Sarit Suwannarut competes in the biggest tournament of his life this week, the US$5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, and the timing could not be better for the rising star as he says his game is “nearly 100%”.

The young Thai golfer received a huge boost of confidence when he won last year’s season-ending BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE in emphatic fashion for his maiden Asian Tour title, and he is now hungry for even more success, including winning the Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merit crowns.

“The win in Indonesia gave me confidence and I also felt relief. I don’t think it has put more pressure on me, I just want to win more and more now,” said the 24 year old.

“After Indonesia I took a few weeks off until end of December, and at the beginning of January I just started working. I usually play at Siam Country Club, their new one in Bangkok.

“I am feeling confident, feel my game is almost 100%. Just need to work on putting and chipping a bit.”

Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand pictured during an official practice round on Tuesday January 31, 2023, ahead of the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. a. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Sarit brought the 2022 season to a memorable conclusion after a commanding four-stroke victory in Indonesia, made even more impressive by having to endure the toughest of seasons.

Earlier in the year he contracted COVID-19 and as late as September he was in 64th place on the Order of Merit and on the cusp of retaining his playing privileges. He tied for third in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters that month to ease the pressure, but it wasn’t until the Indonesian Masters that he truly overcame any concerns about his future.

Added Sarit: “I am aiming high now and will try and win the Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merits this year.”

He finished 10^th on last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit, with more than healthy earnings of US$415,499 from 11 starts.

“The condition of this course is pure, it is mint. The big factor is going to be the wind, it started to pick up today,” said Sarit.

“My coach is also here this week, so we are working on a lot of things. He has been my coach for 13 years.

“Funny story here, I was on the driving range with my mum when I was 12, and my mum saw him and asked if he could work with me, and we have been together since.”

Sarit Suwannarat of Thailand pictured with the winner’s trophy on Sunday, December 4, 2022, during Round Four of the BNI Indonesia Masters, presented by Tunas Niaga Energi. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

While he eventually recorded a comfortable win in Indonesia he impressed after a stressful finish.

The weather, which had caused numerous delays since Thursday, had a final say when lightning stopped play on Sunday at 1.09pm with Sarit having two holes remaining 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 18th,” said Sarit at the time.

The International Series returns in 2023, making its Middle Eastern debut at Al Mouj Golf, Oman, from 9-12 February with the Asian Tour’s enhanced tournament series’ strongest field to date.

The 132-player field including golfers from 23 countries across 6 continents is headlined by major winners Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen, and Charl Schwartzel.

The 2023 International Series commences with golfing heavyweights teeing up at Al Mouj Golf, Oman on 9-12 February 2023. Pictured (L-R) Graeme McDowell, Jazz Janewattananond, Joaquin Niemann, Scott Vincent, Sergio Garcia, and Sihwan Kim

The all-time Ryder Cup points earner, Garcia, is joined in the field by fellow Spaniards Eugenio Chacarra and David Puig.

The all-star field also includes Chile’s two top-ranked players Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira.

Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO, said: “Re-introducing the International Series, with heavyweight stars such as these, in new markets like the Middle East, provides unimaginable exposure for the game of golf in locations where the potential for growth is enormous.”

Now in its second year, The International Series will contribute a total of over $20m to the 2023 Asian Tour prize funds. Comprising of 10 events, an increase from seven in 2022, this investment ensures elevated purses of minimum $2m per tournament.

Alongside the numerous global players seeking to capitalise on the increased prize purse are Asian Tour stalwarts, Sihwan Kim – winner of the 2022 Asian Tour Order Of Merit, and Scott Vincent – winner of the 2022 International Series Order Of Merit.

The 30-year-old Zimbabwean who’s earned a coveted place in the LIV Golf League under captain Niemann, said: “With the introduction of The International Series and the clear pathway to the heights of LIV Golf, The Asian Tour is a really exciting place to be playing golf right now.

“It’s always exciting to visit new places and it’s great that The International Series is breaking ground in the Middle East this year.”

