Magnificent Puig surges into six-shot lead at International Series Singapore
David Puig took a stranglehold of the US$2 million International Series Singapore today after carding a second-round six-under-par 66 today to take the lead on 14-under.
The 21-year-old Spaniard has a commanding six-stroke lead over Korean Jaewoong Eom, who returned a 67 – in the seventh International Series event of the season.
Australian Jack Thompson, this year’s Qualifying School winner, shot a 68 and is a further shot behind, while Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho (67) and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger (69s) are in group of nine players tied for fourth, another stroke back.
Puig has been knocking on the door of a first Asian Tour victory since turning professional just over a year ago and looks like having his best chance this week.
He started the day with a three-shot lead after a sublime 64 yesterday and boarded the birdie train again today making light work of the formidable Tampines Course here at Tanah Merah Country Club.
Jaewoong Eom of Korea pictured during Round Two of the International Series Singapore at the Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) on Friday October 6, 2023. The US$2 million Asian Tour event is staged from October 5-8, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He started on 10 with a bogey but bounced back with birdies on 11, 14, 15 and 17 and swept through the second half with four more birdies, including on the last, and one dropped shot.
“Two awesome days. Played very good,” said Puig, pronounced ‘P-w-ee-g’.
“I think I even played better today than I did yesterday. You know, it was pretty hot at the end, and I had a couple bad shots on holes seven and eight to finish, but overall, very happy.”
This is not the first time he has been out in front on the Asian Tour: he led after three rounds of the International Series Morocco last year, in his first event on Tour, before finishing third, and he had a three-shot margin after two rounds of the St Andrews Championship in August but ended in a tie for fourth.
About those performances he said: “It’s experience you know, and kind of learning from the past. I mean, I think I already learned a lot in this last month, on seven for example, or eighth, I hit a couple bad shots and instead of trying to be a hero and try to even make birdie or par, where sometimes you make like six or seven, I played steady and had two fives. I knew I was going to get two fives, but you know, I think I’m ready.”
He has also been competing full-time on the LIV Golf League playing for Torque GC – the dominant team this season, having won four times. His best finish individually came in Chicago in August when he was fourth and next week he heads to LIV Golf Jeddah.
L-R – Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe and Taichi Kho of Hong Kong pictured together on the 18th green during Round Two of the International Series Singapore at the Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) on Friday October 6, 2023. The US$2 million Asian Tour event is staged from October 5-8, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His six-shot advantage is still some way short of the Asian Tour’s record after two rounds. England’s Lee Westwood holds that as he had an 11-stroke lead at the 2011 Thailand Golf Championship.
Eom, who shone in the New Zealand Open earlier in the year when he finished in a tie for second, made five birdies and was one of the few players to go bogey free.
“I think everything was good today, from tee shots to iron-play to putting,” said the Korean, who as well as being a fine golfer, also speaks Mandarin fluently.
“Everything was good, and I am pleased with the way I played. This is actually my first time in Singapore. The golf course looks great and the greens are in good conditions. It was really hot out there. That’s the toughest part. I’m not used to playing in this heat. We never get this in Korea.”
Kho is clearly still on a high after claiming the gold medal at the Asian Games last week in China and shot up the leaderboard making six birdies before dropping his only shot of the day on the last.
He said: “I felt like I had some issues with strategy and bit of focus yesterday, but I was able to clean that up really nicely, so I was able to attack the golf course like I thought I could. And overall, a really good day.”
The 22-year-old made history in March by becoming the first player from Hong Kong to win an Asian Tour event after he recorded a hugely popular and significant victory at the inaugural World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club.
“I think I have a mixture of confidence and a little bit of fatigue, but I feel like it almost works to my advantage because I’m just out here playing golf,” said Kho, who finished 27 under at the Asian Games.
“And that’s all it really feels like, there’s no added pressure or anything like that. So, yeah, overall, I’m just trying to play golf and just try to get a little bit better this week. But other than that, there’s a lot of confidence from my ability to go low from the previous week, and hopefully that can help me this week and in the future as well.”
Bernd Wiesberger of Austria pictured during Round Two of the International Series Singapore at the Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) on Friday October 6, 2023. The US$2 million Asian Tour event is staged from October 5-8, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
One shot further back are a group of players that includes American Andy Ogletree (71), the runaway leader on both the Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merits (OOM), and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (70), last year’s International Series OOM champion, which earned him a place on this year’s LIV Golf League.
