Shinhan Donghae Open: Statisically speaking
The Shinhan Donghae Open witnessed some phenomenally low scoring last Sunday.
The champion, Kensei Hirata from Japan, finished 22-under-par at Ocean Course at Club72 in Incheon, helped by a third round 10-under-par 62 – the best score of the week.
Preferred lies were in play, meaning nothing counted officially, but it was still representative of a sky-high skill level, nearly matched by Australian Travis Smyth, who finished one shot back in second place.
The Australian, playing some of the best golf of his career, went out in eight-under-par 28 on the last day, helped by making birdie on the first seven holes. The official record is nine in-a-row, which Austrian Bern Wiesberger did at the Maybank Championship in 2017.
Travis Smyth. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Smyth came home with nine straight pars for a 64 and his third runner-up finish on the Asian Tour, to go along with his one win so far, the 2022 Yeangder TPC in Chinese-Taipei. It was also his fifth top-10 result of the season and moved him up five spots to sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Not surprisingly such good golf by the top two saw them lead the way in putting statistics. Hirata ranked first in both Putts per Green in Regulation (GIR) and Putts per Round, with 1.58 and 25.5 respectively, while Smyth was second in Putts per GIR on 1.60 and fourth in Putts per Round with 26.25.
Of the players that finished inside the top-10 six of them were also ranked in the top-10 of the Putts per GIR category.
Smyth topped two statistics categories: Fewest Bogies or worse with just three, along with Filipino Miguel Tabuena, and he was first in Scrambling, getting up and down 85% of the time.
Ian Snyman. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
It all bodes well for the 29-year-old from Sydney, who competes in the Yeangder TPC the week after next, where as well as winning two years ago, he finished second last year.
Ian Snyman also caught the eye last week. The South African tied for 13th and topped the GIR section with a solid 84.72%.
Statistics Categories leaders at the 40th Shinhan Donghae Open (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round: Kensei Hirata (JPN) 25.5
- Putts per GIR: Kensei Hirata (JPN) 1.58
- GIR: Ian Snyman (RSA) 84.72%
- Fairways Hit: Kosuki Suzuki (JPN) 87.5%
- Driving Distance: Riki Kawamoto (JPN) 337.4 Yards
- Total Eagles: Yongjun Bae (KOR) 3
- Total Birdies: Minkyu Kim (KOR) 27
- Fewest Bogies or Worse: Travis Smyth (AUS), Miguel Tabuena (PHI) 3
- Scrambling: Travis Smyth (AUS) 85%
In-form Travis Smyth is gearing up for another tilt at the Yeangder TPC title in two weeks and goes into the Chinese-Taipei event with renewed confidence, fuelled in large part by a transformation in his approach to diet.
The 29-year-old, who won the title two years ago by finishing two shots clear of defending champion and home favourite Lee Chieh-po, is currently on a red-hot streak after finishing T4 at the Mandiri Indonesia Open and second last week at the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea.
He is reaping the rewards of a new dietary regime that he put in place shortly after that victory at Linkou International Golf and Country Club, his first and only win on the Asian Tour.
It was just after that career highpoint in 2022 that Smyth began to experience recurring ‘flu-like symptoms’, prompting him to explore his health, and make radical changes to his dietary habits while also continuing to work hard on his game.
“It was hard to put it down to one thing,” he said. “Obviously, I’m working hard on my golf game and that is one thing that I’m always trying to improve. It’s working, but it’s not just golf, it’s my diet as well. For just over a year now, I would say I’m very strict with my diet.
Travis Smyth picture winning the Yeangder TPC two weeks ago.
“I did all this because I was getting really sick. I got blood tests and the doctor said I was fine. He advised taking multivitamins and that sort of stuff day-to-day, and my gut instinct was telling me this is not going to work.
“I was very fortunate that my golf coach, Dean Kinney, lives an insanely healthy lifestyle, and he put me in touch with a leading gastroenterologist.
“We started talking about what I eat, what I don’t eat, and what I should eat and basically, I’m eating the way he told me to and it’s working. I feel great almost all the time now so that’s obviously going to help a lot with my consistency. Over the space of 12 months or so, I’ve played the most consistent golf of my life and it’s definitely the nutrition side of things that has added a lot to that.
