Sizzling 63s give Lindh, Morgan and Antcliff lead in Thailand
Charlie Lindh from Sweden plus Australians Jed Morgan and Maverick Antcliff impressed at the International Series Thailand today shooting blazing seven-under-par 63s to take the first-round lead at Thai Country Club, in Bangkok.
They lead from Americans Peter Uihlein and Paul Peterson, Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang and Lee Chieh-po, China’s Sampson Zheng, and Richard T. Lee from Canada, who fired 64s.
Lindh is a graduate from this year’s Asian Tour Qualifying School – he earned the sixth card – and has gradually been finding his feet in the region this year, as highlighted by today’s strong round of seven birdies and no dropped shots.
Said the 27-year-old, who started on the back nine: “It felt easy. We had a good plan coming in today, and I had a great start, right away, and I had a good feeling, and just kept going. Steve [his caddie] made a couple of great calls on our back nine, which is the front, which held the score together.”
Jed Morgan. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He is currently 45th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, having made seven cuts out of the 12 events he has started. He tied for 10th in the Yeangder TPC last month for his best finish of the season so far and enjoyed the biggest pay day of his career a month earlier at the International Series England, were he was joint 13th. He won US$28,350 there.
The good run of form comes despite an injury concern.
“I’ve been having some issue with my wrists,” said the Swede, who qualified for The Open this year, the first time he has played in a Major, but missed the cut.
“I haven’t practiced the way I want to but it’s getting better and better, and I do get a lot of help from the physio – which I appreciate very much. And so everything’s been getting better.”
Like Lindh, Morgan is also playing his first full season on the Asian Tour – off the back of a number of invites last year thanks to an outstanding 2022 that saw him win the Australian PGA Championship and the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
He stormed through with four birdies in a row from the 13th.
Maverick Antcliff. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
“Very happy with the way I putted obviously,” said Morgan.
“And also very pleased with my approach shots. The back nine especially felt nice – it was good to see a few putts in a row go in.
“Not sure I would say it [today] was a return to form because I have felt good about my game for a while now. I have been happy with my game, but I just haven’t been producing any results.”
After his round Uihlein, winner of the International Series England in August, said he still has one eye on winning The International Series Rankings.
He is currently seventh on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and third on The International Series Rankings. His countryman John Catlin is the runaway leader on both rankings, particularly after finishing second at last week’s Black Mountain Championship – where he was beaten by compatriot Michael Maguire in a sudden-death play-off.
“The Asian Tour [Order of Merit] is probably not gettable with John [Catlin] ahead,” said Uihlein, who plays for RangeGoats GC on the LIV Golf League.
Peter Uihlein. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I think he’s pulled ahead pretty far away on The International Series one as well, but I feel like I could still be like …. I’d have to win this week, really, because John played great last week.”
He’s over 2,000 points behind Catlin on the Asian Tour Merit list, but 362.78 back on The International Series Rankings.
The 35-year-old was delighted with his round, made up of six birdies and zero bogeys, even though he wasn’t confident with his irons.
“A miracle!” said the American, who tied for 44th in last week’s Black Mountain Championship – also part of The International Series.
“I didn’t know what to do half the time I was in the fairway. So yeah, it was good off the tee. It was fantastic. Holed the putts when I hit it close and, you know, that’s what you got to do.
“It’s just, I like, visually, it’s a pretty looking course. Reminds me a bit of Florida.”
Maguire, still on a high after his win on Sunday fired a 67, as did defending champion Wade Ormsby from Australia, while Catlin has work to do following a 70.
This week’s US$2 million event is part of an exciting climax to the season on the Asian Tour. It’s the 16th event of the year with five events remaining, and the sixth of 10 stops on The International Series – 10 upper-tier multi-million dollar tournaments that are part of the Tour that will see its rankings winner secure a place on the LIV Golf League.
LIV Golf League star Peter Uihlein is hoping that the recent experience of securing a big tournament victory in England can count in his favour as he prepares for International Series Thailand at Thai Country Club in Bangkok this week.
The big-hitting American, who currently plays for RangeGoats GC in the LIV Golf League, dominated the field at Foxhills Club & Resort in Surrey, cruising to a commanding seven-shot victory in the fourth event of the series. This win, along with a solid sixth-place finish in Oman earlier in the season, has propelled Uihlein to third place in The International Series Rankings.
