Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao sealed a commanding five-stroke victory at the Taifong Golf Club for his second Asian Development Tour (ADT) title and first since 2013 at the season-ending Taifong Open on Christmas day Sunday.

Entering the final round with a six-shot advantage, Hung’s spot at the top was barely threatened as he traded three birdies against four bogeys to close with a one-over-par 73 and a winning total of 11-under-par 277.

Thai talent Suteepat Prateeptienchai showed his worth once again by putting on a superb Sunday charge as he signed for a 68 to finish in second place with playing partner Joe Heraty of England, who returned a 69, in the US$200,000 ADT event.

Suteepat, who led the money list heading into this week, successfully became the third Thai, following Pavit Tangkamolprasert (2014) and Pannakorn Uthaipas (2017), to lift the ADT Order of Merit crown and earn his Asian Tour card for 2023.

Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand – 2022 ADT Order of Merit champion

Hung, who first won on the ADT in 2013, was victorious at the Taifong Open in 2020 when it was held only on the domestic circuit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His victory at the Taifong Golf Club today would mark his fourth win on home soil this year.

“I’m happy to clinch another win before the year ends. I saw my daughter on a video call my dad set up on the 18th green after I finished and I’m just happy that we can all go for our holiday in Japan tomorrow. It’s been a good year and it’s now time for a good break.

“I look forward to return to the Asian Tour next season and continue my chase for that first win outside of home. You need a bit of luck to win tournaments, but I’ll continue to work hard and do my best, hopefully better results await in 2023,” said the 30-year-old Hung, who took home a winner’s prize purse of US$35,000.

Suteepat’s joint runner-up result earned him a cheque of US$18,500 and brought his season’s haul to US$86,448. The 28-year-old Thai capped a solid season this year, thanks to three victories and six top-10 finishes.

“I felt relieved after making the cut. I knew I will most likely win the Order of Merit title so that took some pressure off me. After starting with that chip-in eagle on first, I gained some momentum and made two more birdies in the next four holes. I thought I might have a chance at winning today but unfortunately, the putts didn’t drop on the way home.

“Still happy with a joint runner-up finish. It’s been a great season. I didn’t expect this at all. The first win gave me a lot of confidence and I managed to build on that. I have a lot of friends playing on the Asian Tour, so I look forward to 2023. It’s going to be a lot tougher, but I am excited and can’t wait to tee off for my first event in Oman,” said Suteepat.

Despite failing to grab one of the 10 Asian Tour cards on offer on the ADT, Heraty took the positives as he ended the year by capping his best finish on Tour this season.

“Happy with the result today. The conditions were not as windy as the last few days. I’m glad I took advantage of that. Although I missed out on finishing inside top-10 on the Order of Merit, I’m happy to gain direct entry to final stage of the Qualifying School,” said Heraty, who moved up 30 spots to 13th place on the money list following his tied-second place finish.

The top-10 finishers on the 2022 ADT Order of Merit, following the conclusion of the Taifong Open, have earned playing rights on the Asian Tour in 2023.

Apart from Suteepat, the other nine players are Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam (2nd), Indonesia’s Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra (3rd), Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin (4th), China’s Chen Guxin (5th), Thailand’s Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (6th), Lloyd Jefferson Go (7th) of the Philippines, American Dodge Kemmer (8th), Australian Harrison Gilbert (9th) and Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub (10th).

Ends.

The Asian Tour today unveiled its 2023 schedule through to May, for what promises to be the finest start to a season the Tour has ever enjoyed.

The new season will commence in Saudi Arabia, at the most lucrative event of the year, before being followed by an exciting blend of established and new tournaments, including four International Series events. Please visit the schedule page here.

The impressive schedule boasts a total of 11 tournaments contested over 14 weeks, starting with the US$5 million PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers – won so dramatically by American Harold Varner III this year when he holed a 92-foot eagle putt on the 72^nd hole – at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, near Jeddah, from February 2-5.

In the ensuing two weeks, the Tour will then journey to two inaugural International Series tournaments in Oman and then Qatar – marking the first time the International Series will have visited the Middle East. Al Mouj Golf will host the former event, while Doha Golf Club will stage the latter.