“I want to have a long-lasting, successful career and I want to be the guy that’s walking around and looks like he’s having a good time.”
A graduate of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2018, Smyth has shown compelling evidence of his undoubted talent recently.
On the Asian Tour, he kicked off the season with a T9 at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open, and he has been trending in the right direction with his T4 in Indonesia and his outright second finish at the Shinhan Donghae Open, where he lost to Kensei Hirata by one shot after a final round of 64 that included an astonishing eight birdies and par on the outward half.
On The International Series, the 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour, he has been a picture of consistency this season, with a T10 in Oman, a T14 in Macau, a T5 in Morocco and a T30 in England – fine form that has placed him sixth in the Asian Tour Order of Merit and 10th in The International Series Rankings.
Travis Smyth.
Smyth admits he is putting special preparations in place as he gets ready to contest six tournaments in a hectic eight-week spell on The International Series, with a place on the LIV Golf League at stake for the rankings champion and spots on the LIV Golf Promotions event available to around 30 high-ranking players.
The run in starts with a double-header in Thailand next month; the Black Mountain Championship (17-20 October) and International Series Thailand (24-27 October), and ends with the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers from 4-7 December, a star-studded event in Riyadh that will offer a bumper US$5 million purse.
He said: “I feel like I’m playing good golf and really feel like a win is going to be coming very soon but I need to go out and earn it. I can’t get in my own way and think about winning too much. It’s going to require a lot of patience, digging deep and focusing on those good shots. What do I have to do to hit those good shots? Then I think I’ll be in a good position.”
The Sydneysider admits he is putting all his focus into The International Series this year because of the ‘life changing’ rewards that are up for grabs.
He highlights brothers Scott and Kieran Vincent as shining examples. Elder brother Scott joined Iron Heads GC after winning The International Series Rankings race in 2022, while Kieran joined Jon Rahm’s new Legion XIII team for the start of the 2024 season after claiming one of three golden tickets at the LIV Golf Promotions event.
Smyth, who played on the first three LIV Golf Invitational tournaments back in 2022, said: “You look at Kieran and Scott, they’re the perfect example. They’ve come out to the Asian Tour and The International Series and played really well and got themselves onto LIV, which is life changing.
“The way I view it is, there’s only 10 events on The International Series. So, I try to plan my year around those 10 weeks. I’m trying to peak, as you might say, to play as best as I possibly can and put all my focus into The International Series, because it’s just so life-changing to be able to get onto that tour (LIV Golf League). I look at those 10 events on The International Series as my majors.
“I’ve had a little bit of a taste of that tour. I got to play three events when the tour first got off the ground. I felt how amazing that tour was, so I’m doing everything I possibly can to try and get back there. That’s where I want to play.”
Kensei Hirata, in the form of his life, won the Shinhan Donghae Open today to make it two wins in two weeks after a fantastic final day duel with Travis Smyth.
Japan’s Hirata won the Fujisankei Classic on the Japan Golf Tour last weekend and was once again in winning form this week in an event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Japan and Korean Tours.
He closed with a blazing six-under-par 66, for a staggering tournament total of 22-under, here at Ocean Course at Club72 near Incheon International Airport, to win by one shot from Smyth. Australian Smyth fired a spectacular 64 – after an astonishing eight birdies and one par on the outward half.
Japan’s Kosuke Suzuki, who started the day sharing the lead with Hirata, fired a 70, to take third place, three behind Smyth.
Kensei Hirata.
Korean Minkyu Kim, winner of this year’s Kolon Korea Open, carded a 68, for fourth place, one shot back.
“Early on in the round I did not think I would win, so this is a surprise and honour,” said Hirata, who becomes the fourth player from his country to win this event.
“I have just won; it has not sunk in yet. I tried to play my own game. Even if I had looked at the leaderboard and seen Travis playing well I would have focused on what I was doing. I shot 62 yesterday, it’s hard to follow that up, but to be honest I did not think about that round.
“This now gives me a huge chance to play on the global stage with cards now in Japan, Korea and Asia. I have only played in Japan.”
The 23-year-old from Osaka revealed that his grandparents lived in Korea and have Korean heritage and said: “Perhaps that’s why I won here in Korea.”