October is known worldwide as the month of Breast Cancer Awareness, and The International Series is joining the fight against the disease, with a US$25,000 contribution to the Singapore Cancer Society, made at the International Series Singapore.
Singapore Cancer Society Commissioner & CEO Albert Ching received the cheque from Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, and Cho Minn Thant, the CEO & Commissioner of the Asian Tour ahead of the tournament at Tanah Merah Country Club.
The Singapore Cancer Society has also laid on a special awareness activation, running from 11am to 4pm from Friday to Sunday, where a limited number of free Faecal Immunochemical Test kits (FIT kits), a vital preliminary test for colorectal cancer, will be distributed to Singaporean spectators aged 50 and above while stocks last.
Special educational games and brochures will also be available at the stand which is located at the Tanah Merah Country Club spectator pick up and drop off spot.
Richard Bland wearing a breast cancer awareness ribbon. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The activation will also feature complimentary health tests – including blood pressure, BMI and cholesterol – conducted by medical professionals in partnership with the Hope Ambulance, for spectators from 11am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday only.
To raise further awareness about the disease and to show support for those affected by Breast Cancer, players donned pink ribbons, provided by the Singapore Cancer Society, on their caps or clothing during day one of the tournament.
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “We have an ongoing commitment to the communities that host our International Series events, and it is vital that we use our platform to support these societies.
“In this instance, we are raising awareness about cancer to encourage positive change in health and wellbeing in Singapore, the home and heartland of the Asian Tour.”
Albert Ching, CEO of Singapore Cancer Society, added: “Cancer is the leading cause of death in Singapore and that is why the Singapore Cancer Society must step up to support society here by minimising cancer and maximising lives.
“Support like this from The International Series is crucial – in terms of supporting the cancer community and also in helping our work as we reach out to the wider community and general public at large to educate them about cancer awareness so they can also play their part in this important fight to minimise the disease.”
The International Series Singapore, one of the Asian Tour’s series of marquee events, runs from 5-8 October.
Organisers of the widely acclaimed Yeangder TPC – impressively won by Thailand’s Poom Saksansin two weeks ago – have announced that the prize money for next year’s tournament will be increased to US$1million, which elevates it to the joint-richest golf event in the country.
This marks the third successive time the purse has been increased. The tournament returned to the Asian Tour schedule in 2022, having been played solely as an event on the domestic circuit for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a prize purse of US$700,000 which was a significant rise from the previous purse of US$500,000 in 2019. This season it was upped again to US$750,000.
“Our thanks go to the Yeangder Group and its Chairman Emmet Hsu for once again elevating the prize money for what is one of the Asian Tour’s key tournaments. Not only have we seen an elevation in the purse in recent years, but we’ve also seen a considerable effort made towards improving playing conditions at the host venue. The conditions this year were the best we have ever seen.” said Cho Minn Thant, the Asian Tour’s Commissioner and CEO.
“This means the Yeangder TPC will continue to play a decisive role in determining our Merit champion and final overall finishing places on the list.
Poom Saksansin of Thailand pictured with the winner’s trophy during Round Four, Sunday September 24, 2023 at the Yeangder TPC, Linkou International Golf and Country Club. The US$ 750.000 Asian Tour event is staged from September 21-24, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Chinese Taipei has long been one of the Asian Tour’s biggest supporters, through events like the Yeangder TPC and its many great players – past, present and future.”
Poom was triumphant over Australian Travis Smyth, the defending champion, by three shots this year at Linkou International Golf and Country Club, the tournament’s permanent home since its launch in 2010.
He closed with a brilliant six-under-par 66 to finish on 24-under for his first Asian Tour title in five years and earned a cheque for US$135,000.
The inaugural Yeangder TPC was won by Thai great Thaworn Wiratchant. He triumphed again in 2013 and remains the only player to date to have his name etched on the trophy twice.
The event boasts an impressive list of international winners with the victories of Thai Prom Meesawat (2014) and Spaniard Carlos Pigem (2016) were notable for the fact that they were achieved after play-offs, while Lu Wei-chih (2011) is the only local player to have savoured success in the event when it has been sanctioned by the Asian Tour.
Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar’s four-stroke success in 2012 remains the largest winning margin in the event’s history.
Also on the Yeangder TPC roll of honour are South African Shaun Norris (2015), Indian Ajeetesh Sandhu (2017), American John Catlin (2018) and Korean Yikeun Chang (2019).
Main photo: (L-R) Bryant Hsu, Vice President of Yeangder Group and his father Emmet Hsu, Chairman of Yeangder Group.