Harold Varner III with the winner’s trophy after the final round of the 2022 US$ 5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

These will be the first of an expanded 10 International Series events in 2023, with International Series stops to follow in Hua Hin, Thailand, in March, and Cam Ranh, Vietnam the following month. The International Series Thailand launched the highly successful International Series earlier this year and saw American Sihwan Kim triumph at Black Mountain Golf Club, while the Tour visits the spectacular KN Golf Links for the first edition of the Vietnam event. This will be the first time the Asian Tour will return to Vietnam in seven years.

The New Zealand Open presented by SKY SPORT makes a popular return to the calendar following a two-year COVID-19 enforced break in the first week of March at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown – the tournament’s home since 2014.

The DGC Open, inaugurated in the 2022 season, will also be staged in March at the historic Delhi Golf Club, as well as the Tour’s long-awaited return to Hong Kong with a new event at one of the region’s most iconic golfing venues, the Hong Kong Golf Club. Details of this event will be released soon along with information on back-to-back tournaments in Thailand in April and a Korean event in May.

“We are very proud to announce the start of the 2023 season, hot off the heels of a tremendous 2022. It is fantastic to see us carry the momentum of the season we have just completed and start the new season at full pace.” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.

“The Asian Tour is absolutely thrilled with how the schedule looks; it reaches a wide range of exciting destination, offers extremely lucrative purses, world class venues, and a great balance of established and new events.

Sihwan Kim with the International Series Thailand trophy this year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“The PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers, a truly global golfing event, is the perfect way to start the season and sets the tone for what will be, unquestionably, the strongest season in the history of the Asian Tour.”

The 2022 season, which saw 20 tournaments staged, came to a dramatic conclusion two weeks ago in Indonesia where Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut stormed to an impressive victory, marking himself down as one to look out for next year, while Sihwan Kim secured the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) title and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, the International Series OOM.

Harold Varner III has today confirmed that he will defend his PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers title at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on February 2-5.

The 2022 champion will return to King Abdullah Economic City hoping to retain the trophy that marked his maiden professional victory – and kick-started a massive year for the American star.

Tickets are now available (click here) for the fifth instalment of the tournament that is the flagship event on the Asian Tour.

Varner III famously holed a 92-foot putt for eagle on Royal Greens’ par-five 18th earlier this year to snatch victory when a play-off against good-friend Bubba Watson seemed guaranteed.

While that memory still remains fresh for the 32-year-old, the Ohio-native has his eyes set on making experience count in the search for back-to-back wins at the Asian Tour’s 2023 season-opening event.

Harold Varner III with the second but by far most important trophy of his career. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He said: “Whenever I think back to that putt all the incredible memories come flooding back. As I said at the time after winning, it’s moments and competition like that that makes you want to play, to compete, to be up there. It was a huge moment for me and for my career.

“But that’s now in the past. Sure, I’ve got the trophy at home, but that was a success of this year: time for me to focus on replicating that as best I can next year, in 2023. Having this event so early in the season could be good for me in as much as it could set me off with confidence into an even bigger year.

He continued: “Obviously all my memories of playing in Saudi Arabia are positive – I did win out there, after all! But everything is awesome out there. The course at Royal Greens is so pure, the field is always pretty incredible, and the hospitality and experience is some of the best of any event you can play in, so I can’t wait to get back out there for 2023’s event. It was special to join the likes of DJ and G-Mac in winning this event!”

The PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers moved onto the Asian Tour circuit in 2022 as part of a new partnership.

The event has a US$5 million prize fund and will once again seek to have one of the highest Official World Golf Ranking point totals in international golf.

Varner III will bid to become the second player to win the Saudi International twice, along with Dustin Johnson.

In the 2022 tournament, Varner III and Watson competed as part of a star-studded field packed with Major-winners including two-time Saudi International champion Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and Louis Oosthuizen.

The full field for 2023’s event will be announced in due course. In addition to some of the biggest names in global golf it will feature the Asian Tour’s top 30 ranked players at the close of the 2022 season.

Majed Al-Sorour, CEO and Deputy Chairman of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, said: “The 2022 edition of The International was the strongest field we’d had yet, but we remain still only in the formative years of our vision for golf in the Kingdom. It’s amazing to think this will be the fifth instalment of the tournament that is growing year on year.

“I’m thrilled to say that we’ll be compiling yet another superstar field for 2023’s event – and I am equally delighted to confirm that our defending champion Harold Varner III will be a part of that.

“His incredible win back in February of this year is one that will continue to live long in all our memories. Let’s hope we can get just as much drama and intrigue at next year’s tournament.”

For more information about the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers and future Golf Saudi events, visit www.golfsaudi.com.