SINGAPORE- Othman Almulla of Saudi Arabia pictured on Friday August 12, 2022 during round two of the US$ 1.5 million International Series Singapore at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) August 11-14, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Representing the region, Othman Ibrahim Almulla, Saud Abdullah Al Sharif and Faisal Mohammed Salhab, from Saudi Arabia plus Jordan’s Shergo Al Kurdi, will also showcase their talents in Oman.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, spoke on the advancement of the events, saying: “Besides the exciting line up we already have confirmed, helping us kickstart the 2023 season, our aim with the series has always been continued growth.

“With the names competing and the commitment we’ve made to growing the purses at each event, it shows we’re already achieving this, in just our second season.”

The full list of tournament entries for The International Series Oman can be viewed here.

World number four Cameron Smith will spearhead the strongest and deepest field in Asian Tour history when the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers tees-off next week.

To be staged at the acclaimed Royal Greens Golf and Country Club from February 2-5, the opening event on the Asian Tour’s 2023 campaign features a star-studded line-up of Major champions, Ryder Cup stalwarts as well as a healthy sprinkling of the game’s brightest young prospects.

Australian Smith, winner of The 150th Open Championship at St Andrews last July, is one of 12 Major winners and eight current Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) top-50 players in the field for the US$5 million bonanza, the richest tournament on the Asian Tour schedule.

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND – JULY 17: Cameron Smith of Australia celebrates with the Claret Jug on the 18th green after the final round of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 17, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Joining Smith and the Major-winning American sextet of Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson are European heavyweights Sergio Garcia of Spain (Masters, 2017), Swede Henrik Stenson (Open Championship, 2016), and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell (US Open, 2010).

Adding further gloss and international appeal are South Africans Louis Oosthuizen (Open Championship, 2010) and Charl Schwartzel (Masters, 2011).

Among other notables making their way to Saudi are European Ryder Cup strongmen Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Lee Westwood of England along with defending PIF Saudi International champion Harold Varner, now 46th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

In a stunning climax to last year’s tournament, American Varner improbably holed a 92-foot eagle putt on the final green to pip Watson by one shot.

As well as Smith, Johnson (44th) and Varner, five other players from the OWGR’s top-50 will be bidding for glory at Royal Greens – Americans Cameron Young (17th), Talor Gooch (42nd) and Jason Kokrak (48th), Chile’s Joaquin Niemann (22nd) and Mexican Abraham Ancer (34th).

The Asian Tour’s finest will also be out in force with all of the top-10 from the 2022 Order of Merit (OOM) signed up.

Refreshed after a much-needed break, American Sihwan Kim, last year’s OOM winner, is ready to cross swords once more with those who pushed him closest last year – Korean Bi-o Kim, Zimbabwean Scott Vincent, Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang, Australian Travis Smyth and a quintet of talented Thais Ntithorn Thippong, Sadom Kaewkanjana, Jazz Janewattananond, Phachara Khongwatmai and Sarit Suwannarut.

Also relishing the prospect of squaring off with many of the world’s best is Steve Lewton. The Englishman had the distinction of finishing as the leading Asian Tour member in a share of fourth place at Royal Greens last year.

The strength in depth of the field is further borne out by the appearances of 24-year-old American Andy Ogletree, the 2019 US Amateur champion and winner of last year’s International Series Egypt, 22-year-old Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok winner, and 21-year-old Japanese Taiga Semikawa.

Semikawa turned pro late last year after attaining the number one spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and winning three successive professional tournaments, including becoming the first amateur to win the Japan Open for 95 years.

In another intriguing angle to the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers, the two highest-rated Asia-Pacific representatives in the current WAGR will lock horns.

PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 31: Wenyi Ding of People’s Republic of China plays his tee shot on the 10th hole during Day One of the 2022 World Amateur Team Golf Championships – Eisenhower Trophy competition at Le Golf National on August 31, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Regarded as two of the world’s brightest golfing prospects, 17-year-old Chinese Ding Wenyi ended 2022 in 15th place in the WAGR, one spot ahead of 15-year-old Thailand’s Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat. Both enjoyed historic triumphs last year.

It was on April 10 in 2022 that TK wrote his name into the record books as the youngest male player to win on one of golf’s major Tours, claiming victory in the Asian Tour’s Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup.