Although disappointed with a T44 last week at the Black Mountain Championship in Hua Hin, the fifth event of the series, he is hoping to get back to winning ways in Thailand.
Reflecting on the confidence he gained in England he said: “It is always nice to win. I felt like I was playing good going into it without, really, the results to show it. So, it was nice to have the results and it is nice anytime you win anywhere around the world, right?
“So, I felt pretty good, and after that I played pretty solid on the LIV Golf League. Nothing really spectacular, but pretty solid to finish off the year.”
(L-R) Peter Uihlein, Wade Ormsby, Scott Vincent and David Boriboonsub pictured during the press conference ahead of the International Series Thailand. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.
It is a second consecutive weekend in Thailand for Uihlein, and another destination in a year that has seen plenty of airmiles. He said: “I love travel, and I love playing and The International Series is great for both of that.
“Oman, Morocco, Thailand, England and then Indonesia, Hong Kong, Qatar, – it is a pretty global schedule, it’s awesome and great for the game.”
Wade Ormsby won this event last year when the tournament was held at Black Mountain Golf Club, the venue for last weekend’s tournament. He’s hoping that performance can also bring confidence.
He said: “It is a great feeling to defend the title at any tournament, we had a good year there last year, albeit a different golf course. This is my first time here at Thai Country Club and it is a great golf course, in great shape, even with the good amount of rain that we have had.”
Ormsby has been traveling with the LIV Golf League this season as an alternate, and the evergreen Australian is hoping that the experience of rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest players in the world counts for something this week.
“It is absolutely fantastic being around the guys out there,” he said. “You are always learning this game, especially around the calibre of guys that you’re mixed with out there, whether just on the range, practicing or whatever.
Peter Uihlein. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It is contagious being around them, yeah, absolutely I will try and bring that back out here.”
Vincent, The International Series Rankings champion in 2022, has enjoyed two consecutive full seasons on the LIV Golf League, but could not escape the relegation zone this season.
The Zimbabwean is pleased to be back on duty on The International Series, which offers a viable route back to the big time if he wins the rankings race this season.
He said: “I think it has changed and helped my life. It is something that I’m always going to reflect on and I am very grateful for that opportunity that I’ve had. I am excited to come out here and compete, and to use whatever I have learned and hopefully continue to improve as a player in person. It has been awesome for me, and I think everyone here would agree on that.”
Local hope David Boriboonsub is hoping that a Thai player can take it to the next level here this week.
Seven Thai players finished in the top 20 last week, with youngster Boriboonsub himself finishing T14 after rounds of 65, 69, 67 and 70.
He said: “It is a huge opportunity for the Thai players and for me. I think this week, I played this course quite a lot, so I know which holes to go for and which holes to play safe or be aggressive on.
“The International Series is a huge opportunity for the Thai players. Right now, the Thai golfers are playing really well. I haven’t actually played all that well, except for the last few weeks.”
Justin Thomas, Jordan Speith and Xander Schauffele need little introduction in the world of golf – bona fide superstars with a wealth of Major titles and PGA Tour wins between them.
The name Michael Maguire, up until last weekend and his play-off victory at the Black Mountain Championship on The International Series in Thailand, might not have gained the same global recognition.
Yet all four are part of the same generation of players who regularly competed against each other in collegiate tournament golf in the U.S. before their careers took very different paths.
Maguire’s stunning play-off win over rankings leader John Catlin at Black Mountain Golf Club last week may have come as a surprise to many.
To Maguire it was the culmination of a long journey that had started off in that illustrious company, took in stints on the PGA Latinoamerica Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour, and is currently playing out on the Asian Tour.
Michael Maguire. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.
“I did four years at the University of North Florida, where I was four time All American, and had three college tournament wins, so I had a lot of success,” he said. “I was seeing guys like Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, turning pro immediately, and winning on the PGA Tour.
“And I thought, okay, I am not that far behind these guys. And I was confident that I was going to be there, out there, you know, with those guys. It did not work out.
“Looking back nine years later, it was not where I expected to be and where I wanted to be when I was coming out of college. But I was young and immature. And I look at those guys, how much more mature they were than I was. I did not have the discipline, or the work ethic that I do now.”