The Asian Development Tour (ADT) announced today that the Aramco Invitational will be staged at Rolling Hills Golf Club, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, from December 14–16.

Building on 57 years of Aramco Invitational Tournament (SAIT) history, Aramco has joined forces with the ADT to host its 58th edition as the Aramco Invitational Tournament.

The ADT is the best fit with SAIT’s history of developing and promoting golf in Aramco, Saudi Arabia, and the Middle East.  The objective is to create more playing opportunities for players from Asia and around the world.  Such involvement will provide Saudi national players with competitive opportunities and develop games and players at the grass-roots level.

The US$125,000 tournament will be the penultimate event of this season’s 17-leg circuit, which will culminate with the Taifong Open, to be held from December 22-25.

The tournament, which will be preceded by the PIF Saudi Open as part of a new and exciting two-event swing in the Middle East, will feature a field of 126 golfers and be played over 54 holes.

“The Asian Development Tour has enjoyed an incredible comeback year, post pandemic, and today’s news with regard to the Aramco Invitational is yet another boon for the Asian Tour’s secondary circuit,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.

Suteepat Prateeptienchai. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“Importantly, and in much the same way as the Asian Tour is becoming a tour of international destinations, the Asian Development Tour continues to branch out, and the chance to play in the Middle East for a second time this year is another incredible opportunity for our membership.

“Increasing playing opportunities in new markets for our players is always a top priority, so we would like to thank Aramco, Golf Saudi, the Aramco Golf Association, and the Rolling Hills Golf Course for bringing all the key components together to make the event possible.”

The Aramco Invitational launch also comes at a key moment, with players battling it out to try and finish in the top-10 on the ADT Order of Merit (OOM) and secure their playing privileges on the Asian Tour in 2023.

Nabil Al Nuaim, Chairman of the Aramco Golf Association, said: ” Aramco is proud to build on its tradition and continue to grow the game.  This is another great moment for the game of professional golf in Saudi Arabia. The country has an expanding portfolio of world-class events, but we are also active in growing the game at the developmental level, which the Asian Development Tour is a fine proponent of.

“The Aramco Invitational will provide a wonderful opportunity for players in our region to play in an international-standard tour event against a quality field of up-and-coming players and more experienced competitors.”

Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin clinched victory at the PKNS Selangor Masters two weeks ago, in the most recent ADT event, while Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai remains in front on the OOM, thanks to three fine victories this season, earning him a battlefield promotion this year to the Asian Tour.

The Asian Tour season came to a thrilling conclusion at the $1.5 million BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE in Jakarta as Scott Vincent was crowned International Series Order of Merit winner, a result that gave the Zimbabwean golfer a ‘golden ticket’ to the LIV Golf League next season.

Going into the final event of the tournament, the entire top 10 of the International Series Order of Merit rankings – including International Series winners Sihwan Kim and Andy Ogletree of America, Jazz Janewattananond and Nitithorn Thippong of Thailand and Taehoon OK of Korea – were still in with a shout of securing top spot.

A T-10 finish for Vincent, the International Series England winner earlier this season, was enough to cement his place at the top of the season’s standings, as none of the other players breathing down his neck were able to find the win that would have vaulted them to the top of the standings in the final event of the season. Janewattananond came closest with a 12-under score this weekend, but that was only enough for him to secure a sixth-place finish.

(L-R) Asian Tour CEO and Commissioner Cho Minn Thant, International Series OOM Winner Scott Vincent, and Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series

Vincent now has his card for the 14-tournament series, which has recently announced dates in Mexico, Spain, Singapore and Australia for next season, and he will line up with some of the biggest names in world golf including Major winners Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka.

Securing his title, a delighted Vincent said: “It feels pretty special to win the International Series Order of Merit this year. It was not something that was on my radar earlier this year. Now that it is a reality, it’s unreal.

“The highlight for me was the International Series in London. Making a putt to win on that last hole was just really cool. Ten footer, left to right, down the hill; making that putt was special.”

On earning his golden ticket to compete in next year’s LIV league, the 30-year-old added: “It’s incredible. Getting a taste of LIV this year, you want to go back. You want to compete against the best in the world. The fact that I get to do that now, it’s really cool, and I look forward to the challenge.”

