Magnificent Sarit returns to winners circle after dominant six-shot win at Volvo China Open
Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut shot a fearless final round eight-under-par 64 to win the Volvo China Open at Hidden Grace Golf Club today by the runaway margin of six-shots, to claim his second title on the Asian Tour, and put him behind a surprisingly poor season.
A fine four-round aggregate of 19-under-par 269, saw him finish comfortably ahead of second placed Taichi Kho from Hong Kong, who sensationally chipped in for an eagle on the 18th for a 65, and Chinese youngster Chen Guxin, the third-round leader in with a 73.
Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, the leader at the halfway mark, fired a 68 to finish in outright fourth, a further shot back, in the US$1.5 million event being played on the Asian Tour for the first time since 2019, and part of The International Series.
Sarit Suwannarut. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Sarit’s nickname is ‘Safe’ but he was far from that today as he attacked the course from the start with a new found confidence that has been missing for the whole season.
The 25-year-old started the day three back from Chen. However, he quickly caught his Chinese playing partner with three birdies on the trot from the second and overtook him when he made another birdie on seven – a pivotal hole as Chen made a double. It meant Sarit had a three-shot lead.
By the turn he was two in front before a birdie on the 12th gave him a commanding four-shot buffer as Chen bogeyed the hole. He then cruised home for the win unchallenged with birdies on 14, and the final two holes.
After winning the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE at the end of last year, also an International Series event, Sarit was expected to achieve further success, but he struggled this season, recording just one top-10 in the Mandiri Indonesia Open and missing six cuts in 13 starts before this week.
Yesterday he credited a week’s holiday in Japan with his family before coming here and deciding to go back to using the putter he used when he triumphed in Indonesia for his return to form.
“To be honest I just wanted to come here and have fun,” said Sarit.
Taichi Kho. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I wanted to find something this week because it has been a tough year. It has been a really tough year. I have missed a lot of cuts. I didn’t finish good at all but … it happens. My iron game and my putting were the problem, especially the putting. My putting this week was lights out, it’s insane. Feel like I saw every line, saw how to putt, saw everything.”
He earned a check for US$270,0000 and becomes the second Thai to win China’s national Open, after Prayad Marksaeng in 1996.
The big-hitting golfer also leapt from 85th to 12th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM).
Kho chipped in from 20 yards on the driveable par-four 18th for a two to record yet another impressive finish to build on his phenomenal season.
He said: “Walking up to that chip I was saying to my caddie that I have to do a better job with my short game; to just trust it and let go. I was able to let go on the chip, it was a really good chip, it looked good all the way and I was really happy to cap off the week like that.
“I think big picture that is what I’m working on, being able to let go and trust my visuals and instincts. I feel that will take me to the next level, I’m really happy with how I was willing to do that today – to let go and see what happens rather than try to hold on and grind.”
Chen was bidding the become the seventh Chinese winner of the Volvo China Open and at just 20 years of age it’s youngest. He will be grateful to finish third as he bids to keep his Asian Tour card for next year. He’s now moved into 40th place on the Asian Tour OOM from 115th place, with four events remaining. The top-65 retain their playing privileges.
“I have a peaceful mind as 73 was my aim to be honest,” said Chen, who won twice on the Asian Development Tour last year and calls himself ‘Mr 54’ as he has struggled to finish off tournament’s on the final day.
“I think it adds to my experience. The putting of Sarit was really extraordinary, he can hole everything. He played very well. By contrast, I just play badly, but I need to learn how to play well in the final round.”
American Andy Ogletree had a chance to wrap up The International Series Order of Merit today with two International Series events remaining. He needed to finish in outright third or better, but he closed with a 69 to finish in a tie for seventh.
Chen Guxin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Asian Tour crosses the border next week for the Hong Kong Open, where Ogletree is most likely to secure The International Series merit title. The US$2 million event, which is the penultimate stop on The International Series, is being played at the Hong Kong Golf Club from November 9-12.
Australian Wade Ormsby returns to defend the title he won in 2020, the last time the celebrated event was played before the COVID-19 global pandemic struck.