The 32-year-old, who turned pro in 2015, secured one PGA Tour Latinoamerica tournament win, the Shell Open back in 2020 at Doral, Florida, and was up to double figures for top-10 finishes as he honed his game and learned how to grind it out and get in contention.
He then played a season on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022, before issues with putting and confidence resulted in a lost card. He then missed out on a spot at Q School by a single shot.
Maguire was alerted to the Asian Tour, and potential pathway onto the lucrative LIV Golf League, through the work of another university alumnus, Scott Vincent. The 2022 International Series Rankings champion spent two years with Iron Heads GC thanks to his rankings win.
Michael Maguire. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He explained: “We played together in college on a couple of tournaments. I saw what he did and how he got on the LIV Golf League, and it was very interesting. I thought it might be a good path for me to try and take.
“I loved the travel around Latin America, seeing the different countries, so I had the travel bug already so it was very easy for me to think, ‘let’s go to Asia and do this’.”
Up until last weekend, Maguire’s best finish since graduating from Asian Tour Q School was a T4 at International Series Vietnam last year.
To Maguire, who shot from 77 to 5 in The International Series Rankings and is fourth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, he is tracking exactly where he should be – a champion battling it out with rankings leader Catlin, International Series Morocco champion Ben Campbell and others for that lucrative spot on the LIV Golf League.
Maguire, who is up to US$440,930 in earnings this season after his bumper US$360,000 pay day last week, said: “I think now that I have won, I have expectations, and I think I have to try to at least do the best I can to catch John. He is pretty high up, still ahead in the rankings. I need to chase the wins.
“I was expecting to be peaking around International Series Qatar [the penultimate week of the season]. I know the course is long and it is windy, so I was eyeballing that one, and thinking I can do really well there.”
So, what’s the secret? The special sauce that Maguire has found seemingly out of nowhere? This season he’s certainly been trending upwards, with a T25 at International Series England, a T16 at the Mandiri Indonesia Open, a T7 at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters and the play-off win in Thailand last weekend.
Turns out it is a simple formula: determination plus hard work.
He said: “I basically put my foot down and said, okay if I really want to get to the elite level, I have got to really work hard, put in more hours. And that is basically what I did. I just put in more effort, got more focused.”
Sihwan Kim’s last two years have been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. From the highs of his 2022 International Series Thailand victory and competing against some of the biggest names in the sport, to the lows of relegation from the star-studded LIV Golf League and a loss of confidence.
Kim was outstanding in 2022 winning that inaugural event on The International Series at Black Mountain. He also claimed another victory at the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Stableford Challenge, clinched the Asian Tour Order of Merit and recorded a fifth-placed finish on LIV Golf in Bangkok.
Last season was a very different situation however, and he suffered a real loss of confidence. In 12 starts on the LIV Golf League, he only managed one finish above 40th spot – when he placed 33rd at LIV Golf Bedminster, and only carded a one-under-par total in the entire campaign, a two-under total at Tulsa.
There are encouraging signs that his game is trending upward again. A sensational
nine-under-par round of 63 on the final day of the Black Mountain Championship last Sunday took him up to a T9 finish.
Kyoungjun Moon, middle, and Sihwan Kim, right, pictured walking during an official practice at the International Series Thailand at Thai Country Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His performance at the Black Mountain Golf Club was more like the Sihwan Kim of old, giving him a big confidence boost ahead of this week’s International Series Thailand, which starts tomorrow at Thai Country Club.
As a former champion, Kim is hoping to rediscover that winning touch and ignite a run of form which could move him closer to a return to LIV Golf, the dream scenario which is offered to the champion of The International Series Rankings.
Kim, who moved up to 38th in The International Series Rankings said: “I’m just trying to play my game. I was struggling last year, and low on confidence. I have seen some improvement this year but I still haven’t had many big finishes, and when I do make the cut I can’t seem to make that breakthrough.
“So, yeah, been trying to grind on that, and hopefully in the future I’ll get another one. I just need to keep on playing and then try to find a swing that works at my age because I am getting that little bit older and you feel like you’re doing the same, but it’s not producing the same results. So, yeah, I’m trying to find something that works.”
Kim first played the LIV Golf League in 2022 and guaranteed his spot in the 2023 season after finishing in the top 24. Since relegation at the end of last season, he has been battling to rediscover that form and win his way back onto the league – after finishing in the drop zone at no.50 in the standings at the end of the season.