He began today three ahead, along with Suzuki, and was tied at the turn with Smyth, playing in the group ahead.
Kensei Hirata.
Smyth had caught him thanks to starting, sensationally, with seven successive birdies, a par on eight, and another birdie on nine. It was one of the finest nines ever seen on the Asian Tour, but as preferred lies were played it couldn’t stand officially.
Hirata kept pace by making an eagle, and three birdies, and also not dropping a shot.
It was stunning golf played in front of the thronging galleries so typical of this event, on a hot sunny day.
On the second half, Hirata pulled away by moving one ahead when he made birdie on 11 and two ahead with birdie on 13. Another birdie on 15 meant he was three in front and cruising to victory.
In an all together different back nine Smyth made nine straight pars and was unable to close the gap on the Japanese leader, who made the contest closer when he dropped his only shots of the day on 16 and 18.
Smyth was looking to win for second time on the Asian Tour and moved from 11th to sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
“Bittersweet, after shooting eight under, but not winning,” said the 29-year-old from Sydney.
Travis Smyth.
“Seven under yesterday and then eight under today; amazing weekend. To fall one short sucks a bit, but my game is in a good spot; I think I am pretty close. I am just proud of the way I played.”
“The front nine, I honestly don’t know. Obviously, everything went my way. I do have the ability to hit good shots but to hit so many good shots in the space of nine holes is pretty amazing. The front nine is pretty gettable. If you drive it in play you have a lot of wedges, whereas the back was a little bit tougher. It was amazing, it was good shot after good shot.
“Never had seven birdies in a row, that’s another PB of mine.”
It’s great preparation for the Australian as next up on the Asian Tour is the Yeangder TPC in Chinese-Taipei in two weeks time, the event he won two years ago.
High temperatures matched some sizzling hot golf on day three of the Shinhan Donghae Open today, when Kensei Hirata from Japan carded the best round of the week to join his compatriot and overnight leader Kosuke Suzuki in a share of the third-round lead.
After two grey and rainy days, the sun came out at Ocean Course at Club72 in Incheon and it was Hirata who shone the most, firing a 10-under-par 62 – which as preferred lies were in play meant it was not a course record.
He and Suzuki, who started the day with a three-shot cushion and shot a 69, top the leaderboard on 16-under – in what is the 40th edition of the tournament.
Chanmin Jung, the powerfully built strong man of Korean golf, is one shot back in outright third following a fine 63.
Kosuke Suzuki.
Australian Travis Smyth (65), Korean Minkyu Kim (66) – this year’s Kolon Korea Open champion – plus Japan’s Mikumu Horikawa (66) and Tomoyo Ikemura (67) are in a tie for fourth, an additional stroke behind.
Hirata is arguably the man to beat tomorrow having won the Fujisankei Classic last weekend on the Japan Golf Tour – his second win there this year after success in the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup in July.
This week’s event, one of Korea’s biggest and most important, is tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Japan and Korean Tours, meaning victory for him would see him go back-to-back on his home circuit while also earn cards for the other two tours.
He is highest ranked player in the field this week from the Japan Tour Money list in fourth place.
The 23-year-old, a four-time winner in Japan, said: “I started off really well and so wanted to see how far I could go. I was just trying to take it easy, and not put pressure on myself and I think that helped me play well until the end.
“I know tomorrow will be hard as it is always difficult to play well after making such a good score. Very unlikely I will play as well but my approach will be the same: I’ll focus on each shot and do my best.”
Chanmin Jung.
Hirata, who was bogey-free, sensationally birdied the first five holes, and made birdie on seven to help make the turn in six-under-par 30. Back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14 and the last two holes saw him set the mark in the clubhouse.
Suzuki, chasing his maiden win in the pro game, did well to match him after a bogey on 16, where he escaped a poor lie in a greenside bunker, was dealt with by a birdie on the penultimate hole, where he chipped in.
Jung, the winner of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open here in Korea on the Asian Tour last year, is one of the biggest hitters on the Korean PGA which along with his muscular build has earned him the nickname “The Korean Hulk”.