Little-known young Chinese golfer Chen Guxin is threatening to record a shock victory in the US$1.5 million Volvo China Open after carding a six-under-par 66 to take the third-round lead on 14-under today at Hidden Grace Golf Club, in Shenzhen.
The 20-year-old, currently in lowly 114th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM), is three ahead of a resurgent Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand, who returned a joint best of the day 65, and China’s amateur sensation Ding Wenyi, last year’s US Junior Amateur champion, in with a 67.
Overnight leader Eugenio Chacarra from Spain surprisingly slipped to a 73 and is tied fourth on eight under in a five-man group still within touching distance. The LIV Golf League star is joined by Australian John Lyras, who birdied five out of the last six to shoot a 67, Chinese-Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao who hit a 66, Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman with a 69, and Berry Henson from the United States, who signed for a 70.
Chen Guxin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chen was playing on the Asian Development Tour last year, where he won two events and finished fifth on the OOM to earn his Asian Tour card for this season. Wearing his trademark wide-brimmed cricket hat, Chen is on track for the tournament of his life after a brilliant round made up of seven birdies and just one bogey on 18, following a three-putt.
He began the day one back from the leader Chacarra before a four-under-par front nine with birdies on two, four, six, and nine saw him make the turn with a one-shot lead. Birdies on 10, 12 and 17 saw him move four ahead before he three putted from 30 feet on the last.
“I always regarded myself as ‘Mr 54 hole’,” joked Chen, referring to the occasions when he’s led after three days before a bad final round.
“Might as well aim to shoot 73 tomorrow. Then I can relax and have a good rest tonight. But more seriously, I suppose the winning score will be 18 under. I need to shoot three or four under.”
The top-65 on the OOM keep their Tour cards for 2024 and with just five events remaining, including this week, Chen has chosen the right time to kick start his season. He has played 10 events this season, recorded a best finish of joint 14th in The DGC Open presented by Mastercard, and missed four cuts.
He is also very aware of the threat that his Asian Games team-mate Ding poses.
“He has everything. He can drive far, hit great iron shots and putts brilliantly.”
Ding Wenyi. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Eighteen-year-old Ding is clearly looking for redemption after losing the Asian Amateur Championship in a sudden-death play-off last Sunday.
“I didn’t hit it well on the range in the morning, so I am little surprised to be in second place,” said the towering six foot three inch golfer, who is attached to Hidden Grace and finished runner-up in this event in 2020, when it was played as a China-only event due to the global pandemic.
“My long game was not good today and I made several mistakes. However, my putting was okay, though not as good as yesterday. The important point is, when I make the mistakes, I recovered well.
“I will just try to play my best. I suppose everything could happen tomorrow, who knows.”
He started slowly with one birdie on the front half before tearing the back nine apart with five birdies and just one bogey.
Returning to the putter he used to win last December’s BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE – his one Asian Tour victory to date – and a vacation recently has helped Sarit regain much needed form after a poor season when he has been unable to get into contention and missed numerous cuts.
“Everything went the right way, just like the Indonesian Masters last year,” said the Thai golfer.
“I feel confident, feel like I can hit where I want to and be really aggressive. A vacation last week with my family helped a lot. I took a week off from golf as this year has been tough. I really wanted time with my family and got it. I really needed that and after I got back I found something with my coach. Worked a little bit on my swing and my putting.
“I knew this year would be up and down, I just didn’t expect it to go that low. It’s golf, it’s life. At beginning of the year I had an injury but then mainly putting was the problem. But now I switched back to the same putter I used at the Indonesian Masters and it’s getting better.”
American Andy Ogletree had a poor day by his standards carding a 72, which included a triple bogey on the 15th, but sits in ninth place on seven under and is still well placed to wrap up The International Series Order of Merit title.
He’ll lift that trophy tomorrow and book a place on next year’s LIV Golf League if he finishes outright third or better and Kieran Vincent from Zimbabwe finishes outside the top-five. Vincent, second on the Merit list, fired a 72 and is four-under in a tie for 23rd.
