailand, and then the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup in Japan. He is also a six-time winner on the Asian Development Tour ‒ the last of those coming in 2018.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Sihwan Kim of the USA pictured on Saturday, November 27, 2021 during round three of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He held the outright lead for much of the back nine but made a bogey on 16 ‒ which was his first dropped shot in 51 holes.
“Feels like how it was back then when I won the King’s Cup in 2016. That was also in Thailand. Thailand is my lucky country. But I won’t think so much for tomorrow. Just keep doing what I have been doing.”
Kim has been playing in Europe this year and is enjoying the warmer conditions this week.
“It feels kind of weird playing in this weather, being so humid and hot, but yeah I was looking forward to this,” he said.
“Tomorrow I just need to keep it in the fairway and make some putts. Being in the fairway is key on this golf course. If I can do that, my irons are pretty good right now, it will be good.”
Sadom has now not shot over par in 19 consecutive rounds ‒ he has won four times on the All Thailand Golf Tour over the past two months ‒ but he came close to breaking his streak today.
He made the turn in three over and looked to be falling away but bounced back with three birdies in the last five holes.
PHUKET-THAILAND- L-R -Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand and Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei shake hands on the 18th green on Saturday, November 27, 2021 during round three of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Said Sadom: “I didn’t hit my driver good on the front nine today, but it got better on the back. But the turning point came on 13. I gave myself a chance for birdie on that hole and I made it. I felt confident again from there. Nice to go on and birdie 15 and 16. Felt great to fight back to even-par. I still have a chance tomorrow.”
Ratchanon Chantananuwat, Thailand’s 14-year-old golf phenom, continued to impress by returning a 68 to move up into a tie for 33rd. Yesterday he became the third youngest player to make the cut on the Asian Tour.
Saudi Arabia’s Othman Almulla, part of a strong contingent of players from the Middle East making their debut on the Asian Tour this week in Phuket, has more than just playing golf on his mind.
“I have been playing for Saudi all around the world and representing the flag and trying to help grow the game,” said the 34 year old at Blue Canyon Country Club today, where he has been competing in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship ‒ the Tour’s first event back following a 20-month break caused by the pandemic.
“It’s just an unbelievably good feeling to be here and competing. This is not just about playing golf.”
Almulla is Saudi Arabia’s only professional golfer and has been joined this week by three of his nation’s leading amateurs Abdulrahman Al Mansour, Saud Al Sharif and Faisal Al Salhab. All four are representing Golf Saudi and playing on the Asian Tour for the first time.
Also competing are four players from the MENA Tour: Jordanian Shergo Al Kurdia, David Langley and Curtis Knipes from England, and Scotland’s Ryan Lumsdan.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Abdulrahman Al Mansour of Saudi Arabia, amateur, hits the first ball for the restart of the Asian Tour after a 20 month Covid pandemic suspension, pictured on Thursday, November 25, 2021, during round one of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Al Kurdia is also the first player from Jordan to play on the Tour.
Almulla shot rounds of 76 and 72 to miss the cut but relished the opportunity to compete again.
“It feels great to be competing and we have been welcomed by the Asian Tour, we love that. It’s just great to have somewhere to play. It’s been so hard since I turned professional in 2019. I had one full year and then it’s been super difficult to find places to play,” added Almulla, whose home club is Rolling Hills Golf Club in Saudi Arabia.
“And this week has been so well run. It’s 20 months since the Asian Tour was played. I played in the Asian Tour Qualifying School about 10 years ago and it’s great to see how big it’s grown and see such big names in the field.”
First tee shot on Tour in 20 months 😃⛳👏🏻#BCPC2021 #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/7iTIAOqJzU
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) November 25, 2021
Al Mansour actually had the honour of hitting the first tee shot on Thursday morning to mark the Tour’s resumption and also signify the Tour’s strengthening of ties with the Middle East.
Adds Almulla: “To see our amateurs come out and hit a lot of good shots, make some birdies, and lose the rustiness has been great. And we get to go again in a couple of days. And I am looking forward to seeing what they can do.”
PHUKET-THAILAND- Shergo Al Kurdi of Jordan pictured on Thursday, November 25, 2021, during round one of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Plans are also being put in place for the Tour’s feeder circuit, the Asian Development Tour, to work closely with the MENA Tour ‒ which will lead to more opportunities for developing players.
Next week the Tour heads to the Laguna Phuket Championship at Laguna Golf Phuket ‒ where all the representatives from the Middle East will once again compete.
Thailand’s in-form young star Sadom Kaewkanjana equaled Australian Greg Norman’s course record on the Canyon Course at Blue Canyon Country Club today with an imperious eight-under-par 64, and although it could not be counted as an official record because preferred lies were played he still stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the US$1million Blue Canyon Phuket Championship.
Eight brilliant birdies ‒ three on the front, five on the back ‒ saw him move into the lead on 12 under par by a stroke from American John Catlin, the first-round leader, who shot 68.
Korean Sihwan Kim and Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang are a stroke further behind after rounds of 66 and 68 respectively ‒ in an event that marks the resumption of the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 season, following a 20-month hiatus caused by the pandemic.
“My game today is pretty good,” said 23-year-old Sadom, whose round also matched South African Anton Haig’s 64 from the 2007 Johnnie Walker Classic.
“Especially iron play and putting. I hit close to the pin and made many birdies. And I have only missed one fairway this week.”
Sadom has claimed four titles on the All Thailand Golf Tour in the past two months including the Thailand Open and looks like being the man to beat this week, along with Catlin.
He added: “Initially this week I was just focusing on making the cut, but I am changing my game plan for tomorrow and looking to go further.”
