Thailand’s Natipong Srithong posted a classy bogey-free nine-under-par 63 to take the lead after round one of the Yeangder TPC today at Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

Nine birdies, including four-in-row from the 12th, saw him take to the front ahead of Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren, in with a 64.

Defending champion Travis Smyth from Australia returned a 65, along with Kosuke Hamamoto and Chapchai Nirat from Thailand, Chinese-Taipei amateur Su Ching-hung, and Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung.

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, the winner here in 2012, finished with a 66, with seven others.

Natipong has won once before on the Asian Tour, at the 2015 Resorts World Manila Masters – which was only his fourth event on the Asian Tour – and has made the perfect start to try and add to that, although he rode his luck with some wayward tee shots.

Bjorn Hellgren. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“Today was a good day,” said the Thai golfer, a qualified lawyer and former amateur star, having won gold medals in the team and individual events at the 2015 Southeast Asia Games in Singapore.

“I hit three bad shots with my driver. On hole four I hit my driver right, it hit the cart path, and landed on another fairway. I then hit my second shot onto the green and made birdie. Then on hole nine, hit it right again, hit the cart path to another fairway. I hit two on and made par, and on another hole, I drove into the trees, but the ball bounced back, and from there I made birdie.”

Hellgren, tied third here last season, eagled the first and 10^th holes, made five birdies, and dropped one shot.

“First time I have made two eagles in a round on the Asian Tour, last summer I had back-to-back eagles,” said the Swede, who leads the driving distance statistics on Tour.

“I played great. Nobody in my group knew where I was at as I kept missing putts and when we got to the hole I was always close. It could have been really lower, but I am not disappointed. The greens are tough. I am looking forward to the rest of the week. I am here with a new caddie, and we are going for the win!”

Smyth, whose victory last year was his first on the Asian Tour, summed up his day by saying: “This golf course loves me, and I love it!”

Having begun on the back nine he had an incredible run of holes starting from the 17^th, which he birdied, and then went birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie.

“It was very, very good. Played solidly, got off to a slow start, and then the middle part was insane, probably the biggest hot streak I have ever had,” he said.

“Initially I kept missing putts within 15 feet. I was getting a little frustrated as my playing partners got off to good starts. But then I hit a great shot into 17 and made birdie there. 18 is a short par-five were I was able to capitalise.

Travis Smyth. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“The first hole is also a short par-five that I hit nine iron into, and on the second hole thought I would hit driver and go for the green. I missed it a little to the left but luckily I had a gap through the trees. I hit a great chip shot from about 20 metres that landed on the green and rolled into the hole. This golf course is very short so you can definitely have streaks like that.”

Asian Games-bound Su, just 22 years old, and playing in this event for just the second time also enjoyed a bogey free day, posting seven birdies.

He said: “I first played in 2017 when I was 16 years old and I made the cut then. Nice to be back playing here this week. I’m hoping for a good result as it will be a great boost in confidence for me for the Asian Games next week. Everything went well today. I drove the ball good, my iron-play was good and I putted well. Seven birdies and no bogeys, can’t complain. Nice to finish with a chip-in birdie on the 9th.”

Preferred lies were played on an extremely hot but calm day.

Australian Travis Smyth defends his Yeangder TPC title this week without a win since tasting victory here last year, at Linkou International Golf & Country Club, but still enjoying the warm glow of what was his maiden victory on the Asian Tour.

The 28-year-old from Sydney has been in resplendent form this year, with a best finish of third in the World City Championship, in Hong Kong – for one of six top 20s. In addition, he has not missed a cut in nine starts.

“It was a great boost to my confidence,” he said of his win last year, which saw him beat defending champion Lee Chieh-po from Chinese-Taipei, by two shots.

“I have continued to play solidly, since the win. It did me a world of good. I have had a solid season; got off to good start in Saudi; I have played solid in The International Series; I played my first Major this year, thanks to the Hong Kong event; had a bunch of top 10s and a lot of solid play. I am happy with where the game is at.”

That Major was The Open in July – which he qualified for via his strong finish in Hong Kong – and although he failed to make it through to the weekend, he made headlines worldwide by making a hole-in-one on the new par-three 17^th at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, which was the first-ever ace there.

It was another memorable moment in the early days in the career of a young golfer who hopes to go far in the game.

Defending champion Travis Smyth pictured during an official practice round ahead of the Yeangder TPC. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He said: “I definitely want to win again but I am just focused on getting better, keeping doing the things I am doing, working hard on all aspects of my game, off the course as well. Hopefully, if I keep doing what I am doing, I will get more and more consistent, and contend for titles more often on Sunday.”