Sarit Suwannarut. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
A victory by Chacarra would mean Ogletree needs to finish outright second to clinch the title, with two International Series events remaining: next week’s Hong Kong Open and the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE the week after.
Graeme McDowell believes the next generation of rising stars currently playing on The International Series are the real deal, as he backed some of the Asian Tour’s most promising stars to step up and give themselves a life-changing opportunity to join the LIV Golf League next season.
The 2010 US Open champion and Ryder Cup legend was paired with talented Thai Phachara Khongwatmai and home hope Shao Minghao, the Chinese amateur, for the opening two rounds of the Volvo China Open at the Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen.
McDowell will get plenty of opportunity to see how the latest crop react to pressure: the Volvo China Open is the first of three tournaments in three weeks that will decide the Order of Merit on The International Series, the Asian Tour’s set of 10 elevated events, with the Hong Kong Open and BNI Indonesian Masters presented TNE next on the schedule.
Those events determine the standings on the Order of Merit, with the outright winner securing a lucrative place on the LIV Golf League next season. An additional 32 eligible players will also have the chance to play the LIV Golf Promotions event from 8-10 December, a qualifier in Abu Dhabi which gives three entry onto the 2024 LIV Golf League.
L-R – Andy Ogletree, Graeme McDowell and Taichi Kho pictured at a press conference on Wednesday November 1, 2023 ahead of the Volvo China Open at the Hidden Grace Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
McDowell is confident some of the Asian Tour’s youngsters have the raw materials needed, as he singled out Phachara and Thai compatriot Sadom Kaewkanjana as danger men. He said: “I have played a bit of golf with Sadom and Phachara and I’ve been impressed with both.
“I feel they are on the edge of making that next step, but it is how you make that next step. The only way to do is to get on big stage and find that belief in yourself. No one can teach it and it can’t be found on a range – it can only be found during a big event.
“So, you must get onto that LIV Golf Promotions event, get a big weekend in, get onto LIV and then have a big year there next year. Unfortunately, there is no way to practice that. Phachara is a nice player., I like his game and his attitude. It is tough to speak for all on the Asian Tour, but a lot of these kids are so easy going yet so competitive and talented.”
Never known as one of the biggest hitters in golf, McDowell is still happy taking a methodical approach to golf, comparing his rounds to a game of chess.
The 44-year-old, who has played for Cleeks GC for the past two seasons on the LIV Golf League, admits that many on the new wave of the Asian Tour are a lot closer to the style of Northern Irish compatriot Rory McIlroy, a four-time major winner and six-time Ryder Cup star renowned for his big hitting with the driver.
He laughed: “Listen, the young breed just drive it so far now, they are very aggressive. I played with Shao Minghao, the young Chinese lad, and he literally hit driver everywhere. I joked with my caddie, Kenny, ‘we need to play hard the next few years and make a couple of quid’ (a lot of money) -the game is passing us by a bit!
“I am a bit of a conservative player – I don’t overpower golf courses. But these kids don’t play chess, I’m not sure what game they are playing. Shao was very aggressive and used the biggest weapon in his bag – the driver.
“I used to play with Rory and he was ahead of his time in the way he took on courses. I used to scratch my head but now everyone does it. It is great to see the sport kick on and be physical. I’ve played the same way for 30 years., I can’t change now unfortunately!”
McDowell highlighted three other rising stars regularly playing on The International Series as shining examples of talented youngsters bringing their A game and wowing golf fans from all over the region.
Spaniard David Puig, compatriot Eugenio Chacarra and American Andy Ogletree have all won on The International Series this year, and the latter is all but confirmed to join the Spanish duo on LIV Golf next season by way of top spot on the 2023 Order of Merit title.
Graeme McDowell. Picture By Ian Walton.
McDowell said: “It is interesting for these young guys, you look at Chacarra and Puig in particular, they have chosen the LIV path, and we are not really familiar with that path. They have taken a massive risk in a way but they have both kicked on and I’m really happy with these guys.
“They have been ostracised a little bit from the young golfing world, but they have used the LIV Golf League as a platform and taken things to the next level. I’m happy to see them kick on the way they are – they are going to be great young players. I hope the world opens up for them and they get the opportunity to try and win Majors as well.”