David Puig, consistently on point since joining the Asian Tour last year with six top-15 finishes in just nine starts, once again shot a low-number today to take the opening-round lead in the US$2 million International Series Singapore.
The Arizona-based Spaniard shot a scorching bogey-free eight-under-par 64, on the intimidating Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club on a hot and humid day.
Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun and Thais Rattanon Wannasrichan and Itthipat Buranatanyarat returned 67s – in the seventh International Series event this season.
Puig is due a win on the Asian Tour having consistently been in the running since turning professional in September last year, including in his last three appearances: he tied for fourth in the International Series England, ended equal 14th in the St Andrew Bay Championship, and came home in a tie for 11th in last month’s Shinhan Donghae Open, on each occasion threatening to win.
And he made the perfect start today with three birdies on the front side, and five on the back, including three in the last four.
Chang Wei-lun of Chinese Taipei pictured during Round One of the International Series Singapore at the Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) on Thursday October 5, 2023. The US$2 million Asian Tour event is staged from October 5-8, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Tough course, tough conditions,” said the 21-year-old, who plays for Torque GC – the dominant team on the LIV Golf League this season having won four times.
“It is true that some holes were a little shorter today, but still a tough course, firm greens. I hit it very good, and I think the front nine I played very good. I putted three times for eagle, and shot three under with 17 putts, I missed one green. On the back nine I played solid as well, I hit good shots, and made more putts, so yes very happy.
“I have been hitting it pretty good off the tee this year and this is a long course and there are some holes where you need to be accurate and precise but there are others where they kind of open and with my distance I have a little bit of an advantage to that.”
In his very first event on the Asian Tour last year, the International Series Morocco he came home in third having been the overnight leader, and that set the tone for a consistent run of high-quality golf.
He added: “I have played good these past couple of months. I have had a lot of good rounds and couldn’t get it done in all of these tournaments, but you know I keep learning. I know I am a good player and that’s why I am here and why I play on LIV, I know that, and also the scores tell that. I practice hard and I think I am doing all the things right, with my team as well.”
Chang is in-form at the moment – he tied for fifth in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters last week – despite carrying an injury.
“I injured my right ankle last week,” said Chang, a winner on the Asian Development Tour in 2019, at the Charming Yeangder event.
“I am not limping, but I felt uncomfortable through the round today. I hurt my ankle during the third-round last week, and I just played through it on the final day.
“Didn’t think much of it and I played well to get a top-five finish on Sunday. That gave me a lot of confidence coming to this week. I brought the injury into this week but it’s my third time playing here now so I am familiar with the course. Just play shot by shot. My ankle’s injured and I can’t do much about it. So just play the best I can.”
He began on hole 10 and turned in two under thanks to back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16.
He added: “Those back-to-back birdies there got me going. The course is in great condition, as always. There is nothing I can nitpick about the course.”
He dropped a shot on the second, but rallied with gains on three, five, eight and nine.
SINGAPORE: Itthipat Buranatanyarat of Thailand pictured during Round One of the International Series Singapore at the Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) on Thursday October 5, 2023. The US$2 million Asian Tour event is staged from October 5-8, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) and International Series OOM leader Andy Ogletree from the United States came in with a 68, along with Japan’s Tomoharu Otsuki, Koreans Bio Kim, Meenwhee Kim and Taehee Lee, New Zealander Ben Campbell, and Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai, Suteepat Prateeptienchai and Atiruj Winaicharoenchai.
Defending champion Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand returned a 71, as did former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho – winner of the individual gold medal at the Asian Games last week.
Jaco Ahlers, winner of last week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters, fired a 72, while Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell signed for a 74.
Singapore amateur Ryan Ang finished the day as the leading local player after carding a 70. Ang was the joint leading Singaporean in last week’s Asian Games, along with James Leow, in a tie for 12th. Leow shot even par today.
Injured but in-form Chang Wei-lun carded a five-under-par 67 for the clubhouse lead in the US$2 million International Series Singapore today, at Tanah Merah Country Club (TMCC).
Japan’s Tomoharu Otsuki, Koreans Bio Kim and Taehee Lee, New Zealander Ben Campbell, and Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai, Suteepat Prateeptienchai and Atiruj Winaicharoenchai returned 68s, after the morning session was completed.
Chang got the better of TMCC’s challenging Tampines Course and overcame the heat and humidity with a strong display that saw him nail six birdies, including on his last two holes, and drop just one shot – in an event that is part of The International Series.