Ding also enjoyed a memorable year highlighted by winning the US Junior Amateur Championship. In the process, he earned a starting spot at the 2023 US Open, one of golf’s four Major championships.

Ends.

Australian Jack Thompson graduated with first class honours today at the Asian Tour Qualifying School after winning the Final Stage by two shots from countryman John Lyras and China’s Bai Zhengkai.

Thompson, a professional for just two years, marked himself down as one to keep an eye out for as he closed with a five-under-par 66 for a five-round total of 22 under.

Bai returned a 65 while Lyras, who started the day sharing the lead with Thompson, shot a 68 on a tension-filled day at Lake View Resort and Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand.

American Michael Maguire (65) and Ye Wocheng (69) from China shared fourth, four back from the winner.

 Jack Thompson. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

A total of 35 players out of 77 starters today secured right of passage onto the Asian Tour this year – which promises to be the most lucrative in its history.

Nine players, tied on eight under, competed in a sudden-death play-off for the last two cards which eventually went to Thomas Power Horan from Australia and England’s Ben Jones, after they both birdied the first.

Remarkably, 24-year-old Thompson made it into this week’s event by claiming the final qualifying berth at the First Stage Qualifying Section C tournament at Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, Thailand, at the start of the month.

And prior to that he had not been able to practice for three weeks because of a wrist injury.

Said Thompson: “This is great, I guess it hasn’t really sunk in yet. It has been a long week, I have been here for a fair few days now, it’s a relief and it’s just nice to win. There is always concern coming into an event if you can do it or not.

John Lyras. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I hadn’t really had the best prep coming in. I had hurt my wrist playing a shot in the Vic PGA last year so I could only hit a bucket of balls in three weeks. It slowly got better and better. Swinging the first qualifier I had no idea, then the next round I worked it out and it carried on from there. I am just super stoked.”

Thompson’s promise first revealed itself when he won the Gippsland Super 6 Match Play in just his fifth start on the PGA Tour of Australasia in 2021 and today’s success suggests more great things are to come from the young Australian.

“I have tried a few Q Schools before and missed out so it’s really nice to have somewhere to play overseas now. I had a great group of Aussie guys here this week and that really helped,” added the Australian, who reached number 31 in the world on the amateur rankings.

It was a two-horse race between Thompson and Lyras on the last day and they were tied on 22 under with three to play. Thompson then moved one ahead with a birdie on 17 before the pressure of a marathon week finally seemed to hit them when Thompson made a bogey on the last and Lyras a double.

“It’s been a goal of mine to get a card overseas for a few years now, and to finally get that done there’s a bit of relief there for sure. It’s very exciting,” said Lyras.

“I probably looked better than I felt, you know, I was trying to win the golf tournament. I did everything I could, and the putts just didn’t go in and it was one of those days, but I feel like those days are character building. We learn so much from them, where you pressed a few decisions here and there. A few little processes that could have maybe changed here or there.

Bai Zhengka.  Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“But ultimately for someone like myself, who hasn’t really been in contention that much at any golf tournament, days like these are the ones that will hopefully spur me on to keep gaining more experience and get more comfortable in that environment.”

The 26 year old from Sydney is something of a late starter. A self-taught golfer, he said he mainly played cricket throughout his teenage years and did not play any real competitive golf until he left school.

Said Bai: “This is great. I played Korn Ferry Tour 2020 to 2021, DP World Tour and Challenge Tour last year, and this year I’ll be trying the Asian Tour.

“Feels nice. I played well the last few days, feeling good and getting more familiar with the course and attacking more pins, and I think I had a pretty good week.”

In the US he bases himself in Orlando and said he went back to China once in 2021, had to do 28 days quarantine in a hotel, and so last year stayed on the road most of the time.

The players who unfortunately missed out in the play-off where Chinese-Taipei’s Ho Yu-cheng, American Matthew Negri, Jakraphan Premsirigorn from Thailand, England’s Jack Harrison, Korean Jonghark Kim, Japan’s Ren Yonezawa, and Justin De Los Santos from the Philippines, who birdied his last hole to get into the play-off.