Eugenio Chacarra’s pre-tournament billing as one of the hot favourites was substantiated today when he took the halfway lead on nine-under following a four-under-par 68 at the US$1.5 million Volvo China Open.
The Spaniard leads by one from China’s Zhang Huilin, who won this event in 2020, and Chen Guxin, who fired rounds of 69 and 68 respectively at Hidden Grace Golf Club.
Australian Jack Thompson, winner of the Qualifying School back in January, had appeared on course to finish the day in front on 11 under with six to play but struggling with the fading light he bogeyed the fifth and eighth and made a double on nine – his last hole having started on 10.
He signed for a 70 to finish in a tie for fourth on seven under with American Andy Ogletree, the runaway leader of The International Series and Asian Tour Order of Merits, who took a step closer to wrapping up those titles early on after carding a 69, and his compatriot Paul Peterson, who returned the same score.
Zhang Huilin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chacarra won the St Andrews Bay Championship in August after a record 10-hole play-off against Matt Jones from Australia for his first win as a professional in a 72-hole strokeplay event and looks like being the man to catch this weekend.
He started his day on hole 10 and was three under after five before struggling through the transition with a bogey on 15 and double on 18, where he three-putted from five feet. However, he returned to his familiar attacking game on his homeward nine with birdies on two, six, seven and nine.
“I did a good job with my caddie on the second nine, focused shot by shot and I ended up playing well,” said the 23-year-old from Madrid, who has only been a professional for a year.
“Nine under at the start of the tournament is good. Some work to do this afternoon on the range and check a few things with my coach but happy.
“I have been struggling with my sleep. I came in here from the US with a 14-hour delay in an airport sitting down which didn’t help my body and it’s a 13-hour difference where I live. I went to bed at 9pm, woke up at 2, didn’t fall back to sleep until 4.30 and woke up at 5 to go and play so it’s just tough and something we need to get used to. I am loving China and I think it is a great country, great people and obviously great golf course.”
Zhang claimed this event three years ago when it was held as a China event only due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic but is having little difficulty in adjusting to it being back on the Asian Tour.
A strong finish helped put him in prime position on what is his home course.
“For me, the 17th hole is very important,” he said.
Chen Guxin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“My drive is very good at that hole but then my second shot went into water. However, I played my fourth shot very well to get on the green and I holed the eight foot par putt. On 18 I hit a good drive, then an eight iron from 156-yards, then a great birdie putt.”
He won this event by nine strokes at the same venue, the year that amateur star Ding Wenyi came second. Ding is just three off the lead after a 68.
Thompson, enjoying a fine run of form having now made seven successive cuts, was disappointed with his poor finish but remains confident going into the weekend.
“I was probably rushing a bit because it was getting dark,” he said. “But I am playing well and looking forward to the next two days. I will learn from what happened today and come back stronger.”
Ogletree is just over US$560,000 ahead of second place David Puig from Spain on The International Series Order of Merit with three events to go including this week and could well wrap the title this weekend – which would confirm his place on next year’s LIV Golf League.
Said Ogletree, who has won two International Series events this year: “I had a couple of mistakes out there, but I was able to save a couple of shots. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to birdie either one of the par fives on the front nine. So, just need to clean it up a little bit. But, in a good position heading into the weekend, and the game feels like it’s really close. I think work on some stuff this afternoon and get ready to go and try to win a golf tournament.”
A total of seven players were unable to complete their rounds as darkness fell. They will resume at 7.20am (local time) on Saturday.
Ben Leong made a brilliant par save on the par-five ninth, his final hole, at Hidden Grace Golf Club to grab the first-round lead in the Volvo China Open today.
The Malaysian, who is in 67th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and battling to keep his playing rights for next year, played a gutsy fourth shot from 235-yards, with rescue, in to 40-feet from where he drained the putt for a six-under-par 66.
China’s Li Linqiang, the China Tour’s number one ranked player celebrating his 20th birthday today, and Zhang Huilin, the winner here in 2020, Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, Itthipat Buranatanyarat and Settee Prakongvech plus Australian Jack Thompson all carded 67s.