SINGAPORE: Chang Wei-lun of Chinese Taipei pictured during Round One of the International Series Singapore at the Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) on Thursday October 5, 2023. The US$2 million Asian Tour event is staged from October 5-8, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Chinese-Taipei golfer tied for fifth in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters last week for one of his best finishes on the Asian Tour, despite an injured limb.
“I injured my right ankle last week,” said Chang, a winner on the Asian Development Tour in 2019, at the Charming Yeangder event.
“I am not limping, but I felt uncomfortable through the round today. I hurt my ankle during the third-round last week, and I just played through it on the final day.
“Didn’t think much of it and I played well to get a top-five finish on Sunday. That gave me a lot of confidence coming to this week. I brought the injury into this week but it’s my third time playing here now so I am familiar with the course. Just play shot by shot. My ankle’s injured and I can’t do much about it. So just play the best I can.”
He began on hole 10 and turned in two under thanks to back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16.
He added: “Those back-to-back birdies there got me going. The course is in great condition, as always. There is nothing I can nitpick about the course.”
He dropped a shot on the second, but rallied with gains on three, five, before his impressive finish.
Tomoharu Otsuki of Japan pictured during Round One of the International Series Singapore at the Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) on Thursday October 5, 2023. The US$2 million Asian Tour event is staged from October 5-8, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Otsuki, who won the Panasonic Open Golf Championship on the Japan Golf Tour two weeks ago, said: “Hit it close to the pin on the second nine, and I was able to make some birdies, so I got off to a good start. The putter was working well.
“The greens are very undulating, making it difficult if your approach is on the wrong side of the hole. There was no wind today, but this course will become difficult when the wind blows, so we’ll see how it goes for the weekend.”
If Graeme McDowell is in need of inspiration ahead of this week’s US$2million International Series Singapore, then that will surely come from one of the events he made his name in, the Ryder Cup – which came to such a thrilling conclusion in Rome last Sunday.
The Northern Irishman helped Europe win three out of the four Ryder Cups he played in – he was also unbeaten in the singles matches, and vice-captain in 2018 and 2021 – and on the eve of this week’s tournament, which is being played on the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club and is part of The International Series, he was in buoyant mood after Europe regained the biennial competition.
“Great victory and congrats to Luke and the whole team,” said McDowell, who holed the winning putt for Europe in 2010 – arguably his greatest year, as he also joined golf’s elite, when he became only the second European to win the U.S. Open in 85 years.
“They played phenomenal, that looked like a lot of fun. I missed a couple of hours of the early sessions, just during the time zones I was in. I really enjoyed it, it was the first time I have watched the Ryder Cup on TV, in a very, very long time. It is one of my favorite events that I have competed in. It is pretty special, a lot of great memories, a lot of friendships forged.
Graeme McDowell pictured during the Pro-Am event on Wednesday. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I was disappointed not to be there; it was great to cheer the boys on from afar.”
McDowell has been enjoying life playing on the LIV Golf League this and last year but on occasion has also competed on The International Series – the 10-tournament set of elevated events on the Asian Tour, which sees its Order of Merit winner earn a place on LIV Golf’s multi-million dollar circuit.
“As a LIV player I am happy where I am, I think it is a great product, but 14 events is not enough for me so I need more playing opportunities, and I think The International Series serves a lot of purposes,” he added.
“As LIV starts to stabilise its season it gives The International Series the ability to build their schedule around perhaps the LIV schedule and attract more of the best players in the world, which only continues to elevate the Asian Tour.
“I kind of I grew up in this part of the world. I have spent a lot of time here. I have always enjoyed travelling. It grounds you as a player.”
The 44-year-old’s last victory came in the 2020 Saudi International, and he is clearly hungry to get back to winning ways.
Said McDowell: “I am hitting it really well. I feel like my game is trending in the right direction, the last few months. It has been difficult getting any momentum for me on the LIV Golf League. I feel like it is a very competitive Tour, you just can’t afford to have a slow nine holes. I feel like I have struggled to build on my momentum and confidence.
“I am actually playing six in the next seven weeks: here, Jeddah, Miami, China, Hong Kong and Indonesia. I am actually excited to see if I can get a little bit of a head of steam up and to see if I can win some tournaments.”
McDowell later at the press conference. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He has been paired in the first two rounds with Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz and South Africa’s Jaco Ahlers, winner of last week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
Kieran Vincent competes in the US$2 million International Series Singapore this week – the event that marked his debut appearance on the Asian Tour last year – saying of the past 12 months: “I can’t dream of anything more”.