Thomas Power Horan of Australia, left and Ben Jones of England congratulate each other after securing their 2023 Tour cards following a nine-man play-off. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

In a first at the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School, two Hong Kong players, Matthew Cheung and Taichi Kho made it through, for full results visit here.

Australians Jack Thompson and John Lyras put themselves in prime position to secure their Asian Tour cards at the Final Stage of Qualifying School with one round to go after they took the lead today with two fine rounds of seven-under-par 64 and 66 respectively.

They are out in front on 17 under par at Lake View Resort and Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Ye Wocheng from China, the leader after each of the first three days, shot a 72, and is one behind, while his compatriot Zhengkai Bai and Korean Cho Mingyu are tied for fourth two adrift.

Bai returned a 66 and Cho a 71.

Two courses are being used this week to accommodate the impressive starting field of 234 players, with all the leaders playing the CD course today.

John Lyras. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour

“I just played really solid. Hit the ball well, putted really well. Yeah, just almost a perfect day,” said Thompson, a winner on the PGA Tour of Australasia in 2021 at the Gippsland Super 6 Match Play.

“No bogeys, it was good, felt nice. I bogeyed the last hole yesterday, so I made sure I didn’t do that. My putting has been a big thing. Everyone sort of hits good shots and stuff, but I think you still got to get the ball in the hole, and I putted really well. After the first nine holes I sort of changed things up, so I think just putting really. Just got to keep going. Keep trying to get as low as I can get and keep going.”

His unblemished scorecard showed seven birdies and no dropped shots.

Lyras took the more adventurous route making an eagle, six birdies, one double bogey and a bogey.

He said: “Yes a bit of everything, a bit of frustration, plenty of frustration. It was pretty tricky with the wind and just had to keep hitting good shots out there. Just trying to drive the ball as well as I can out there this week, and it’s helping a lot so far.

“Just need to go out and do more of the same. I really would like to finish this tournament off in a really good fashion and try and get the most out of my round tomorrow would be the goal. I feel like I haven’t really got much out of my rounds all week, so it would be nice to finish with a really strong one. But at the end of the day we’re all here for a reason, and first and foremost is to get the job done.”

The Australian has the distinction of making an eagle in all four rounds so far and will be looking for more of the same to see him through on Sunday.

Ye Wocheng. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

After opening with rounds of 64, 65 and 67, Ye carded his first over par round today mixing five birdies with six bogeys.

“The wind was quite strong today and that affected me. I didn’t hit many greens and made too many mistakes but I am in a good position heading into tomorrow.”

Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul made his move today, firing a 66, to move to 13 under and solo sixth place.

“I putted pretty solid today, made the most of my chances, but I need to work on the driver a little bit. The fairways are wide enough that I’m able to work around the course a little bit, but overall, I’m coming in to Q-School with a new mentality so I’ll stick with that and see how it goes,” said Gunn.

“I am working with a new coach and have been working with him for four or five months, and I’ve been grinding during the offseason really hard. So, you know, it’s good to see that our work pays off.”

American Davis Love IV, son of PGA Tour legend Davis Love III, came in with a 72 and is tied 10^th on 10 under.

Gunn Charoenkul. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour

A total of 77 players survived today’s cut, made at three under, and will attempt to secure one of the 35 Tour Cards on offer tomorrow for the 2023 season, which features 11 events in the first 14 weeks, starting with next month’s star-studded US$5 million Saudi International Powered by SoftBank Investments Advisers.

Young Chinese golfer Ye Wocheng maintained his lead in the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School today, shooting a third-round four-under-par 67 for an impressive 17 under par total.

He leads by three from Korean Cho Mingyu, who carded a belting 62, the joint lowest round of the week so far, here at Lake View Resort and Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand, where two courses are being used.

Korean Kim Dongmin (63) and John Lyras from Australia (67) are two shots further back from Cho.

American Davis Love IV, son of 21-time PGA Tour winner Davis Love III, matched Cho’s 62 and is a stroke behind along with England’s Ben Jones (67), Hanmil Jung (68) from Korea, and American Michael Maguire (70).