A month ago Leong had to pull out of the SJM Macao Open before he could tee-off on the opening day, feeling unwell – putting even more pressure on him with the season in its closing stages.
Ben Leong. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He said: “I’d just finished in the top-20 in the International Series Singapore and I was looking forward to the Macau Open but unfortunately I got sick in Macau and didn’t tee it up. So, after that I went back home to get ready for China, Hong Kong and Indonesia.
“I caught a cold in Macau, I was in the clubhouse waiting to play and I didn’t feel good. My body temperature was about 38 degrees so the doctor advised me not to play.”
The rest has appeared to serve him well as he shot six birdies today and was the only player to go bogey free.
“Stuck the ball really well which was a surprise and made my fair share of putts. The drives here are pretty demanding, but I drove the ball pretty well. It’s a good golf course, in great shape,” said the 37-year-old from Sabah.
“That par on my last will certainly make dinner taste a lot better.”
Li handed himself the best possible birthday present with a great start to the biggest and most important tournament in his country.
He currently tops the China Tour Order of Merit after three wins this year, including last week’ s Hengdian International Golf Elite Pro-Am, and is clearly peaking at the right time for this week’s US$1.5 million event – which is being played on the Asian Tour for the first time since 2019 and is part of the blossoming International Series.
Li Linqiang. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Seven birdies and two bogeys saw him move into contention, in an event that has been won on six occasions by golfers from China: Cheng Jun (1997), Zhang Lianwei (2003), Wu Ashun (2015), Li Haotong (2016), Zhang Huilin (2020), and Zhang Jin (2021). The latter two triumphed when the tournament was played as a China-only event due to the global pandemic.
“I didn’t look at the score on the leaderboard, just stuck to my rhythm and strategy,” said Li, who like Leong is playing in this event for the first time, and also debuting on the Asian Tour.
“My target was to play even today as it is the first time for me to play at Hidden Grace Golf Club. I feel my putting was excellent. Not only did I have just 28 putts, but also I holed two long par putts, both about 20 feet.”
Despite being in fine form he added: “I don’t think I am at my best. I had an injury on my left waist these two months, but it didn’t affect my swing. I just feel painful. Certainly, no plans to celebrate my birthday tonight. I don’t have time.”
Chuenboonngam, playing his first full season on the Asian Tour, also enjoyed a good day on the greens.
“I had a lot of big putts today,” said the 25-year-old.
“On hole 17 I holed from 20 feet, downhill, made it. And hole 10 I holed from the same distance. And all my other birdies were from same length. I like this course, but the tee shot is a bit narrow. The condition is very good.”
He has impressed this year and is the highest ranked Thai on The International Series Order of Merit in 13th position – helped by finishing second in the International Series Thailand, where he was defeated in a sudden-death play-off by Australian Wade Ormsby.
Chonlatit Chuenboonngam. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It’s my putting, it’s been really good this year, that’s why I am playing well,” said the Thai golfer, who broke through on the Asian Development Tour last year finishing second on the Order of Merit, winning the Gunung Geulis Invitational, finishing second three times, and third twice.
American Andy Ogletree, leader of both the Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merits, is in a tie for ninth following a 68.
China’s amateur star Ding Wenyi, who lost in a play-off at the Asian Amateur Championship last weekend, fired a 70, while Asian Games gold medallist Taichi Kho from Hong Kong shot a 71.
Play was suspended at 6.01 pm local time due to fading light. A total of 16 players will resume Round 1 at 7.30am on Friday, with Round 2 to commence at 6.40am as scheduled.
China’s Li Linqiang (main picture) handed himself the best possible birthday present today when he took a share of the clubhouse lead in his country’s biggest and most important golf tournament, the Volvo China Open.
He celebrated his 20th birthday by carding a first-round five-under-par 67 at Hidden Grace Golf Club, Shenzhen, along with Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam and Settee Prakongvech plus Australian Jack Thompson, after the morning session.
Thailand’s Nitithong Thippong, Englishman Steve Lewton, Jinichiro Kozuma and Kento Nakai from Japan, China’s Jin Daxing, and Korean Doyeob Mun all returned 68s.