He played near perfect golf to win here last year, firing successive six-under-par 66s over the weekend to finish on 19-under.

The Australian had started the final day with a one-shot lead and proved uncatchable after he birdied four out of the first six to make the turn in four under before virtually wrapping things up by making three birdies in a row from the 10th.

With a healthy lead, a surprise double-bogey on the 15th, which were his only dropped shots of the day, was not too damaging, particularly as he responded with his final birdie of the day on the next.

The victory, which saw him become the first Australian to win the event, made up for narrowly failing to win the International Series England in June where he was second – a result that earned him starts on the LIV Golf Invitational series.

“All the memories of the win have come flooding back this week,” said Smyth.

“I played nine holes and remembered every shot I hit on the back nine in the final round last year. It’s really good to be back and have no lock down situation like last year. We are free to roam the city and go out to restaurants, so I am really looking forward to this week.

“It’s a really, really, tight course and you have to hit it really, really straight off the tee. The small greens mean you require a lot of precision with your approach shots. Putting was quite difficult. The greens are a little bit slower than what we are used to week in, week out. But the course is in great condition this year, everyone is in for a treat.”

Lee, who won the event in 2021 when it was part of the Chinese-Taipei domestic circuit and not the Asian Tour because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, is looking go one better this year.

Travis Smyth. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He said: “I am very happy to be back playing the Yeangder TPC. Came very close to winning last year. I’m excited to give it another go this week. I’ve been playing well this year. Had a couple of good finishes as well so I’m ready to give my best again this week. The aim is to do better than I did last year.”

Korean Guntaek Koh made it a hat-trick of wins in Korea this season when he claimed the Shinhan Donghae Open today, on the Ocean Course at Club72, after beating Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.

Koh, joint overnight leader with Canadian Richard T. Lee, had closed with a four-under-par 68, bravely matching the formidable clubhouse total of 19-under-par set by Phachara – who, playing in seventh from last group out and starting the day five off the lead, shot a remarkable 63.

Guntaek Koh of Korea

The Korean had to birdie the par-five 18^th to catch his Thai opponent in regulation play, 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. Phachara, attempting to become the first Thai to have his name etched onto the trophy, had tried to reach the green in two but found the lake in front of the green. Remarkably, he hit his fourth to 12 feet and drained the par putt forcing Koh to make his for the win, which he duly did, to the roar of the huge crowded assembled there.

Koh’s brilliant finish showed why he has been the dominant player in Korea this year. He leads the Korean PGA Tour rankings having won the 18th DB Insurance Promy Open in April, and the Honors K •Solarago CC Han Jang-sang Invitational in June.

“There have been failures in the past few years, but this is my season,” said Koh, who also won his second event this year in extra time.

“The first win this year was the hardest but now I am in the mode and enjoying the experience. Today required a lot of patience and concentration as with Phachara having posted such a good score early on the chase was on. I felt I had to make that birdie putt in the play-off, if not I felt I was going to lose.

“A victory in an event on this scale, against the best from the Asian Tour and Japan Tour is simply incredible.”

Koh’s winning moment

Earlier in the day, the 23-year-old from Jeju had a one shot-lead over Lee at the turn after going out in four-under-par 32, thanks to birdies on four and five and an eagle on the par-five seventh, with Phachara another shot back. However, he dropped a shot on 10 and made a double on 13, while Phachara stormed into the lead.

Koh was on the 15^th when Phachara finished his round, two-behind the Thai golfer, along with Lee. Both made birdie on that hole to move one closer, but Lee fell away with a bogey on 16, paving the way for Koh’s grandstand finish.

Phachara was looking to secure his second victory on the Asian Tour – his first was the Laguna Phuket Championship at the end of 2021 – but he took solace from the fact he had found is swing again.

“I am back to my old game now,” said the Thai star, “because I only just found my swing last week, before I arrived at this tournament. I found with my coach on Sunday, it was actually Sunday night.

“I had lost it about three weeks ago. For those two events in UK my swing was gone. I was relying on my short game to make the cut in those UK events. I couldn’t figure it out until my coach helped. My coach in Paragorn – a very good friend, now full-time coach.”

With two fourth place finishes this year it will surely not be long before he wins again.

He added: “My game now is very, very good. Best since I started playing golf. Normally my driver is the problem but now it’s great. I hit many fairways today and I had a lot of birdies.”

Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand 

Lee, winner of this event in 2017, returned a 70 and tied for third with Japan’s Keita Nakajima, currently second on the Japan Golf Tour Money List after two wins this year, who carded a 66, and Australian Anthony Quayle, in with a 69. They finished two strokes short of the play-off.