They all competed on the AB course, the easier of the layouts compared with the CD course.

Cho Mingyu.  Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Yeh, aged 22, led by three at the start of the day and was unchallenged as he collected five birdies before dropping his only shot of the day on 14.

He said: “I am just trying to stay at the same level mentally. I have played in a few qualifiers, so I know what to do. It helps I am putting really well. And I am not too focused on winning, just getting my card.”

His career seems to be trending in the right direction, he turned professional in 2020, won twice on the China Tour in 2021 and is now superbly positioned to win playing privileges for the 2023 season.

“I played the Canadian Tour last year, I really enjoyed it as it was my first experience playing overseas as a professional,” added Ye, who in 2013, as a 12-year-old, created history by becoming the youngest male to compete in a European Tour event when he played in the Volvo China Open.

In hot pursuit is the very experienced Cho, a two-time winner in Japan, who finished runner-up twice last year on the Asian Tour in gripping circumstances, on both occasions on home soil.

John Lyras. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He lost the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in controversial circumstances to compatriot Bio Kim by two shots. While playing his third shot at the ninth, Cho stepped his foot on the hole’s second green, unaware that he should have taken a drop. It was an error for which he was docked two shots – a cruel and decisive blow to his chances.

And at the Kolon Korea Open he was beaten by Korean Minkyu Kim in a three-hole play-off, having missed a birdie putt on the last to win in regulation play. In the play-off he had a one-stroke advantage playing the final hole but made bogey against Kim’s birdie.

“I have learned from both those experiences. I didn’t know about the ruling at Maekyung. But I have come back a stronger player and want to win on both the Asian Tour and Korean Tour this year,” said Cho, whose most recent win in Japan was the 2016 Fujisankei Classic.

He made an eagle and seven birdies and started spectacularly going six under for the first six.

Added the 34 year old: “I think I had a birdie chance on every hole today, my approach shots were very good.”

Lyras’s round received a boost when he holed his second shot on the par-four seventh for an eagle.

“Yeah, three-wood in the left bunker and holed it from about 87 yards or something so that was lovely,” said the Australian.

“It was just the battle for the rest of the round, a bit tricky with that wind kind of gusting a bit. Putts didn’t really want to go in today but it’s alright, I’m hitting the ball well.

Davis Love IV. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I have been playing on the Aussie Tour back home, been going to America a fair bit trying to get through on the mini tours and Korn Ferry Tour School, and missed at second stage of both Korn Ferry and DP World Tour by three. So, you know, fresh wounds but trying to make amends this week.”

Love IV, better known as Dru, also made an eagle and seven birdies like Cho, leaping up the leaderboard with birdies on his last two.

“I haven’t been playing a lot of golf over the break and I just felt like I finally put it all together,” said the American, who has Australian Kyle ‘Roachy’ Roadley on the back, a veteran European Tour caddie.

“I’ve been three under through six the last two days as well. I had it going low every day but the last two days I’ve shot over a par on the back nine.”

The 29 year old, who turned professional in 2017, last played in Asia at the Singapore Open in 2020.

He said: “I have tried doing Monday qualifiers and Korn Ferry Q-School. After Singapore Open I had a shoulder surgery in January 2021, so I missed the last half of 2020 and I missed almost all of 2021. So I’ve been hurt, trying to find my game again and trying to have more rounds like this. I feel like I’ve been halfway there, but I haven’t gotten over the hump since my surgery.

“I’ve had some really good low rounds but nothing like today in a tournament. So, I just felt like today was the most calm my head’s been in a while, and I gotta give a lot of credit to my caddy Roachy, he was unbelievable today, kept me laser focused. Every decision we made was the right one.”

Competitors are chasing 35 Tour cards this week for the new season – which starts next month at the US$5 million Saudi International Powered by SoftBank Investments Advisers.

After tomorrow’s fourth round the top-70 players (and ties) will play Sunday’s pivotal final round.

Former golf wonderkid Ye Wocheng added a second-round six-under-par 65 to his opening day 64 to take the lead today after day two of the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School.