Sihwan Kim. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
A former U.S. Junior Championship winner at just 15, Kim was a member of the Iron Heads GC team alongside Kevin Na, Danny Lee, and 2023 International Series Rankings champion Scott Vincent.
Week in week out, he was competing with some of the biggest names in world golf, gaining invaluable experience.
Kim said: “Yeah, it was great. I mean, without LIV, I’d probably never play with guys like DJ (Dustin Johnston) and Brooks (Brooks Koepka) and Phil Mickelson and players like that.
“Just to get that experience with those guys you know, you look at it a little differently, and then see what you can work on to improve your game.
“Last year, I played with Phil Mickelson quite a bit, because he didn’t play that well, and then I was in the bottom of the pack as well and, you know just his attitude towards the game, he is just an incredible guy and got to play with Brooks and DJ as well and those guys are just on a different level.”
Reflecting on his 2022 victory on The International Series and the opportunities it opened up, Kim said: “It was definitely life changing [his win at International Series Thailand]. Obviously, what happened after that I played on LIV Golf for two years, and just the amount of money I made out of that it changed my life and International Series Thailand was my first win, as a professional.
“For us to have The International Series all throughout the year, having 10 of them this year yeah it helps us a lot.”
There was one other confidence-building personal high that the American was proud to confirm: “It’s been a busy year, I got married and I have been playing a lot so yeah it’s great!”
Seven Thai golfers finished in the top-20 of the Black Mountain Championship last weekend in Hua Hin, and a similar strong challenge is anticipated this week at International Series Thailand – the second of two back-to-back International Series events to be staged in the country.
Suteepat Prateeptienchai was the best of the home contingent, finishing in T4 on 20 under, just three behind surprise winner Michael Maguire from the United States, who was tied with rankings leader and compatriot John Catlin in regulation, and won on the second play-off hole.
Suteepat, who is 18 on The International Series Rankings and fifth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, continues to be in great form after winning the Yeangder TPC in Chinese Taipei last month.
He is confident he can continue his recent hot streak, providing he can maintain his consistency with the flat stick here at Thai Country Club.
Sadom Kaewkanjana. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.
He said: “I played well, I missed two to three close putts, but I am satisfied with my performance for the four days – I set a target of four to five putts per day. Finishing 20-under is excellent for me going into International Series Thailand.
“I have played Thai Country Club before, but not often. I heard there is long rough, and I need to work hard in preparation, to get a feel for the rough, the greens and the weather. I have to plan my game and pick up a lot of birdies again because the cut is likely to be high again.
“It is a great opportunity for Thai golfers as we don’t have to travel, and we know the conditions. Playing in such strong fields also helps us to develop our skills.”
Sadom Kaewkanjana, the highest placed Thai in the rankings at no.12, returned a T9 last week alongside Suradit Yongcharoenchai while David Boriboonsub and Gunn Charoenkul finished T14, the latter shooting a sublime 10-under 62 on day four.
Sadom, who finished T4 at International Series England, is aiming to maintain his good form in the season’s 10 elevated events. He believes the Thai Country Club course will offer a very different challenge to the one posed at Black Mountain Golf Club.
Suradit Yongchaornechai. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.
He said: “I played the Thai Country Club course last month and it was in perfect condition, but my game plan needs to change because it is more flat than Black Mountain. The green reading and putting game will be totally different.
“Going into the week, I am happy with my performance overall. I had a target to score four under daily, so to get around in 18 under was beyond my expectations, If I can maintain my standard and keep the form, I will play well this week.”
Suradit has flown under the radar so far this season and is currently sitting just outside the top 50 after his T9. He is hoping for a similar top-10 finish as he aims to climb the rankings.
He said: “I did not play well at the beginning of the season, but I have been getting better. I expected to finish in the top 15 and I made it comfortably, so I hope to keep my form for this week. If I can finish like that again I will be very happy.
“I have not played at Thai Country Club for around four years now, but I think the course layout will fit my game and hopefully we can have a good Thai performance again.”