Miguel Tabuena, in second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, did little to close the gap on top placed Andy Ogletree from the United States, who is not here this week. The Filipino, battling a niggling left wrist injury, carded a 69 to finish nine under in a tie for 44^th.

The tournament was tri-sanctioned between the Asian, Japan and Korea Tours.

The Asian Tour heads to Chinese-Taipei in a week’s time for the Yeangder TPC. The US$750,000 event, won last year by Australian Travis Smyth, will be played at Linkou International Golf and Country Club, from Sep 21-24.

Korean amateur star Wooyoung Cho says he wants to turn professional immediately after the Asian Games next month with the gold medal safely in his hands and he is clearly preparing well to achieve that lofty goal after taking the lead after the second-round of the Shinhan Donghae Open today, following an outstanding, bogey-free eight-under-par 64.

The 21-year-old made an eagle and six birdies to go to 13-under for the Asian Tour event, giving him a three-shot cushion over compatriot Bio Kim and Canadian Richard T. Lee, winner of this event in 2017, who both fired 66s.

Koreans Guntaek Koh (66) and Taehoon Ok (69), Australian Anthony Quayle (70), Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai (70) and David Puig from Spain (71) – in second place until a quadruple-bogey seven on the eighth, his penultimate hole – are a further stroke back, on the Ocean Course at Club72, located near Incheon airport.

“I normally don’t play so well after a good first round, but today I got it right,” said Cho, who has already won this year on the Korean PGA Tour, at the Golfzone Open in Jeju in April.

Wooyoung Cho. Picture courtesy Korean PGA.

“Second shot is very important to make a good score. For the past two events I have not got my second shots right, but I am this week, and it’s setting me up for birdie putts.”

He eagled the par-five seventh after his second shot, with a five iron, found the edge of the green, from where he holed from 30 feet.

Cho will be part of the Korean team at the Hangzhou Asian Games in China, which starts at the end of this month, along with amateur Jubin Yang, who withdrew today citing flu, and PGA Tour stars Siwoo Kim and Sungjae Im.

He said: “I would like to turn professional on October 5, immediately after the Asian Games, with the gold medal! I have a minor back injury, but these tournaments are a warm-up, and for me to manage my physical condition.”

It has been a year to remember so far as he was also part of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation’s winning team in the Ryder Cup-style Bonallack Trophy against the European Golf Association at Spain’s La Manga at the start of August.

He first rose to prominence on the Asian Tour last year at the International Series Korea. He was one off the lead after the third round following a 10-under-par 61 – which proved to be the best round of the week, and eventually tied for seventh.

The rising star is bidding to become the first amateur to win the Shinhan Donghae event, which this year celebrates its 39^th edition.

Bio Kim, a decorated amateur himself before finding success in the paid ranks, won the LX Championship last weekend on the Korean PGA Tour to revitalise what has been a relatively subdued season by his own high standards. Hard work with his coach Jaehyeok Lee – the gold medallist in golf at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games – and a pep talk from his wife have helped to get him back on track.

“I feel like I am playing good. I feel like I am building momentum, and confidence. We’ll see how it goes at the weekend,” said last year’s Rookie of the Year on the Asian Tour.

Bio Kim. Picture courtesy Korean PGA.

“I have been working really hard with my coach Jaehyeok Lee, he is a former national team player, and is still a very good player. I have been working really hard on the little things, not like a dramatic changes or anything, just alignment. All those little things add up, and now here I am. Golf, you never know how it goes.

“Beginning of the year I guess I put too much pressure on myself. I had some great time off in the summer with my family here in Korea, which did me a lot of good. I talked to my wife about it. She just said, ‘you know, we are doing fine, let’s build momentum’, that’s exactly what she said, actually. ‘Don’t try and achieve something really quickly’. I think I am doing that fine now after she said it.”

South African Jbe Kruger, the champion in 2019, made his move today, carding a 66 to move to seven-under, in a tie for 12^th, along with a group of players that includes Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent, in with a 71.

Filipino Miguel Tabuena, second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, shot his second successive 69 and is six under for the KRW1.4 billion (about US$1 million) event, which is being tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and Korean PGA Tour for the third time.

Tabuena is still battling a left wrist and thumb injury.

Said this year’s The DGC Open winner: “Took some painkillers today and yesterday, big help. This course isn’t that demanding off the tee, you will see a lot of low scores. I didn’t hit it well at all, I missed so many fairways, but I took advantage of the par fives today and yesterday, with my length I can easily get on in two.