That raw power was on display today, as he made an eagle, nine birdies and two bogeys
“Putting has been an issue for me,” said the Korean, “and that’s put pressure on the rest of my game. But since last week it has improved, and I am a lot more confident with my putts.
“Both tee shots and putts were good today. The putting went really well and then that eagle on 13 really fired me up.”
He was paired with Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan today, who he said has become a good friend on tour.
Travis Smyth.
“We are close friends. We got close after playing together several times on the Asian Tour. I tried to learn Thai, but it’s really hard.”
Smyth is enjoying one of his best seasons, including tying for fourth in last week’s Mandiri Indonesia Open.
He is highest ranked player here on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, sitting in 11th place,
“I was all over the shop for the first two rounds, and all of last week, but I feel like I got lucky a bit, there is a bit of room on this golf course,” said the Australian.
“Went to the range, worked on something yesterday, kind of clicked, so I hit it much better today. I gave myself so many looks and the putter got hot. It was a pretty easy, cruisy, seven under.
“I feel like I am understanding my game ok. I just don’t feel like I am playing good enough to win, which is a little frustrating. I have played pretty consistent for quite a while now. Although it is nice to be up there contending all the time it does get a little frustrating when you are not contending to win and recording top-10s and that sort of thing. There is a little bit of fire in my stomach at the moment. I want to take my game to the next level and try and win events and I feel like I am close.”
He won the Yeangder TPC in Chinese-Taipei in 2022 and is bidding to win for the second time on the Asian Tour.
Japan’s Kosuke Suzuki is impressively setting the pace in the Shinhan Donghae Open after firing an eight-under-par 64 to take the halfway lead on 13-under.
He leads by three from Korean Galam Jeon and Brad Kennedy from Australia, who both fired equally outstanding 65s, and four from Naoyuki Kataoka from Japan and Korean Jaewoong Eom – the joint-first round leader.
Kataoka returned a 67 and Eom a 70, here at Ocean Course at Club72 in Incheon – in an event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Japan and Korean Tours.
Filipino Miguel Tabuena, with fellow Tour professional Nick Fung from Malaysia caddying for him, returned his second successive 68 and is in group of players on eight under in joint sixth.
Galam Jeon.
Suzuki, a professional for three years and in pursuit of his first win in the pro game, took to the front in spectacular fashion. He made a birdie on the fourth, eagled the next and then made two more birdies in-a-row, before making three birdies on-the-trot from 11.
He dropped his only shot of the day when he made bogey on 16 before completing one of the finest rounds of his career with a birdie on the last.
“It feels like it’s the first time I played good golf in a while,” said the 24-year-old, whose best ever result came at the Asia Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup in 2022 on home soil, when he tied second as an amateur.
“I just want to continue getting birdies and improving my score. Not conscious of the leaderboard; I’ll just play my own golf.”
Jeon won the Korean PGA Championship this year, for his third win on the Korean PGA Tour, and also crushed the front nine with an eagle and three birdies. Three birdies and a bogey on the homeward half completed two days of great work.
He said: “Yesterday was a struggle as I started in the afternoon, and it was raining a lot. I just tried to think my way around carefully and keep my swing as smooth as possible. That strategy worked well, and I am now in a strong position.”
Miguel Tabuena.
This year the 28-year-old has opened up about how nervous he gets playing in events and how it means he get very little sleep, but his golf was wide awake today.
“The Shinhan Donghae Open is a traditional tournament that everyone wants to win,” he added.
“If I win, I can play on the Asian and Japan Tours, like Guntaek Koh, who won this tournament last year. I think if I win, I’ll do the same thing as Koh”.
Kennedy, a regular on the Japan Tour who turned 50 this year, charged through with a brilliant back nine of five-under-par 31, and was bogey-free all day.
Tabuena was also bogey-free, with two birdies on each nine.
“It was a good round, it was pretty solid tee to green; didn’t get myself into trouble,” said the three-time winner on the Asian Tour.
“The game is in a good spot. It was nice to see some good results the last few events. It is a very important time, it will get busy, so I am happy with where the game is.”
It’s only the second time close-friend Fung has caddied for him, with the duo having worked together at US Open sectional qualifiers this year, when Tabuena came close to making it through.
His normal caddie Clayton Besset could not make it this week as his mother is unwell.