Li currently tops the China Tour Order of Merit after three wins this year, including last week’ s Hengdian International Golf Elite Pro-Am, and is clearly peaking at the right team for this week’s US$1.5 million event – which is being played on the Asian Tour for the first time since 2019.
Chonlatit Chuenboonngam. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Seven birdies and two bogeys saw him take to the front, in an event that has been won on six occasions by golfers from China: Cheng Jun (1997), Zhang Lianwei (2003), Wu Ashun (2015), Li Haotong (2016), Zhang Huilin (2020), and Zhang Jin (2021). The latter two triumphed when the tournament was played as a China-only event due to the global pandemic.
“I didn’t look at the score on the leaderboard, just stick to my rhythm and strategy,” said Li, who is playing in this event for the first time, and also debuting on the Asian Tour.
“My target was to play even today as it is the first time for me to play at Hidden Grace Golf Club. I feel my putting was excellent. Not only did I have just 28 putts, but also I holed two long par putts, both about 20 feet.”
Despite being in fine form he added: “I don’t think I am at my best. I had an injury on my left waist these two months, but it didn’t affect my swing. I just feel painful. Certainly, no plans to celebrate my birthday tonight. I don’t have time.”
Chuenboonngam, playing his first full season on the Asian Tour, also enjoyed a good day on the greens.
“I had a lot of big putts today,” said the 25-year-old.
“On hole 17 I holed from 20 feet, downhill, made it. And hole 10 I holed from the same distance. And all my other birdies were from same length. I like this course but the tee shot is a bit narrow. The condition is very good.”
Jack Thompson. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He has impressed this year and is the highest ranked Thai on The International Series Order of Merit in 13th position – helped by finishing second in the International Series Thailand, where he was defeated in a sudden-death play-off by Australian Wade Ormsby.
“It’s my putting, it’s been really good this year, that’s why I am playing well,” said the Thai golfer, who broke through on the Asian Development Tour last year finishing second on the Order of Merit, winning the Gunung Geulis Invitational, finishing second three times, and third twice.
Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho fired a 71 and is in a tie for 42nd.
Filipino star Miguel Tabuena is one of a number of players with good reason to find top form going into this week’s Volvo China Open, the first of three back-to-back events that will define an historic season on the Asian Tour.
It was recently confirmed that the top-ranked players on the Tour’s International Series Order of Merit will qualify for the LIV Golf Promotions event, a new qualifying tournament in December that offers three lucrative places on the LIV Golf League next season.
While runaway leader Andy Ogletree looks to have wrapped up the Order of Merit title after two International Series wins this season, Tabuena knows that good performances this week – and in consecutive weeks at the Hong Kong Open and Indonesian Masters – could have a big impact on his season.
Tabuena won The DGC Open earlier this season, and has shown fine form on The International Series, with top-10 finishes in Qatar, England and Singapore. Handily placed at 17th in the standings, the 29-year-old knows that a hot streak could still take him into the top eight, and a bye into the second of four rounds in Abu Dhabi.
Miguel Tabuena. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Tabuena, who is also in second place on the Asian Tour OOM is fully aware of the need for a strong finish to the campaign.
“It’s the last few events of year and hopefully I can finish as strong as I started. A goal that might be hard to reach is actually catching Andy! But the goal for now is to get myself in a good spot before Abu Dhabi.
“The top eight get into the second round, and that’s a mini goal for now. My game is in a good spot and I believe that if I play well in the last International Series events, I can get in the top eight and give myself a shot for next year.”
Tabuena’s position in The International Series OOM standings is all the more impressive given a wrist injury that threatened to derail his season, adding to concerns over his father’s health following heart bypass surgery.
The three-time Asian Tour winner puts his good form this season down to hard work and a positive mindset, saying: “It is not rocket science, it is hard work. I played less than 10 events last year because dad got sick but luckily that’s out of the way now and he’s doing well. I spent lot of time working hard in the off season.
“I told myself to start the year strong and play well all year. I’ve played well at start of the year many times but dipped in mid-season before finishing strong. But this is my most consistent year as a pro and it is down to the hours I put in on and off the course.