The Zimbabwean, brother of Scott Vincent who is now plying his trade with great success on the LIV Golf League and also competing this week, claimed the International Series Vietnam in April for a first win in the play-for-pay ranks, but that has been balanced by his fair share of disappointments.
“It has been a very up and down ride. I have had so many highs – so cool to be able to say now that I am an Asian Tour member, as well as have a win under my belt,” said the 25-year-old from Harare, who played college golf at Liberty University in the US.
“Not only that but I think I have grown as a person as well. I think I have been able to look at the last 12 months and see how much I have grown as a person on the course as well as off the course.
Kieran Vincent, Taichi Kho, defending champion Nitithorn Thippong and Jaco Ahlers pose with the winner’s trophy at the Jewel Changi on Tuesday October 3, 2023, ahead of the International Series Singapore at the Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course). The US$2 million Asian Tour event is staged from October 5-8, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I think it has been pretty huge. I am blessed to be out here in Singapore again, and I am excited for the week.”
Low points include failing to progress to the weekend in the events played in Chinese-Taipei over the past two weeks, but Vincent is using that to his advantage.
He said: “I think a lot of people will look and say back-to-back missed cuts is not the best, but I have learned so much and it challenged me. I was able to get a sixth-place finish in Korea recently which was a huge momentum shift. So, a lot of confidence has come over the last few weeks, although it may not look like it. I have just been making small mistakes which have cost me a little bit.”
Vincent tied for 22nd in Singapore last year, when like this week the event was played on the Tampines Course here at Tanah Merah Country Club, and on that occasion his older brother said: “He is a great player, I have no doubt he will do something really special with his golf, and whether it is here or whether it is down the road it is going to be really good to see him playing well because he is very capable and we’ll just see how he does coming in.”
Prophetic words by the older brother, as Kieran quickly showed his potential by recording top-10 finishes in International Series events in Morocco and Egypt last year.
And he made it a unique brotherly double on the Asian Tour, when he claimed the International Series Vietnam – just 10 months after Scott won the International Series England.
Kieran holed a decisive 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to beat Anirban Lahiri from India and Australian Kevin Yuan by one stroke.
Has the pressure of that win been a help or a hinderance?
“You want to do well every time you tee if up and Vietnam just gave me that opportunity to show that ‘hey you got this, you can do this’ – but yes I did put way too much pressure on myself,” he said.
“This week is about going out there and having some fun again as a year ago I had barely any status anywhere. So to find myself here with full status for the next couple of years, I can’t dream of anything more.”
Kieran and Scott Vincent at last year’s event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His fellow African Jaco Ahlers is also here this week, on the back of his win in last week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters – a first on the Asian Tour.
“It has been a bit of whirlwind,” said the South African.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. Got on a plane on Sunday night, came here and walked the course yesterday, my wife arrived last night and is on the bag this week. It will probably sink in this week.”
South African Jaco Ahlers triumphed in the 37th edition of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters today, finally clinching his first title on the Asian Tour, after patiently winning a war of attrition at Taiwan Golf and Country Club – which has proven to be one of the toughest golf courses this season, with brutal rough and tapering fairways.
Ahlers is a prolific winner of titles on the Sunshine Tour on home soil, with 11, including their Tour Championship in April, and finally got off the mark in Asia following a two-shot victory over India’s Chikkarangappa S. – in the US$1million event, which is Chinese-Taipei’s richest tournament.
A player who says he enjoys more demanding courses, he proved that with a closing three-under-par 69 to finish on four-under – the highest winning score of year – while Chikkarangappa, the joint overnight leader with Korean Taehee Lee, carded a 74.
Australian Travis Smyth (69) and David Drysdale from Scotland (71), tied for third, an additional shot back.
Lee (76), India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar (71) and Chang Wei-lun from Chinese-Taipei (71), were equal fifth, on even par.
Chikkarangappa S. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Ahlers, three off the lead at the start of the round and playing in the third from last pairing with his brother Hein on the bag, made his move on the back nine with birdies on 12, 14 and 15 and could afford to drop a shot on 16, with his nearest challengers unable to close the gap.
Chikkarangappa, popularly known as ‘Chikka’, had the best chance to catch him but the birdies dried up on the back nine and crucially he dropped shots on 13 and 16.
“It was tough,” said 40-year-old Ahlers, who becomes the first player from his country to win the event.