Said Tabuena: “Nick was nice enough to step in for Clayton, who will resume action in Taiwan. This team with Nick is pretty good. He is very firm, and he is very confident with the lies on the greens, which was a big aspect for me the last few months.”
Ryo Ishikawa.
Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, a 19-time winner in Japan including this year’s Japan PGA Championship, returned a 69 and is in a group of players on seven-under, that also includes this year’s Kolon Korea Open champion Minkyu Kim, who shot a 70.
Defending champion Guntaek Koh from Korea fired a 72 and missed the halfway cut, made at three under, by two.
Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, who Koh beat in a play-off last year, returned a 69 and will also not be here at the weekend as he finished two under.
Balancing practice with the right amount of rest is clearly working well for Jaewoong Eom [main picture] after he birdied his final three holes to storm through and take a share of the lead at the Shinhan Donghae Open today.
The Korean and Asian Tour member fired a seven-under-par 65 along with Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura, at Ocean Course at Club72, near Incheon Airport.
Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan shot a 66, with Korean Minkyu Kim, winner of the Kolon Korea Open in June, next best placed following a 67, along with countrymen Kyungnam Kang and Hanmil Jung, Japan’s Kosuke Suzuki plus Australian Anthony Quayle.
David Boriboonsub from Thailand, American Berry Henson, Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines, Australian Travis Smyth and Ryo Ishikawa from Japan are in a large group who recorded 68s.
Persistent showers and wind thrashed the field for much of the day, making Eom’s performance all the more impressive – in an event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan Tours.
Tomoyo Ikemura.
“Overall, the performance was good,” said Eom, who played in the morning.
“I was able to concentrate well. The goal was to make the game easy and thankfully that happened. It was difficult due to the rain. I started at the 10th hole and after five holes the rain poured down and the wind was strong. I managed to get through that okay and make some birdies.”
He made eight birdies and dropped one shot, on the 18th, his ninth, with five birdies coming on his bogey-free second half.
“I rest during breaks in the schedule but also work hard on the areas I need to improve. I have focused on my swing and fitness training lately. The effects seem to be working well, my game is on the up.”
Eom, who speaks Mandarin fluently having lived in China as a child, enjoyed his best season on the Asian Tour last year, finishing second in the International Series Singapore, and tying for second in the New Zealand Open.
Kim, who put in a fine performance tying for 31st place at The Open soon after winning his national Open, is coming off the back of a couple of disappointing weeks on the Korean PGA Tour and was less than happy with his game today despite sitting on the shoulder of the leader.
Rattanon Wannasrichan.
“I didn’t hit it very good today, but my putting and short game were really good,” said the 23-year-old, who also won the Kolon Korea Open in 2022.
“I finished around the 30th and 50th mark playing in local events after The Open. I was trying my best and enjoyed playing in them, but I didn’t perform, just need to work harder.
“Golf is like up and down, it’s like that; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I just didn’t like how I was hitting today.”
By contrast Boriboonsub was delighted with his performance. This year he has been trying to re-capture the kind of form that saw win three events at the end of last year: the Saudi Open, the Thailand Open on the All Thailand Golf Tour and the Aramco Invitational on the Asian Development Tour.
A more passive approach appears to have done the trick for the 20-year-old rising star this week.
He said: “Today was a really good round. I am now bogey free since the last day off Indonesia last weekend. I changed my game plan and mindset. Just having fun and don’t make six is the plan.
“I drove good, my irons are okay, putting not that good but still two putts. The game is more simple than before: I am just trying to hit fairways and greens. I attacked a lot before. Now is a complete change in approach.”
Defending champion Guntaek Koh from Korea and his compatriot Yubin Jang, the current leader of the Korean PGA Tour merit list, both fired 71s.
Minkyu Kim. Pictures courtesy Korean PGA.
Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, who lost in sudden-death here last year, came in with a 73.
England’s Steve Lewton, winner of the Mandiri Indonesia Open last weekend, fired a 75. He started on the back nine and was in contention at three under through 14 until a triple-bogey on hole six was followed by a double on the next before a bogey on eight.