JAKARTA, INDONESIA: Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe on Sunday, December 4, 2022, during Round Four of the BNI Indonesia Masters, presented by Tunas Niaga Energi at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club, Jakarta, Indonesia. The season-ending event for the Asian Tour and the International Series has a prize fund of US$ 1.5 million and is being held from December 1-4, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The International Series was launched earlier this year thanks to a landmark partnership with LIV Golf with the aim of invigorating the game in Asia and the Middle East.

The partnership brought the International Series to Thailand, England, Singapore, South Korea, Morocco, and Egypt, as well as Indonesia, on a hugely successful debut season.

Ten International Series events will take place next year, each with a prize purse of at least US$2 million. The highly anticipated International Series 2023 season will kick off in Oman at the Al Mouj Golf from February 9-12, with a prize purse of US$2million.

A number of players signed up to LIV Golf, including Patrick Reed, Chase Koepka, Ogletree and Bernd Wiesberger have all played events on the International Series this season.

Cho Minn Thant, CEO & Commissioner of the Asian Tour, added: “The International Series has been a real game changer, not just through access to LIV Golf but also because of the bigger purses on offer, and for the experiences that offer a pathway to growth and development for all the players.

“It has created a genuinely exciting climax to the season, alongside the Asian Tour Order of Merit title, and this excitement will grow as the series evolves going forward. Big congratulations to Scott Vincent, it will be a pleasure to see the International Series Order of Merit winner defend his title in our flagship events next season.”

Ends.

Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut brought the Asian Tour season to a memorable conclusion today after an emphatic four-stroke victory in the US$1.5 million BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE.

The 24 year old fired a closing four-under-par 68, for a four-round aggregate of 20 under, at Royale Jakarta Golf Club to claim his first Asian Tour title, while Indian Anirban Lahiri, the winner here in 2014, finished in second place after carding a 66.

Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, both returned 69s to tie for third, five behind the winner.

American Sihwan Kim wrapped up the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) title after finishing in a tie for 28th, while Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe secured the International Series OOM, by finishing in equal 10th position.

Sarit Suwannarat.  Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The weather, which had caused numerous delays since Thursday, had a final say today when lightning stopped play at 1.09pm with Sarit having two holes left to play and with a comfortable five-shot lead. Play resumed at 2.30pm with the rising Thai star able to par his way home.

“I think I almost cried coming down the 18^th,” said Sarit.

“I just can’t put into words how I feel. I am just happy. I didn’t feel the pressure that much, I was just enjoying my game. I have just enjoyed the whole week.

“I worked with my coach last week and we discovered something with the set up. I wasn’t hitting it good for the Pro Am and the first round but we looked at the video and decided to squat more and get my chin up a little bit, just small things that made a really big impact.”

Delays caused by bad weather over the first three days, meant Sarit had to complete the final four holes of his third round early this morning, following a 6.45am restart.

He parred 15, 16, and 17 before holing a testing 12 footer for a birdie on the 18^th to lead on 16 under by three from countryman Kosuke Hamamoto.

Anirban Lahiri. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

And he was never threatened in the final round making the turn in three under with a birdie on six and an eagle on nine before more birdies on 12 and 15. His only dropped shot came on 16 before the badly timed weather delay added more pressure to the closing stages.

He added: “It’s been a really tough year. I had COVID at the start of the year, later I couldn’t get a visa for Korea, and I was battling to keep my card at one point. I am so happy.”

While Lahiri was not able to win this event for a second time he was more than happy with his week’s work.

He said: “It was a really good week. I think I finally got into some rhythm you know, just coming off not playing much golf. I think I was surprised on Thursday that I played the way I did. And then the next two rounds were more like what I was expecting, but I think as I played more and more I started getting into a good rhythm.

“Just a few kinks in my game, I worked on my putting yesterday after the delay. I was really happy with the way I started swinging it, much better, more like what I like to see from my game.”

Chan was also pleased with his final Asian Tour event of the year, during a season which saw him win twice.

“Today was good but I think on some holes I should have made birdies, I feel like if today was more lucky I could have been more under par. I kept trying to get a low score until the last end. This year has been very good, a perfect year, it’s been very nice.

Chan Shih-chang. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I won in Thailand and I in Taiwan, I’m so happy to win in Taiwan. I’m confident on the golf course now, so when I came this week I just wanted to try to improve my ranking and this week was very nice.”

England’s Lee Westwood, a three-time champion here, closed with a 71 to finish in outright ninth place.

American Sihwan Kim completed the finest season of his 11-year professional career today when he wrapped up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title, appropriately on the day he turned 34.