“I have a good team, coach and recovery schedule and it is a lot about self-belief and confidence. Playing some of the best players I the world on The International Series really puts my game to the test and I proved to myself that I can compete with the best. Hopefully I can finish strong.”
For Chinese teenage star Ding Wenyi there’s precious little time to dwell on what might have been.
In the first three-way play-off in Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship history last Sunday, Ding and compatriot Sampson Zheng were edged out by Australian Jasper Stubbs.
Courtesy of his dramatic triumph, Stubbs has earned starting places in the Masters Tournament and The 152nd Open Championship in 2024.
Meanwhile, Ding has flown here to compete in this week’s Volvo China Open pondering what might have been after missing out on the grand prize by such a narrow margin.
Reflecting on the bitter taste of extra-time defeat at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, 18-year-old Ding was in philosophical mood.
Ding, last year’s US Junior Amateur champion who is 17th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, said: “It was a really great week. I thank all the people that support and create this tournament.
Ding Wenyi celebrates on the 18th after a birdie putt to make it into a playoff at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship last weekend. Photograph by AAC.
“I think I did well. Just sometimes if you want to be the champion, you have to have some luck.
“Actually, on the last putt on the 18th hole before the play-off, I didn’t think I had a chance. But I didn’t give up. I made a par and I got into the play-off.
“I didn’t feel nervous because I play a lot of tournaments and I know the champion sometimes is waiting for you. This time, it’s not mine … but that’s okay.”
Rather than stew on the missed chance to appear at Augusta National and Royal Troon next year, Ding’s immediate focus has switched to Shenzhen’s Hidden Grace Golf Club this week, an establishment with which he has close ties, carrying its name on his cap.
It was in 2020 at this very venue that Ding finished runner-up at the Volvo China Open – the best performance to date by an amateur in the event.
“Last week has so many positives. I feel comfortable to come back my country and hopefully get a good result this week,” he said.
“I played some tournaments on the Asian Tour this year and I am glad to come back here. I think there is still some way to go for me to win on Asian Tour but it’s not out of the question. I will keep the same routine this week. Hidden Grace Golf Club is in good condition, especially the greens.”
Based on his performance in Melbourne and his third-place finish in the Hainan Open on the European Challenge Tour four weeks ago, it would be no surprise to see Ding vying for the Volvo China Open title come Sunday.
All eyes will be on Andy Ogletree at this week’s Volvo China Open, as The International Series Order of Merit (OOM) leader goes in search of the golden ticket to the LIV Golf League that comes with top spot in the standings.
In-form Ogletree is the runaway leader going into the last three back-to-back International Series events of the season. With the Hong Kong Open and the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE to follow straight after the last putt drops in China, the American has one hand on that OOM title for the set of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar.
The 25-year-old tops the standings by over half a million dollars, and also leads the Asian Tour OOM, thanks to tournament wins at International Series Qatar in February and International Series England in August.
A tied third in Singapore, Ogletree’s latest impressive performance, adds to top-10 finishes in Oman and Scotland in the Series, and his undoubted talent was made clear after he technically finished in the LIV Golf League Open Zone this season, above the dreaded Drop Zone, despite only appearing as a reserve.
Andy Ogletree will be attempting to claim his third title of the year at the Volvo China Open. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
As he closes in on the OOM title and a LIV Golf League spot for next season, Ogletree admits he has already been fielding calls from players around the world eager to follow in his footsteps, with the Asian Tour’s high-profile events offering a viable pathway onto the LIV Golf League.
He said: “Guys have reached out to me regards Asian Tour Q School, and the process of getting out here. I think it (The International Series) has shown what it can do in my situation – I think it will be appealing to a lot of college players turning pro as it adds another route to make a great living playing golf.”
The International Series has taken on added significance with the confirmation that eligible players inside the top 40 of the OOM standings will be able to participate in the LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi from 8-10 December, a four-round qualifying tournament that will give three additional players entry to the LIV Golf League roster for next season.