“This morning I told the guys back home it [the wrist] really hurt last night. I am going day by day actually. I am not sure how I will go about this. But I am happy with the position I am in. I want to thank the physio Pan for the help she is giving me. She as been looking after me since Monday.”

Korean amateur star Wooyoung Cho says he wants to turn professional immediately after the Asian Games next month with the gold medal safely in his hands and he appears to be on course to achieve that goal after taking the clubhouse lead during the second-round of the Shinhan Donghae Open today, following an outstanding, bogey-free eight-under-par 64.

The 21-year-old made an eagle and six birdies to go to 13-under for the Asian Tour event, giving him a three-shot lead over compatriot Bio Kim and Canadian Richard T. Lee, winner of this event in 2017, who both fired 66s.

Korean Guntaek Koh is a further stroke back after also returning a 66, after the morning groups completed their rounds, at the Ocean Course at Club72.

“I normally don’t play so well after a good first round, but today I got it right,” said Cho, who has already won this year on the Korean PGA Tour, at the Golfzon Open in Jeju in April.

Wooyoung Cho. Picture courtesy Korean PGA Tour.

“Second shot is very important to make a good score. For the past two events I have not got my second shots right, but I am this week, and it’s setting me up for birdie putts.”

He eagled the par-five seventh after his second shot, with a five iron, found the edge of the green, from where he holed from 30 feet.

Cho will be part of the Korean team at the Hangzhou Asian Games in China, which starts at the end of this month, along with amateur Jubin Yang, also playing this week, and PGA Toir stars Siwoo Kim and Sungjae Im.

He said: “I would like to turn professional on October 5, immediately after the Asian Games, with the gold medal! I have a minor back injury, but these tournaments are a warm-up, and for me to manage my physical condition.”

It has been a year to remember so far as he was also part of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation’s winning team in the Ryder Cup-style Bonallack Trophy against the European Golf Association at Spain’s La Manga at the start of August.

He first rose to prominence on the Asian Tour last year at the International Series Korea. He was one off the lead after the third round following a 10-under-par 61 – which proved to be the best round of the week, and eventually tied for seventh.

Bio Kim. Picture courtesy Korean PGA.

Filipino Miguel Tabuena, second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, shot his second successive 69 and is six under for the KRW1.4 billion (about US$1 million) event, which is being tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and Korean PGA Tour for the third time.

Spain’s star-in-the-making David Puig says he is embracing the opportunity to travel extensively in the formative years of his career after firing an eight-under-par 64 to take the lead on the opening day of the Shinhan Donghae Open today.

Brushing off having only arrived on Tuesday night from Spain, for his first-ever visit to Korea, he overpowered the Ocean Course at Club72, near Incheon airport, making eight birdies – including six on the front side for a six-under-par 30.

Australian Anthony Quayle and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai came in with 65s while Zimbabwean Kieran Vincent, Korea’s Ok Taehoon, and Ryutaro Nagano and Ryuko Tokimatsu from Japan carded 66s on a hot and humid day in the Asian Tour’s 14^th event of the season.

Puig has been superb since joining the Asian Tour last year, soon after turning professional. He has regularly been in contention, finishing in the top-15 five times in just eight starts, including a third-place finish in the International Series Morocco last year – his debut event on the Asian Tour – and an equal fourth placing at the International Series England, just three weeks ago.

“All this travelling, it’s different for sure but it’s experience,” said the 21-year-old, who plays for Torque GC – the dominant team on the LIV Golf League this season having won four times.

Anthony Quayle. Picture courtesy Korean PGA.

“For sure I am learning new things, new places, getting to know different courses and weather, and types of grass. It’s great. I am going to play as much as I can, I am 21, so this was a good week for me to come. Week off last week, play here, then week off before LIV Golf Chicago.”

After playing the St Andrews Bay Championship two weeks ago he took the whole of last week off and only played again on Monday morning.

He said: “I didn’t practice for eight days and then I got here. I was in Spain last week after St Andrews and the last day I played, I played Monday morning before going to the airport. Played there with my family, then jumped on a plane, direct, 12 hours. I am bit rusty, but sometimes it’s a bit better when you don’t think that much.”

He also performed well in Scotland, tying for 14^th, and is clearly in form this week as well.

“Played pretty good today obviously, did a lot of good things. I got here Tuesday night and practised yesterday. I am still pretty tired but somehow I played pretty good,” he said.