Kim finished equal 28th in the Asian Tour’s season-ending BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE which was enough to repel a number of players in with a chance of catching him.

He finished the year with US$627,458.33 in earnings, with Bio Kim from Korea ending in second place, having earned US$ 599,609.49, while Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent was third on US$ 517,845.

Vincent, Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang, Canadian Richard T. Lee, and Thais Jazz Janewattananond, Phachara Khongwatmai, and Sadom Kaewkanjana, all had a chance of toppling Kim if they won today but their challenges faded on the back nine.

“It feels good, finally the season’s done and I can’t wait to get some rest,” said Kim.

Sihwan Kim. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“You know it’s been a long week with you know restarts and stuff like that. I’ve been traveling a lot, this is my 28th event of the year and I think my body needs some rest. I just felt it today where my whole body was just off sync and just couldn’t get anything done.

“Of course [finishing first] was on my mind, but I tried to not let that get to me too much. Been just kind of struggling with my putting all week this week and, and just barely made the cut after my Saturday restart. And yeah, it’s been tough, it always comes down to the last tournament and you know, Jazz [Janewattananond] and James Chan [Shih-chang] they were all up there, and Richard [T. Lee] was up there for a little bit, and if they had won they had a chance to chance to overtake me.”

The 34 year old started the season in brilliant fashion by winning the International Series Thailand in February, which was his maiden professional victory and also the first ever International Series event to be played.

He followed that up by winning the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge, also in Thailand, in April.

A mid-season loss of form, when he was battling some swing demons and a stray driver, saw him relinquish top spot on the Order of Merit to Bio Kim but a third place finish in the International Series Egypt last month saw him regain first place.

He said: “Yeah, right at the start the year I was kind of playing bad, and in Singapore in January I just kind of got it done somehow at Sentosa and then just kind of upped my game. Then it just like went really cold from there, struggled for about two or three months, and then just kind of found something the last month and a half, and I just kind of rolled with it.”

Sihwan Kim. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Prior to this year Kim had been a perennial nearly man and had recorded eight top-four results on the Asian Tour since 2018, including two runner-up finishes, and had come close to winning on Europe’s Challenge Tour.

But all that is a distance memory for a player full of confidence for the 2023 season.

Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut completed the final four holes of his third round early this morning at the US$1.5 million BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE carding a five-under-par 67 to lead on 16 under by three shots from countryman Kosuke Hamamoto.

Sarit parred 15, 16, and 17 before holing a test 12 footer for a birdie on the 18^th at Royale Jakarta Club, in the Asian Tour’s season-ending finale.

Hamamoto  shot a 67 after parring his last three holes, while Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang, are one shot back after carding 67s.

Canadian Richard T. Lee (67), Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (69) and India’s Veer Ahlawat (70) are a further stroke behind.

Kosuke Hamamoto. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

England’s Lee Westwood, a three-time winner of this event, who was able to finish his round yesterday after posting his second successive 66, is 10 under, along with India’s Anirban Lahiri, the champion here in 2014, who shot 70.

Round four quickly got underway.

Said Sarit: “I woke up a little bit late today, not as early as the second day so that extra 30 minutes was good. And I really hit a good tee shot on 15, not an easy putt but still a two putt. So, I think that was a good start, that’s why I’m playing still playing good.

“I am just going do the same thing today and try to shoot like a couple under every round. Just stay positive, try to hit it the best as I can and try to make the putts.”

Play resumed at 6.45am this morning as the tournament played catch up after delays each day caused by lightning.

It promises to be a memorable final day with so much at stake: the BNI Indonesia Masters presented by TNE, the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM), the International Series OOM and the top-30 qualifiers for next year’s Saudi International from the Asian Tour’s Merit list. Players are also battling to keep their playing rights for 2023.

Current Asian Tour OOM leader Sihwan Kim from the United States parred his final hole this morning for a 69 to sit at four under and needs a strong finish to repel his pursuers.

Graeme McDowell.  Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Chan, Lee, Jazz , Phachara Khongwatmai, Sadom Kaewkanjana, and Scott Vincent, are all in contention and need to win to have a chance of overtaking Kim.

Vincent, who leads the International Series OOM, gave himself an excellent chance of winning that title and earning a golden ticket onto next year’s LIV Golf League by firing a 67 yesterday to finish the day on eight under. However, he also needs to good day as Lee, Jazz, and Phachara are also in the running.