Tournament Information
- Tournament: International Series Thailand
- Date: October 24-27, 2024
- Venue: Thai Country Club, Chachoengsao, Thailand
- Par/Yards: Par-70 / 7,076 Yards
- Purse: US$2 million (First place US$360,000)
- Asian Tour leg: 16th event of 2024 season
- The International Series leg: Sixth
- Edition of tournament: Third
- Total number of players: 150
- Format: 72-hole stroke play with a cut made after two rounds. The leading 65 pros plus ties make the cut.
- Social Media Hashtags: #TimeToRise #InternationalSeries #ThisISEverything
A general view of the 18th hospitality facility at the International Series Thailand at Thai Country Club, Bangkok, Thailand. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Scott Hend (2016)
- Nationalities: 28
- Top contenders: John Catlin (USA), Ben Campbell (NZL), Michael Maguire (USA), Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA), Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: John Catlin (USA) #114
- Highest ranked player on 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit: John Catlin #1
- Highest ranked player on 2024 International Series Rankings: John Catlin #1
- of amateurs: 2
- of Thai players in the field: 38
Thai Country Club’s clubhouse. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.
Tournament Notes
- Last week’s runner-up John Catlin has won at Thai Country Club before, clinching the 2019 Thailand Open in a play-off against Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Shiv Kapur from India. The American’s play has been superb this whole season with seven top 10s in nine Asian Tour events, and he leads both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings. The 33-year-old has posted two victories so far this season, the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and the Saudi Open presented by PIF, as well as three runners-up in last week’s Black Mountain Championship, the International Series Morocco and the Yeangder TPC. A tied third finish in the season opening Prima Malaysian Open secured him a spot in the 152nd Open Championship where he finished tied 16th for his best result in a Major. After last week’s tournament at Black Mountain, he extended his Asian Tour Order of Merit lead to 2,403.27 points over Spain’s David Puig who is in second place on 1,146.83. He also leads The International Series Ranking with 810.88 points against 526.83 for New Zealander Ben Campbell who sits in second. He has also subbed in for injured players on three different teams on the LIV Golf League this year and posted an impressive T7 in LIV Golf Nashville in June. Catlin has amassed US$1,304,225 in earnings on the Asian Tour so far this season, while his LIV Golf League total was US$1,629,367 in his 2024 campaign.
- New Zealander Ben Campbell is a two-time International Series winner after capturing this summer’s International Series Morocco in a play-off against John Catlin, and the 2023 Hong Kong Open. Currently second in The International Series Rankings, Campbell finished T4 in last week’s Black Mountain Championship, and other good results this season includes a T5 at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and a T10 at the 103rd New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.
- American Michael Maguire was the winner in last week’s Black Mountain Championship after defeating John Catlin on the second play-off hole, and as a result he vaulted up to fourth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit from 50th the previous week. He also made a big move in The International Series Rankings and now sits in fifth place. Maguire also had a good result at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters three weeks ago where he finished T7.
- Suteepat Prateeptienchai from Thailand has been playing some great golf of late, winning last month’s Yeangder TPC by two shots over John Catlin. The win came 10 months after winning the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open for his first Asian Tour victory last December. He also finished T4 in Hua Hin last week, and posted a T6 in the Mandiri Indonesia Open in early September. Suteepat currently sits in fifth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
- While Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan missed the cut at Black Mountain Last week, he won the previous week’s SJM Macao Open wire-to- wire by two shots over compatriot Gunn Charoenkul and finished T4 at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters the week before the win in Macao. Rattanon is also a previous winner at Thai Country Club, having won the 2017 Thailand Open at the venue for his first Asian Tour title.
- Thai Country Club has hosted several Asian Tour events in the past, most recently the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Thailand Opens, won by Rattanon Wannasrichan, Panuphol Pittayarat and John Catlin The club was notably also the site of the 1997 Asian Honda Classic famously won by Tiger Woods.
- Other players to look out for this week are LIV Golf players Peter Uihlein, winner of this summer’s International Series England, Sam Horsfield, Branden Grace, Danny Lee, former Ryder Cup star Chris Wood, winner of the Thailand Open in 2012, plus influencers Luke Kwon and Mac Boucher.
It was super-low scoring at the Black Mountain Championship in Hua Hin, Thailand, last week, with the rain softened par-72 layout at Black Mountain Golf Club surrendering an incredible 1,961 birdies and 39 eagles.