Guntaek Koh, who starts the defence of his Shinhan Donghae Open title tomorrow and is one of Korea’s hottest golfers at the moment, says he feels he has a lot more success to come and has not yet reached the peak of his powers.
The Korean star [main picture, winning last year] claimed the KPGA Founders Cup with Hanmac CC in April on the Korean PGA Tour to go with his three wins last year, including the Shinhan Donghae Open – an event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan Tours, since 2019.
It has been a terrific run of form for the 24-year-old, who has also not missed a cut in six starts on the Asian Tour this season.
“I don’t think it’s my heyday yet,” said Koh.
“I’m just trying to improve every day, every year, and I’m trying to work hard on my weaknesses.”
It’s difficult to see any cracks in his game at the moment. When he won here last year at Ocean Course at Club72, Incheon, he birdied the par-five 18th to catch Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai on the 72nd hole, after hitting a brilliant third shot to three feet, and he then proceeded to make four again in the play-off, holing a 10-footer.
Guntaek Koh closing in on his win last year. Picture supplied by the Korean PGA Tour.
“It is an honour to be the defending champion this week in a prestigious event like the Shinhan Donghae Open. As I come out as the defending champion, I want to focus and defend the title. I’ve been practicing a lot for this week, so I think it’s possible,” he added.
“It was a great season last year because I won three times. I remember winning the Shinhan Donghae Open because it was very tough, and I was so happy to win.
“It is a windy course. To perform well, you have to calculate the wind. The same hole can have a different level of difficulty each time you play it depending on the location of the pin. Sometimes you have to play safely and sometimes you have to attack.”
Koh also finished runner up in the Gate Way To The Open Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour in late May, earning him a ticket to The Open at Royal Troon. Success overseas is very much on his radar.
He said: “I haven’t won on an overseas tour yet, so I want to win overseas in the second half of the year, and I’ll prepare well physically because I have a lot of competitions ahead.”
Since the Shinhan Donghae Open was launched in 1981 only three players have successfully defended the title: Sangmoon Bae, KJ Choi, and Changsang Han. On current form Koh is a strong bet to become the fourth as he attempts to close in on his ‘heyday’.
Tournament Information
- Tournament: Shinhan Donghae Open
- Venue: Ocean Course at Club 72, Incheon, Korea
- Date: September 5-8, 2024
- Purse: KRW1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,043,646)
- Asian Tour leg: 11th event of 2024 season
- Edition of tournament: 40th
- Total number of players: 138
- Format: 72-hole stroke play with a cut made after two rounds. Leading 65 pros plus ties make it through to the weekend
- Social Media Hashtags: #TimeToRise #ShinhanDonghaeOpen
Past champions and leading players this week gathered for a photo call yesterday.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019)
- Nationalities: 12
- Past winners of tournament in the field: Guntaek Koh (2023), Kazuki Higa (2022), Yoseop Seo (2021), Hanbyeol Kim (2020), Jbe Kruger (2019), Sanghyun Park (2018), Richard T. Lee (2017), Gaganjeet Bhullar (2016), Hyunwoo Ryu (2009)
- Defending champion: Guntaek Koh (KOR) [main picture]
- Top contenders: Steve Lewton (ENG), Seungtaek Lee (KOR), Richard T. Lee (CAN), Minkyu Kim (KOR), Travis Smyth (AUS), Kensei Hirata (JPN), Guntaek Koh (KOR), Phachara Khongwatmai (THA), Ryo Ishikawa (JPN)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: Kensei Hirata (JPN) #181
- Highest ranked player on 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Minkyu Kim (KOR) #6
- No. of amateurs: 1
- No. of Korean players in the field: 62
Last week’s winner Steve Lewton is here this week.
Tournament notes
- Englishman Steve Lewton is fresh of his win in Jakarta last week, his second Asian Tour victory after a winless period since the 2014 Mercuries Taiwan Masters. He also has two other top 10s this season, finishing tied ninth at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open and tied 10th at the Kolon Korea Open.