PHUKET-THAILAND- John Catlin of the USA pictured on Friday, November 26, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Catlin carded a sublime 65 to take the first-round lead yesterday and stayed in the hunt today thanks to six birdies and just two dropped shots.
“I played well today but need to go to the range and work on a few things,” said Catlin.
“It was a very early start today. I was up at 4.30am and we didn’t get back until late last night, so I basically went straight to bed. But it’s great to be in this position and have a chance at the weekend.”
Joohyung Kim, the 19-year-old Korean star, came in with a 67 and is four off the lead.
Australian Wade Ormsby, the current leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, shot a 69 and is six off the pace, while Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond ‒ the reigning Merit list champion ‒ returned a 72 to surprisingly miss the cut, made at one under, by four.
Thailand’s 14-year-old golf prodigy Ratchanon Chantananuwat signed for a 72 to become the third youngest player to make the cut on the Asian Tour. He’s on one under par and as the only amateur to survive the halfway cut has secured the low amateur award.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananwat of Thailand, amateur, pictured on Friday, November 26, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I am capable of playing better but I scrambled well. It’s my first Asian Tour event and I have basically loved being here since Monday,” said the youngster.
In 2010 Jazz became the youngest player, at age 14 years 71 days, to make the cut in an Asian Tour event at the Asian Tour International in Bangkok, as an amateur.
This week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship will be followed by the Laguna Phuket Championship next week at Laguna Golf Phuket.
Both Phuket events boast prizemoney of US$1million and will be followed by two events being planned in Singapore in January that will bring to a conclusion the 2020-21 season.
John Catlin calls Thailand his second home and you could see why today after he fired a four-under-par 68 to open up a one-shot lead mid-way through round two of the US$1million Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at Blue Canyon Country Club.
The American carded a sublime 65 to take the first-round lead yesterday and stayed out in front this morning thanks to six birdies and just two dropped shots.
He has the clubhouse lead on 11 under from Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang with half the field still out on the course on Friday.
“I played well today but need to go to the range and work on a few things,” said Catlin, who based himself in Hua Hin, Thailand, when he played regularly on the Asian Tour from 2016 to 2019.
“It was a very early start today. I was up at 4.30am and we didn’t get back until late last night, so I basically went straight to bed. But it’s great to be in this position and have a chance at the weekend.”
PHUKET-THAILAND- Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei makes a heart symbol with his hands on the 14th tee box on Friday, November 26, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chan also shot a 68 which, impressively, was bogey-free.
He said: “I hit all 14 fairways today, I hit my driver very well. Nice to get a bogey-free round. I didn’t putt as well as I did yesterday. Missed a few short outs out there. The greens seem to be faster this morning.”
Korean Joohyung Kim came in with a 67 and is three behind Catlin, while Phachara Khongwatmai from Thailand and Qualifying School graduate Bjorn Hellgren from Sweden are a stroke further back.
Australian Travis Smyth finished in a blaze of glory by making birdie on his last five holes for a 65 to move to six under.
“I think I have had five in a row before, but never to finish a round,” he said.
Preferred lies are being played so his brilliant birdie run cannot be counted as equaling the Tour’s most birdies to finish a round.
That record is held by Malaysian Nicholas Fung who closed with a quintuplet at the 2016 Resorts World Manila Masters in the final round.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Joohyun Kim of Korea pictured on Friday, November 26, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
John Catlin had the honour of taking the clubhouse lead in the first round played on the Asian Tour in 20 months when he carded a seven-under-par 65 in the US$1million Blue Canyon Phuket Championship today at Blue Canyon Country Club.
On a jubilant first day back for the Tour following a long period of uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the American shot a dazzling round consisting of two eagles and three birdies ‒ on the famous Canyon Course.
Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang and South African Ian Snyman also impressed with 66s to sit in second place, while Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai fired a 67.
Catlin has been in inspired form over the past three years ‒ claiming four Asian Tour titles and three European Tour wins ‒ and gave another masterclass today.
“I made a few long ones, I just happened to play good. And I took advantage of the par fives,” said the 31-year-old Californian.
He eagled the par-five ninth after holing a 30 footer following a brave three-iron second shot, and later eagled the par-five 15th after nailing a three wood to nine feet.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei pictured on Thursday, November 25, 2021, during round one of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The American based himself in Hua Hin, Thailand, when he played on the Asian Tour and this week’ marks the first time he has been back in well over a year.
“Last time I was here was in May 2020. Feels great, like I have been saying for the past four years it feels like a second home,” he added.
He first made a name for himself by winning three times on the Asian Tour in 2018, followed by another in 2019; and he has achieved global recognition since then with three wins in Europe.
Chan recorded four runner-up finishes on his domestic circuit before finally claiming a victory in September. He came in runner-up again in last week’s Yeangder TPC ‒ an event normally played on the Asian Tour but wasn’t this year because of covid.
“It’s been so long since we last came out to play. I am really excited this week. I’ve been playing well back home and the competitions have kept my game in shape,” said Chan, who won twice on the Asian Tour in 2016.
“My wife gave birth to my baby son six months ago. It was good that I could spend time with them at home during the pandemic. But now, it’s time to work hard again.”
Five players shot 68: Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, India’s Shiv Kapur and S. Chikkarangappa, American Paul Peterson, and Sihwan Kim from Korea.
Nine players were unable to finish round because of bad light.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand pictured on Thursday, November 25, 2021, during round one of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
This week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship will be followed by the Laguna Phuket Championship next week at Laguna Golf Phuket.
Both Phuket events boast prizemoney of US$1million and will be followed by two events being planned in Singapore in January that will bring to a conclusion the 2020-21 season.
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