The Chinese golfer leads on 13 under par at Lake View Resort and Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand, where two layouts are being used to accommodate the 234-starting field, by three shots from American Michael Maguire, who came in with a 66.

Germany’s Dominic Foos (64), Australians Aaron Wilkin (65) and John Lyras (69), and Korean Hanmil Jung (66) are joint third on eight under.

One stroke further back are New Zealand’s Denzel Ieremia (66), Englishman Ben Jones (67), Korea’s Jaeil Song (68), South African Mj Viljoen (70) and Benjamin Follett-Smith (71) from Zimbabwe – who won the 2020 Qualifying School, also played here at Lake View.

Michael Maguire. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Ten years ago, a 12-year-old Ye created history by becoming the youngest male to compete in a European Tour event when he played in the Volvo China Open and today he showed he has lost none of that early promise.

“That performance back then gave me so much confidence and made me realise I can play at this level,” said the 22 year old, who splits his time living between China and the US, where he played college golf for the University of Florida.

“I putted pretty well these past two days so that’s been the key. My form has been okay recently, but it is still early days this week, there are three more rounds remaining, but I really want to get my Asian Tour card.”

After turning professional three years ago he has been playing on both the China and Canadian Tours, winning twice on the former in 2021.

Ye, playing the AB course today, dropped a shot on the second but that was the only mistake he made as he went on to make three birdies before the turn and then four on the back nine.

He added: “I am just taking it day by day and not getting ahead of myself.”

Hanmil Jung.  Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Maguire, on the CD layout, shot six birdies and also only dropped one shot.

Over the past few seasons, the 30 year old has been playing on the Korn Ferry Tour, Canadian Tour and the PGA Tour Latinoamérica – where he won the Shell Open in 2021 – and is hoping to add an Asian Tour card to his collection.

First-round leader Wang Wei-hsuan from Chinese-Taipei had a poor day and returned a 77, 14 shots worse than his first day effort, to slip back to two under.

Competitors are chasing 35 Tour cards this week for the new season – which starts next month at the US$5 million Saudi International Powered by SoftBank Investments Advisers.

The top 140 (and ties) survived today’s 36-hole cut, which was made at two over.

Notable casualties are Australians Brett Rumford and Sam Brazel, Swede Rikard Karlberg, Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, Malaysian Danny Chia and Indonesia’s Rory Hie.

After rounds three and four the top-70 players (and ties) will play Sunday’s pivotal final round.

John Lyras. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan showed few nerves in the pressure-cooker environment of the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School today shooting a masterful eight-under-par 63 to take the first-round lead.

Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Follett-Smith, winner of the Final Stage when it was last played in 2020, here at Lake View Resort and Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand, picked up where he left off carding a 64 to sit second along with China’s Ye Wocheng.

South African MJ Viljoen and John Lyras from Australia returned 65s along with two amateurs Taichi Kho from Hong Kong and Thailand’s Runchanapong Youprayong.

Wang Wei-hsuan of Chinese Taipei. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Wang, younger brother of fellow Tour player Wang Wei-hsiang, went bogey free and brilliantly traversed the front nine, his second half, in six-under-par 30 with three birdies on the trot from the first and another three starting from five.

With a starting field of 234 players for this week’s five-round tournament two courses are being used with Wang playing the AB layout today.

“I was a bit worried at the start of the day as I had a sore hip, but the physio helped and I played really well, drove it very good,” said Wang, whose brother shot 72.

“I have been playing well since I finished third in last year’s Yeangder TPC, that gave me a lot of confidence. I just want a top-35 finish to get my card and then I want to win on the Asian Tour this year.”

Benjamin Follet-Smith of Zimbabwe. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The Wang brothers have been making waves in Chinese-Taipei with some eye-catching golf, particularly in 2020 when Wang Wei-hsuan was victorious in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters before his brother triumphed the following year. On both occasions it was held solely as a domestic event because of travel restrictions caused by COVID-19.

Follett-Smith, who lost his card last year after finishing 140th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit during his rookie season in the region, said: “It is horrible to be back here, but obviously very grateful the way I have played. I like the courses in this area, they suit my eye, I played well in 2020 and hopefully I can do the same thing.”