- Australian Travis Smyth again had a good tournament in Indonesia last week finishing tied fourth, his fourth top-10 of the season to go along with a tied fifth at the International Series Morocco, a tied ninth at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open and a tied 10th at the International Series Oman. Currently 11th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
- Defending champion Guntaek Koh of Korea has already posted one win on the Korean PGA Tour this season after he won the KPGA Founders Cup in a play-off against fellow Korean Seungtaek Lee. Koh also finished runner up in the Gate Way To The Open Mizuno Open on the Japan Tour in late May, earning him a ticket to The Open at Royal Troon.
- Seungtaek Lee from Korea won the Lexus Masters last week on the Korean PGA Tour and he also has a runner up, a tied third and three other top 10s on his home circuit to currently sit in third place in KPGA’s Gensis Point Rankings. The Asian Tour member has a tied 13th in the International Series England as his best result on the Asian Tour this season.
- Japan’s Kensei Hirata also won the weather shortened (to 36 holes) Fujisankei Classic on his domestic tour, the Japan Golf Tour, last week and currently sits in fourth place on that tour’s Reward Ranking money list. It was the 2023 Japan PGA Championship winner’s second win of the season in Japan, and he has also posted four other top 10s during his 2024 campaign in Japan.
- Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa is also here this week. He won the Japan Players’ Championship in June, for his 19th win on the Japan Golf Tour and first since in two years.
Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa is here chasing his second victory of 2024.
- Richard T. Lee from Canada won the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2017, and he has been a consistent high performer on the Asian Tour in 2024. Lee narrowly missed the play-off at this year’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open and has one more top 10 on the Asian Tour this season, placing eighth at the International Series Macau presented by Wynns. In six outings the Canadian has no missed cuts and a tied 22nd as his worst result.
- Dual member (KPGA and Asian Tour) Minkyu Kim is the highest-ranking Asian Tour player in the field this week at sixth on the Order of Merit, mainly thanks to his Kolon Korean Open win in June. He’s also ranked second in the KPGA Tour’s Genesis Points list after the Kolon Korea Open win, plus his victory at the Descente Korea Matchplay in early June.
- The event is tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Japan and Korean Tours.
Phachara Khongwatmai competes in the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea this week saying he has fully recovered from the back injury that forced him to withdraw from the Olympics and the International Series England.
It’s a timely recovery for the brilliant Thai golfer who nearly won this event here last year at Ocean Course at Club72, near Incheon airport. Korean Guntaek Koh beat him on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off, after Phachara, playing in the seventh from last group out, had shot a remarkable nine-under-par 63 to set the target in the clubhouse.
Koh birdied the par-five 18th in regulation play to catch him, and then made birdie again on the last to take the title, after his Thai opponent found water with his second shot but still managed to make par after hitting his fourth to 12 feet.
It was a typically cavalier performance from Phachara, coming during an outstanding season when he was also third twice, fourth three times and recorded fifth and sixth place finishes.
Phachara Khongwatmai and Kiradech Aphibarnrat pictured at the Olympics. Picture by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR/IGF.
However, it was yet another season, like this year so far, that left him chasing that elusive second victory on the Asian Tour, to add to the Laguna Phuket Championship he claimed in December of 2021.
Opportunity knocks again this week on a course he likes and with his back back to normal.
“My back injury started because of the village at the Olympics,” he explained.
“On Wednesday I got food allergies, and I slept all day in the village, but the bed was not very good, that is when it started to hurt. But not too bad, just like tight and not hurt a lot. In Paris the course was quite narrow and the rough quite sticky, like really long rough.
“And I hit it in the rough almost every hole so then my back kept hurting. I had to stop after nine holes on the last day. Then I tried to play in the UK, but I only lasted the first round. But now it’s better, I don’t feel any pain anymore, now like back to normal.”
To make matters worse his driver cracked at the Olympics – effecting the strongest part of his game. He started using a new one at last week’s Mandiri Indonesia Open, where he put together four solid rounds to restore his confidence. He tied for 27th and is currently in 44th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and looking for a spark to ignite his season.
Phachara Khongwatmai. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He said: “Now, you know for me, it seems like my season is just starting. Hopefully my game will be back to normal soon.
“I like this week’s course; I like the greens. Putting is key this week because the greens have a lot of slope, and they are quite tricky. If I’m putting good I have a chance.”
It’s been 10 years since he turned professional – and 11 since he made global headlines by winning the Singha Hua Hin Open as a 14-year-old amateur – countless missed chances to win again have passed but at 25 years of age time is most definitely on the side for one of Thailand’s most precocious stars.