“It was a grind but very glad to be standing here with the trophy. This means a lot to me. I am feeling comfortable here now. I said to a friend of mine last week I feel like I can win on this Tour. So, there we go. I just tried to keep it in play and make a few birdies, missed a few as well.”
He has been knocking on the door in Asia for several seasons, including at the St. Andrews Bay Championship in August, where he tied for third.
For Chikka, chasing his first win on the Asian Tour, it was another frustrating near miss. He has now finished second three times, third once, and fourth twice.
He said: “Honestly, I feel really good. The way I hit the ball. And I putted extremely good, I am really happy about that. That was my weakness in the last couple of months but this week I made every putt when I had to. Even on the last hole today that was a clutch putt. I think something bigger is waiting for me.”
Smyth’s fine finishing round completed two excellent weeks in Chinese-Taipei, as he was second last week in the Yeangder TPC, where he was defending champion.
“It was extremely difficult, I am very happy to be under par for the week, that was my goal at the start of the week,” said the Australian.
“To cap it off with a three under, I am very pleased. I was playing from the rough pretty much every shot – the fairways are like 10-yard wide out here. It is just about managing the ball from the rough best you can. The difference today was my ball landed okay on the par fives, so I was able to get up and down for birdie quite a lot. I haven’t played well on this course, and it’s been nice to come off a second last week.”
Travis Smyth. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The tournament also marked the best finish by Drysdale on the Asian Tour, since making it through Tour School in January.
Said the former European Tour regular: “Difficult, lots of bogeys, lots of birdies. Just a difficult, difficult golf course – really enjoyed the challenge this week. A cross between Valderrama and the US Open. It’s so easy to make mistakes.
“I had a good finish today, like yesterday, so I am pleased with that because I think yesterday I was five over but had three birdies in the last six and then today I was a couple over but had three birdies in the last half dozen. I have enjoyed these past two weeks in Taiwan, it has been very hot for a Scotsman, but all in all enjoyed both golf courses. I look forward to coming back hopefully in the future. Looking forward to next week in Singapore.”
Next stop on the Asian Tour is next week’s International Series Singapore on the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club, from October 5-8.
Korean Taehee Lee shot a three-under-par 69 and birthday boy Chikkarangappa S. from India a 71 to share the lead in the US$1million Mercuries Taiwan Masters after round three at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, Tamsui.
They are in front on four-under, by one from New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, the overnight leader, who carded a 73, with India’s Veer Ahlawat (70), South African Jaco Ahlers (72), Angelo Que (72) from the Philippines, Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana (73), and American Jarin Todd (74) two shots back.
Lee had no trouble making birdies, he recorded six of them, including three in succession from the fourth, but made three bogeys on one of the most challenging courses this year because of the narrow fairways and punishing, deep rough.
“It’s a tough course, no doubt, and the greens are difficult to read but my short game was very good – it has to be,” said Lee.
“And the wind was changing on every hole. It is my second time here. Tomorrow I will keep my mind clear and stay calm. Treat it like a normal day.”
Chikkarangappa S. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His co-leader Chikkarangappa S., or ‘Chikka’ as he is known, felt he played some of his best golf of the week, recording three birdies and two bogeys.
“Hit the ball better today and holed some good putts,” said the Indian, who turned 30 today.
“I could have made a few more birdie putts, I guess. But the greens are tough for everyone. I am pretty happy. Any round shooting red on this course is good.
“I am just sticking to my plan and process. Focus on my routine and the rest will fall into place. Doing things the right away and not thinking about the scores.
“It is a very, very challenging golf course – it is the most difficult it has ever been. It is tough for everyone, as you can see, day by day it is getting tougher for everyone. Anything red is good.”
Campbell had a one shot lead at the start of the day but struggle today.
He said: “It was tough to get into a bit of a rhythm. Battled with the swing today, what I have been working on did not quite work. But I hung in there and still have a chance tomorrow. I played some good golf in there but just a few bad holes. Had some chances coming in but just missed, gonna do some work on the game now.”
Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan (70), Jbe Kruger from South African (73) and Scotland’s David Drysdale (74) are in a tie for ninth – in contention, just four off the lead.
Ben Campbell. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Defending champion Chan Shih-chang from Chinese-Taipei came in with a 73 and is one over, in a group of players that includes Indian great Jeev Milkha Singha – the 51-year-old who is looking for his first Asian Tour victory in 15 years. He shot a 73.
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