After winning the School three years ago he had high hopes of making an impact on the Asian Tour but when COVID hit soon after he qualified he found it difficult to adapt.

“Last year was a struggle,” he said, who was on the CD course today.

“After I got my card COVID happened. There were two blank years when we didn’t do anything. I think I was under prepared when the Tour started. I was mentally not strong enough. I had to learn a lot. I travelled a lot. There were six to seven hour time zones every week as I was trying to play on the Sunshine Tour. I was back and forth a lot and had too much on my plate. I was overwhelmed and put myself under heaps of pressure.”

Mj Viljoen of South Africa. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The 28 year old has come back to Asia benefiting from a month off which included practicing with Scott and Kieran Vincent, who he grew up and went to school with in Harare.

“I took a two-week break, went to the sea, took some clubs with me to the beach but not anything serious. Then I had 14 days after that to prep and get ready for here back home in Harare. Scott and Kieran were there so we practiced together,” said Follett-Smith, who was full of praise for last year’s International Series Order of Merit champion Scott Vincent.

He said: “Scott manages himself very well and his routines are brilliant. He is never off routine. He wakes up at exactly the same time, he is steady in his routine. It creates a mindset that is flawless. If you do everything behind the scenes correctly then you know you have less to worry about.”

Viljoen is playing in Asia for the first time, having been a regular on the Sunshine Tour where he has won twice.

He played the AB layout and was also bogey free with five birdies in a row on the front nine.

“2019 I went to the European Qualifying School and just missed out, I went to Korn Ferry last year, just missed out, so here we are, it’s the first time I am here, I want to try it, see what it’s like. I hear good things, the Tour is going onto a good place,” said the 27 year old from Bloemfontein.

Hong Kong amateur Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“We haven’t played many Tour schools in the last three years because of COVID. I am getting into a pickle because I feel nervous playing in Q School again. Shooting 65 to start with is a good position, it gives me a few extra shots to start with.”

Competitors are chasing 35 Tour cards this week for the new season – which starts next month at the US$5 million Saudi International Powered by SoftBank Investments Advisers.

The top 140 (and ties) after 36 holes will progress to rounds three and four while the top 70 players (and ties) after 72 holes will play in the pivotal final round.

Golfing fervour will replace football fever when the inaugural International Series Qatar tees-off next month.

Exactly two months after Argentina’s Lionel Messi raised aloft the football World Cup trophy at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar will once more find itself in the global sporting spotlight.

From February 16-19, Doha Golf Club will be the venue for the Asian Tour’s International Series Qatar.

Boasting a purse of US$2.5 million, the event will be the third leg of the 2023 Asian Tour and the second leg of the ground-breaking International Series, which was launched last year.

It will also mark the first time the Asian Tour has staged an event in Qatar for 16 years.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Tour, said: “After a memorable 2022 season, we’re thrilled to have such a strong start to the new season, including our first visit to Doha since the Qatar Masters in 2007.”

Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe with the International Series Order of Merit trophy 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.

Hassan al Naimi, President of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), said: “Along with Doha Golf Club we are delighted that the Asian Tour is returning to Qatar for the inaugural International Series Qatar.

“We are pleased to welcome the Asian Tour back to Qatar for this exciting new event and give our full support towards its success.

“The fans and people of Qatar extend a warm welcome to the players and their families and we look forward to supporting their participation.”

As well as being the home of the QGA, Doha Golf Club, a green oasis surrounded by city views, has an enviable record for hosting professional golf tournaments over the past 23 years.

Major champions Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Paul Lawrie and Henrik Stenson are among the high-profile names who have triumphed at Doha Golf Club, a world-class venue which also boasts a host of other sporting facilities and stages family and social activities year-round.

Participants in the International Series Qatar can expect the Peter Harridine designed course to offer a stern examination of their all-round games.

“We have recently replaced all 18 greens and introduced five new tees that create a great test of golf on our Championship course,” said al Naimi.

The Qatar event will cap off a lucrative three-week stretch in the Middle East region for the Asian Tour which kicks off the 2023 season.