This week’s event is tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Japan and Korean Tours.
England’s Steve Lewton [main picture] triumphantly ended a 10-year wait to claim his second title on the Asian Tour by winning the US$500,000 Mandiri Indonesia Open today in a captivating sudden-death play-off.
Experiencing the full gamut of emotions, he won with a birdie on the second extra hole against third-round leader Aaron Wilkin from Australia and Chinese rookie Sampson Zheng.
Lewton had looked on course to win in regulation play when he birdied 16 and 17 for a two-shot lead but he made a ruinous double-bogey on the par-fourth 18th, where his tee-shot landed in a hazard left of the tee.
He returned a three-under-par 68 for a tournament total of 16-under, while Zheng shot the same score and Wilkin a 69, here at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course, just north of Jakarta.
When they returned to 18 they all made bogey, with Lewton coming closest to making a par, missing a four footer.
Steve Lewton. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Lewton nearly found the hazard again on second extra-hole, but his ball stopped on a cart path. He capitalised on that good fortune and hit his second to eight feet which he duly made to register one of the year’s most popular wins. Zheng nearly chipped in for a birdie, while Wilkin missed his three from 12 feet.
It was just reward for Lewton, who tied for second in this event the past two years, when on both occasions it was played at Pondok Indah Golf Course.
Said an ecstatic and relieved Lewton: “It’s just been a long, long time, and I feel like in the last three years, I’ve been playing quite good. So, it’s just nice to get over the line and win a tournament again. Because it’s been a long time since I had that feeling.”
His first win came at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2014, two years after he first started playing on the Asian Tour.
He added: “Yeah, I thought I got through 10 holes, and I felt like I was kind of coasting. And then I made it difficult again through 14 holes, and then I birdied 16 and 17, and then I had a mini disaster on 18. I was just very happy to get it done the second time of asking in the play-off.”
He’d started the day one back of Wilkin, and playing in the penultimate pairing with Zheng and another Chinese golfer Liu Yanwei, he made seven birdies, one double and two bogeys. His bid for glory started with three birdies in a row from the fifth and another on nine to go out in four under. Another birdie followed on 10, before the drama started with bogeys on 13 and 14.
“I am very happy not to finish second again,” joked the 41-year-old at the prize presentation.
Wilkin, a graduate from last year’s Asian Development Tour, and Zheng, who turned professional in June, were both trying to win for the first time on the Asian Tour.
Aaron Wilkin. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
“I thought I handled myself pretty well to be honest. I just didn’t play well enough to be fair,” said the Australian, who also led after day one with a staggering course record 61.
“I controlled my emotions pretty well until probably the play-off, but I reckon that was just poor swings. I still felt pretty good. I’m happy, it’s all good. Like, I mean, I would have loved to win, it would have wrapped up my card for the year, or a couple years, but I feel like the game is going in the right direction.”
Zheng, who graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, last year, that year he also finished runner-up at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, said: “You know, I kept myself in it the entire day. Had my first three putt of the tournament on nine, which kind of sucked a little bit. But I bounced back nicely with a birdie on 10, and there were a couple of putts that just didn’t quite fall my way on the back nine. Yeah, gave myself opportunities all day, and that’s what I wanted to do, and I did that. So overall, happy with the performance.”
Australian Travis Smyth (67) and Liu (68) missed making the play-off by one shot and tied for fourth, with the latter frustratingly missing a short par putt on the last.
Malaysian Ervin Chang recorded his best finish on the Asian Tour by tying for sixth, three shots back, but it could have been so much better as he also made a double on 18. He finished in a tie with American Austen Truslow (63), Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut (67), Suteepat Prateeptienchai (68) and Poosit Supupramai (68), plus Ian Snyman (67) from South Africa, and Indian Saptak Talwar (68).
Sampson Zheng. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
The Asian Tour is in Korea next week for the Shinhan Donghae Open. The event, won last year by Korean Guntaek Koh , who beat Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai in a play-off, will be played at Ocean Course at Club72, near Incheon airport, from September 5-8. It’s tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan Tours.
Recent Comments