Michael Maguire and John Catlin’s four-round total of 23-under was the joint second lowest of the year on the Asian Tour – one behind Catlin’s winning score at the Saudi Open presented by PIF – while the tournament also saw the lowest cut of the season so far, with six-under-par necessary to make it through to the weekend.
Maguire, as we all know, sensationally beat Catlin on the second extra-hole – surprisingly with a par, after his opponent made bogey having found a greenside bunker on the par-five 18th in three.
An inspired Maguire, who is in his sophomore season on the Asian Tour, posted 23 birdies and one eagle during the week, and also did a great job in keeping bogeys off his card. He only dropped two shots: on the 11th hole on Thursday and on the ninth hole on Sunday.
John Catlin. Picture by Vachira Kalong/Asian Tour.
With only two bogeys during the tournament, the American topped the Fewest Bogies or Worse statistics category together with fellow-American Berry Henson and Thai players Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Nopparat Panichphol.
Another crucial factor in his victory was his par-five scoring in the final round: taking full advantage of his length off the tee, Maguire eagled the par-five second hole and birdied the other three, including the 18th hole to force the play-off with Catlin, who was only able to par both par fives on the back nine on Sunday.
Being one of the longer drivers on the Asian Tour, Maguire averaged 305.88 yards off the tee at Black Mountain and ranked seventh in the Driving Distance category. Korean Chanmin Jung once again lived up to his nickname “The Korean Hulk” by leading that category on an unbelievable 326.25 yards.
Maguire’s other statistics for the week were: Putts per Round 27.5 (T14), Putts per Greens in Regulation (GIR) 1.65 (23rd), GIR 79.17% (T14) and Fairways Hit 58.93% (T51).
This season’s dominant player Catlin put on yet another brilliant performance and came very close to winning his third Asian Tour and second International Series event of the season.
According to the statistics he did very well from tee to green, ranking T4 in Fairways hit with 83.93% and T8 in GIR with 83.33%. However, his putting was not up to his usual top-notch standards, as he ranked T38 in Putts per GIR with 1.7 and T47 in Putts per Round with 29.
Poosit Supupramai. Picture by Vachira Kalong/Asian Tour.
For the season as a whole, and counting only players with 20 or more rounds played, Catlin ranks second only to Spain’s David Puig in Putts per GIR with 1.68 and third behind Puig and Korean Bio Kim with 27.9 Putts per Round.
It is also worth noting that Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai was the best putter last week, finishing first in Putts per Round, with Korean Jeunghun Wang, on 25,75, and Putts per GIR with 1.52. He tied for 22nd in the tournament and must have been left wondering what might have been.
On the rankings side of things Catlin extended his lead on both the Asian Tour and International Series tables. He now leads the former with a startling 2,830.77 points vs. 1,171.43 points from New Zealander Ben Campbell. In The International Series Rankings battle, which earns the winner a lifechanging place on next year’s LIV Golf League, Catlin now leads with 810.88 points to Campbell’s 526.83.
Even if the New Zealander wins this week’s International Series Thailand, and Catlin misses the cut, Campbell cannot overtake the American in either race.
Statistics Categories leaders at the Black Mountain Championship (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round: Poosit Supupramai (THA), Jeunghun Wang (KOR) – 25.75
- Putts per GIR: Poosit Supupramai (THA) – 1.52
- GIR: Austen Truslow (USA), Vanchai Luangnitikul (THA) – 87.50%
- Fairways Hit: Ben Campbell (NZL) – 91.07%
- Driving Distance: – Chanmin Jung (KOR) 326.25 Yards
- Most Eagles: Kristoffer Broberg (SWE) – 3
- Most Birdies: Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA), Kieran Vincent (ZIM) – 27
- Fewest Bogies or Worse: Michael Maguire (USA), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Nopparat Panichphol (THA), Berry Henson (USA) – 2
- Scrambling: Hung Chien-yao (TPE) – 93.33 %
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson is the latest big-name player to confirm he will play in the BNI Indonesian Masters later this month.
The US$2 million Asian Tour tournament will be played at Royale Jakarta Golf Club from October 31-November 3, and it will mark the first time that the charismatic American has played on The International Series.
Watson, currently captain of RangeGoats GC on the LIV Golf League, will headline the event along with John Catlin, the runaway leader on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings, plus other LIV Golf League stars Richard Bland from England, and New Zealand’s Danny Lee.
Defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar from India, Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and China’s rising star Ding Wenyi, who has just turned professional after winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship last week, have also entered the tournament – helping to ensure one of the event’s strongest-ever fields.
Bubba Watson. Picture by Scott Taetsch/LIV Golf.
It will be Watson’s maiden tournament appearance in Indonesia and the ninth time he has competed on the Asian Tour. He has finished runner-up on the Asian Tour twice, at the Thailand Golf Championship in 2012, where he tied for second, and the PIF Saudi International two years ago.
Said the 45-year-old lefthander: “As everyone knows I have really enjoyed playing in tournaments overseas and so I am really excited about playing in Indonesia for the first time. I enjoy coming to Asia and soaking in the sights and sounds and also seeing the diverse mixture of players out here.
“The BNI Indonesian Masters plays a big part in The International Series, which provides a pathway onto the LIV Golf League. I’m a big believer in LIV Golf and I’m proud of the impact it has had on the game of golf worldwide.”
Watson won the Masters in 2012 and 2014, and has triumphed 12-times on the PGA Tour, including two World Golf Championships: the 2014 WGC-HSBC Champions China, and the WGC-Matchplay in 2018. He has also played in four Ryder Cups.
Adam Scott presents Bubba Watson with the Green Jacket in 2014. Picture by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for Golfweek.
BNI Corporate Secretary Okki Rushartomo explained that having a big name like Watson at the BNI Indonesian Masters will have a huge impact: “This aligns with BNI’s commitment to offering innovative services that cater to customer needs, as reflected in our digital wholesale banking service, BNI Direct. With this service, we are ready to keep pace with the dynamic business environment, in line with the competitive spirit exemplified by world-class players like Bubba Watson. We hope that the presence of Watson, along with other world-class players, will fulfil the expectations of golf fans in Indonesia.”
The BNI Indonesian Masters is the seventh of 10 stops on The International Series this year and the 17th leg of the Asian Tour season.
Unheralded Michael Maguire from the United States denied his in-form compatriot John Catlin a third victory of the year after winning the US$2million Black Mountain Championship today, following a dramatic sudden-death play-off in heavy rain on the par-five 18th at Black Mountain Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand.
Maguire, in just his second season on the Asian Tour and without a win in the professional game, made par on the second play-off hole to take the title after Asian Tour and The International Series number one Catlin missed his 15-footer for par.
Both players made birdie on the first play-off hole, where Catlin, with a short birdie putt, appeared to have won before his opponent sensationally holed a 20-footer for a four from the fringe.
Both players had finished 72-holes tied on 23-under after Maguire shot a seven-under-par 65 and Catlin carded a 66 – in The International Series’ fifth event of the season, and the 15th leg of the Asian Tour.
Michael Maguire. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour.
Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, joint leader at the start of the day with Catlin and paired in the final group with Maguire and Catlin, closed with a 72 and finished four short of the play-off.
Chinese-Taipei’s Max Lee Chieh-po agonisingly missed the play-off by one, with his 65 leaving him solo third.
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell (64), Suteepat Prateeptienchai (66) from Thailand, and Italian Stefano Mazzoli (66), finished in a tie for fourth, another two strokes back.
Said Maguire: “Big weight off my shoulders. You know, kind of been close, you know, kind of a journeyman, played on every tour you can think of and finally to get a win on a big, big tour like this is huge!”
The American was one behind Catlin playing the last, with the former, so often unbeatable in this position, the hot favourite to win.
Maguire found the front bunker in two while Catlin faced a 12-footer for birdie. However, in a surprise turn of events Maguire sensationally nearly holed his bunker shot for an eagle leaving him a straightforward birdie putt while Catlin missed his putt for the victory to send the event into overtime.
Michael Maguire. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour.
Maguire, aged 31 and from Florida, made it through the Asian Tour Qualifying School at the beginning of last year, in fourth place, and kept his card after finishing 56th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
That season was helped in a big way by tying for fourth in the International Series Vietnam, which had been his best finish on the Asian Tour before today’s epiphany.