“It is my first time in Korea. The golf course is good, it fits my game pretty good. I hit plenty of drivers and the fairways are soft. I hit it pretty far, so I have an advantage on that, and the greens are super firm. It suits me. We played courses recently when the greens where super soft. Here I hit wedges and the ball stays where it is supposed to stay.”

Quayle, who plays on the Japan Golf Tour, is nursing a sore back but was delighted it did not trouble him today.

He said: “It was nice. I didn’t have the best prep coming into the week. I hurt my back last week, so I tried to be a little bit more low-key in my preparation and be a little bit more cautionary.

“Came out today, back felt great, everything felt pretty good. I probably had low expectations, so was able to play freely and roll a few in.

“Not sure what the back issue is. I saw the physio yesterday, my self-diagnosis was wrong – which is probably not uncommon for a professional golfer. But the physio said it looked like I was overloading my back pelvic incorrectly for a period of time. What he did yesterday helped a lot.”

Phachara Khongwatmai. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Quayle was also on course for a 64 but dropped his only shot of the day after bogeying the par-five 18^th.

“I am a bit disappointed with the bogey on 18,” said the Australian, who started brilliantly by holing a 50-footer for birdie on the first.

“Felt like I played the hole really well. The third shot I hit in I thought was perfect, thought I had hit my number. But it just landed over and on the collar of the green, and I just didn’t handle the lie really well and duffed it short. It is what it is.”

Other performances of note are American Seungsu Han (68), winner of this year’s Kolon Korea Open, Korean Kim Bio (68), who won the LX Championship on the Korean PGA Tour last week, and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho (69).

Filipino Miguel Tabuena, in second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and looking to close the gap on top ranked Andy Ogletree from the United States, who is not here this week, also shot 69 – allaying any concerns for the moment over a troubling wrist injury.

Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, the winner of 18 titles in Japan, returned a 71.

This week’s KRW1.4 billion (about US$1 million) event is being tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and Korean PGA Tour for the third time.

Miguel Tabuena is back in action on the Asian Tour this week, at the Shinhan Donghae Open, played on the Ocean Course at Club72 in Korea, for what should be an excellent opportunity to close the gap on the Tour’s Order of Merit leader Andy Ogletree from the United States – who is not competing this week.

However, a persistent wrist injury, which forced him to withdraw from the most recent event, the St Andrews Bay Championship in Scotland two weeks ago, is threatening to derail his push for the top.

Tabuena is in second place on the Merit list, just under 700 points behind Ogletree, but the only golf he has played since Scotland was nine holes on Sunday at home in Manila.

“It was throbbing [on Sunday] but I had already booked my flight here,” said the Filipino, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour.

“It’s my left wrist and my thumb, actually. I have no idea what caused it, I have been fighting it for two months now.”

Miguel Tabuena after winning The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in March. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He finished in a tie for ninth at the International Series England, the week before Scotland, but started feeling pain in the final round. He rested it on the following Tuesday and Wednesday but with the cold weather in Scotland doing nothing to heal the wrist he decided to pull out.

He added: “It is such a shame, man, because I am playing really well, and this is probably a good week to close the gap, because Andy is not here. That’s the only reason why I am here.”

The pain is particularly heightened on his downswing right before impact, when using his driver.

“Luckily there are many other events for the remainder of the season to try and get to the top of the Merit list.  I requested for an x-ray and MRI when I got home just to see what’s happening. I rested it from the week of Scotland all the way until Saturday.

“I had ‘cryo’ and ultra-sound treatment at home, and laser. I submerged it in ice, almost everyday since I got back from Scotland.

“I don’t want to be on painkillers for the rest of the year, but let’s see how tomorrow goes. It’s nice to have a late tee off tomorrow. And it’s nice that the weather is on my side, being really warm. All I can do is not force it.”

Tabuena, 28, had been enjoying a fine return to form this year having won The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in March – his first win on the Asian Tour in four years – and has finished in the top-10 on five occasions. He was also equal fourth in the World City Championship in Hong Kong, and up until Scotland had not missed a cut in nine starts.

It has been a complete turnaround from last year when he who only just kept his Tour card on the Order of Merit, taking the last spot, while having to deal with the trauma of his father having a heart by-pass.

And while the warm weather is to his advantage this week, he feels the course is user friendly.

He said: “I have played this course a long time ago, when I just turned pro, and it’s very straight forward, it’s not the tightest.”

He tees-off at 11.50am local time tomorrow with Korean Seonghyeon Kim and Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa.

Tabuena tied for fourth at the World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

This week marks the third time the tournament will be tri-sanctioned between the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, and Korean Tour.

The KRW1.4 billion (about US$1 million) event is the 14^th tournament of the season on the Asian Tour.