It’s no secret that Ogletree is a big fan of the Asian Tour’s marquee tournaments. A winner in the inaugural season in 2022 at the International Series Egypt, the 2019 US Amateur champion admitted preparing for International Series events as if they were his “Major tournaments” earlier this season.
Ogletree, one of the original 48 players in the field for the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London event last season, said: “The International Series is really cool. It gave me somewhere to play and build my game back up. I was struggling at my first event in London, but part of my decision to come to LIV Golf was the guaranteed International Series starts.
“I knew I was going to build up a schedule and travel the world and see some cool places. It has been awesome and the competitions have been amazing; I really enjoyed playing these tournaments with championship style golf courses. It has been great earning my way back (to the LIV Golf League).”
The Volvo China Open tees-off at Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen tomorrow.
Jazz Janewattananond has reached many momentous milestones during his illustrious career and ahead of this week’s US$1.5 million Volvo China Open, being played at Hidden Grace Golf Club, in Shenzhen, he enthusiastically revealed the next one: marriage.
The Thai star will tie the knot with girlfriend and fellow professional golfer Sarina Schmidt next month in Thailand, completing a romance which on occasion has seen her caddie for him – most noticeably when he won last year’s International Series Morocco.
“The big day is on November 22nd!” said the 27-year-old.
“It’s good, it’s the next chapter of my life. I have been growing up, finding myself on the golf course and now I am trying to grow up off the golf course, which is good, everyone has to grow up sometimes.”
The exciting news is just the lift the 27-year-old needs after a torrid second half to the season which has seen him miss 12 successive cuts, the majority of which came on the DP World Tour.
Jazz Janewattananond pictured with the winner’s trophy and girlfriend Sarina Schmidt after winning last year’s International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
It meant he lost his playing rights on the DP World Tour but as he now turns his attention to playing full-time on the Asian Tour it is with renewed hope and optimism, especially after opting to ditch a swing change.
He said: “I am back playing on the Asian Tour full-time right now. I was struggling a little bit, couldn’t get it back, couldn’t get my confidence. But it has been improving for sure. I have been seeing a lot of improvement. Working hard on what I have been doing well on the practice round so that I can transfer to the golf course.
“I have had some swing problems, some maintenance problems. I was working on the wrong things for a little bit, but I got it back now, I am on the right track. I have gone back to the things I was working on by myself.”
Jazz is a seven-time winner on the Asian Tour – the first of which came at the Bangladesh Open in 2017 – and he also won the Order of Merit in 2019, the year he roared to victory on four occasions.
And after winning in Morocco last November, which was his first success on the Asian Tour in three years, his game appeared to be back on track.
The good form continued this year until his struggles with his swing really became serious in May.
“I was playing well until Japan in April. I had just finished fourth in the International Series Vietnam, then after that I fell off with the swing change. The first month the changes weren’t that bad but then after I never recovered,” he said.
“You know sometimes you think you are going the right way but then you find a big wall and you can’t turn back but now I am going the right way.”
Seven of his wins on the Asian Tour three have been national Opens, as he also won the Singapore and Korea Opens in 2019, so he will have his eye on another when he tees-off on Thursday.
L-R- Ye Wocheng of China, Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand, Tong Yang of China and Eugenio Chacarra of Spain take a selfie at Long Cheng Square in downtown Shenzhen on Tuesday December 31, 2023 ahead of the Volvo China Open at the Hidden Grace Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
This week marks the first time the Volvo China Open has been played on the Asian Tour since 2019. The tournament returns as part of the blossoming International Series and features a stellar line-up that includes American Andy Ogletree – who leads both the Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merits – Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, Eugenio Chacarra from Spain and Taichi Kho from Hong Kong.
It is the 28th staging of the Volvo China Open, which in 2020 and 2021 was played as a China only tournament when local professionals Huilin Zhang and Jin Zhang triumphed. The event wasn’t held last year.
Both Zhangs are competing this week along with the country’s amateur star Ding Wenyi, who lost the Asian Amateur Championship in a sudden-death play-off in Australia at the weekend.
Ding, winner of the US Junior Amateur last year, has been paired with Jazz for the first two rounds.
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