“It was a fun battle down the back,” he added. “We were kind of back and forth. I think I tied him on the seventh hole, six hole, and then we had a two-shot swing on nine. It was kind of big, but I knew two shots is nothing out here on this course, especially with the finish, you know, having a couple holes we could reach, by getting close to the green with drivers. So, it was just staying close and just kind of being patient was kind of my biggest thing, and then having to roll in a few nice ones.”
Catlin was attempting to win three titles in a season for the second time in his career. He achieved the feat in 2018, and it looked like the hat-trick was well within his grasp throughout today.
“I mean, I gave it everything I had, I went bogey free,” said the American, who won the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, in a play-off, and the Saudi Open presented by PIF, back-to-back earlier this year.
“I thought I had it in the first play-off hole, and I thought I had it in regulation, and he just hit an amazing bunker shot and then holed about a 20-footer to extend the play-off.”
He also lost the International Series Morocco in extra-time this year after Campbell stormed through at the end holing a succession of stunning putts.
John Catlin. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour.
He added: “I mean it kind of feels like Morocco, like I really didn’t do that much wrong, and here I am standing on the wrong side of it, so it is what it is.
“I kind of kept telling myself I was like, Michael’s kind of pushing me, like I could feel that. Like he kept holing good putts and hitting good shots in there, and I kind of used that. I was like okay, he’s gonna push me on, I gotta keep staying strong.”
The result means he extends his lead on both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings ahead of next week’s International Series Thailand at Thai Country Club in Bangkok.
The Black Mountain Championship has kicked off a six-tournament closing stretch to The International Series which offers brothers Scott and Kieran Vincent an incredible opportunity to rescue their LIV Golf League dreams after both finished in the relegation zone this season.
Elder brother Scott, who has been playing for the Iron Heads GC for the past two seasons since being crowned The International Series Rankings champion in 2022, finished in the drop zone despite producing a respectable seven finishes in the top 25.
Kieran, last season’s International Series Vietnam champion, was relegated after just one season on Jon Rahm’s brand-new Legion XIII team after three top 25s.
The Zimbabwean had qualified on one of three golden tickets after a stellar season and a thrilling sudden death play-off in the LIV Golf Promotions event.
Kieran Vincent. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour.
The International Series guarantees one spot on the LIV Golf League next season to the rankings champion, and both brothers now view the run-in of six events in eight weeks as crucial. Six chances to earn priceless points and fight for that all-important spot at the top of the rankings.
Scott said: “That is the goal, I have said to my team and that is what we are doing. But I cannot just sit here and point at the finish line. I must do all the little things along the way. And so for me, it is little wins each and every day about what I believe I need to be doing for those things to potentially happen.
“The results I cannot control, but how I attack, handle and prepare for each day, I can control. So that is the best way for me to get the outcome I am hoping for.”
Kieran admits he had a steep learning curve but acknowledges he could not have asked for a better set-up. Alongside two-time major winner Rahm, the Spaniard’s Ryder Cup team-mate Tyrrell Hatton and highly-rated American youngster Caleb Surratt, he claimed a season-high four team victories.
He said: “I really enjoyed my time out there, and especially with the group of guys that I had, they just made it so awesome. If there is any way of being able to get back out there, why wouldn’t I do it?
Scott Vincent with The International Series Rankings trophy in 2022.
“I want to do the best I can, I always do but having the availability of six events which is more than half a season and with two good weeks and suddenly, things can change. That is definitely on the forefront of my mind.
“But it is also about figuring out how I can continue to keep getting better, how I can continue to use what I have learned to help me get better? That is also something I am trying to do for the rest of the season.”
His elder brother may be determined to bounce back, but he also has a philosophical approach to his time on LIV Golf.
He said: “As I am reflecting, I know I must take those things that I learned forward – this is a journey. I had an amazing experience playing on LIV Golf, what a dream to play against the best players in the world on the biggest stages across the world. I have got so much to be thankful for.
“But what can I learn and what can I use to move forward, progress and continue from here? Because on The International Series I still get to play golf at the highest level as a professional, and very few people do that. I need to be grateful for that.”
Both players made it through to the weekend at Black Mountain but were unable to challenge the leaders meaning they have work to do over the remaining five International Series events.
The International Series boasts 10 lucrative events that are part of the Asian Tour. This week’s Black Mountain Championship is the fifth leg of the series, and the 15th stop on the Asian Tour – which features 21 in total.
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