Battling 68 sees Suradit take clubhouse lead at International Series Qatar
Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai shot a solid opening four-under-par 68 in difficult windy conditions to take the clubhouse lead in the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar today at Doha Golf Club.
Canadian Richard T. Lee, Sangmoon Bae from Korea and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai came in with 69s, while South Africans Charl Schwartzel and Darren Fichardt and Travis Smyth from Australia shot 70s – in the third event of the season on the Asian Tour and the second of the year’s International Series tournaments.
Australia’s John Lyras and Todd Sinnott, Andy Ogletree from the United States, Indian Jyoti Randhawa, Malaysian Ben Leong, Filipino Miguel Tabuena, Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, Nitithorn Thippong and Gunn Charoenkul, and Saudi Arabian Saud Alsharif all carded 71s.
Richard T. Lee of Canada pictured during Round One on Thursday February 16, 2023 at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Suradit finished late in the day, unlike the three trailing him in second who played in the morning, and took the outright lead with a birdie on his last hole, the par-four ninth, having started his round on the back.
The 24-year-old Thai, a winner once before on the Asian Tour at the 2019 Mercuries Taiwan Masters, made five birdies and dropped one shot.
In hot pursuit is Lee a two-time winner on the Asian Tour who came close to winning two International Series events last year in Singapore and Morocco before finishing runner up on both occasions.
“I made a few good long putts in my round and just kept it in play, windy conditions so you have to keep it in the fairways and get it on the green to have putts that can go in,” said the Canadian.
“I think I converted that pretty well even though I had two bogeys out there, I’m looking forward to tomorrows round.
It was an encouraging round, made up of five birdies and two bogeys, for Lee considering he had to retire from last week’s International Series Oman as he was feeling unwell.
Sangmoon Bae of Korea pictured during Round One on Thursday February 16, 2023 at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He added: “Yeah I’m feeling about 70% healthy again and hopefully the next three days I can hold up and play the round I played today.”
Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, was happy to make a good start considering the difficult conditions, which saw the wind reach gusts of 35 kilometres per hour.
He said: “Yeah, I thought teeing off early we would get a little bit of benefit with the wind, but we didn’t, so spent most the day in pretty strong conditions and thought I played really well. You always feel like when you played well you always feel like you could have left a few out there but in these conditions two under will be good.”
Smyth was equally as happy to come in under par while battling the breeze.
“I feel awesome, I was joking around saying it’s just another day back where I’m from, it’s super. super windy in Sydney,” said the Australian.
“I just embraced it and felt like I got some control of my golf ball so just tried to use the wind to my advantage and yeah everything kind of went my way. I hit a few loose shots and found my ball and was able to scramble for pars. I got a little lucky combined with some good golf, so I’m stoked.”
Charl Schwartzel of South Africa pictured during Round One on Thursday February 16, 2023 at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Indians Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shiv Kapur and American Dru Love, the son of PGA Tour star Davis Love III, are in a group of players on 72.
A total of nine players will resume their rounds at 6.40am local time on Friday with the second round scheduled to start at 6.20am as planned.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond has revealed he was practically “digging the dirt” when practising so much in order to find his form before a brilliant victory at the International Series Morocco last year.
Jazz had not won in nearly three years before his success in North Africa, a result he will try and repeat at this week’s International Series Qatar, here at Doha Golf Club.
“It was three years of playing bad golf and suddenly it just comes. Hopefully it continues a bit longer,” said the winner of 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit, the season he won on four occasions.
“I was searching, went searching, hours and hours on the range, digging the dirt, sometimes I found it, sometimes it wasn’t there.”
The victory in Morocco was the result of a sensational eagle, birdie finish – an incredible performance for a player who was shattered after an exhausting season up until that point.
He added: “Seriously like in Morocco I was such a blur, I still don’t know what happened. And I walked home with a trophy so that was pretty lucky.”
Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand pictured with the winner’s trophy on Sunday, November 6, 2022 after his victory in the International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. The US$ 1.5 million Asian Tour event is staged from November 3-6, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
It was the seventh Asian Tour victory of his career, and in terms of confidence building it was arguably his most important.
“That was my first time in Morocco and the city of Rabat was amazing – the culture, the food, the people, everything. I had heard a lot about the golf course already from people I played with, and I knew it was going to be hard, but it exceeded all my expectations. I had been out nine weeks in a row and I was tired and my back was hurting, but I went in with an open mind to explore Morocco and Rabat, and I think that helped me win, because I didn’t come in with high expectations.”
Having tied for 17th in last week’s International Series Oman and survived the cut in the season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers he feels his game is in a good position for this week, on a golf course he knows well, where the wind plays a major factor.
“It is my fourth time here in Qatar and third time on this golf course. So I know the golf course quite well,” said Jazz.
“I couldn’t reach the fairway on 18 today because of the wind. That was a little embarrassing.”
Despite that the signs are there that the gifted 27 year old is getting closer and closer to his best golf, justifying the exceptional amount of time he has spent on the range.
Two-time Asian Tour winner Justin Harding is relishing the return to Doha Golf Club this week, venue for the inaugural International Series Qatar, as it is a venue where he has enjoyed success before.
The 37-year-old South African, with the magical putting stroke, is also looking for a boost of confidence having just returned from a long-injury break – which saw him miss the second half of 2022.
Harding was victorious in the Qatar event here on the DP World Tour three years ago, and was fifth in the tournament last year, so don’t be surprised to see him make a run despite the lack of playing time.
“I’ve got a good track record around here, even Alan my caddy has had a lot of good finishes with George Coetzee here as well, so it’s a venue which is close to our hearts,” said Harding.
“I played pretty good here last year, as well, I think I had a bad start to the week but ended up top five. I’m looking forward to it, I am.”
Justin Harding of South Africa pictured during the Pro-am event on Wednesday February 15, 2023 ahead of the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
His injury, a hip-stress fracture, meant he was out of action from the middle of September until late January.
He said: “It feels like the swing is coming along, I obviously had a long time out through injury. I think I was out for about four-and-a-half months or whatever it was, not swinging a club, back end of last year. My scores have been evident of the fact that I’m just rusty and just hitting some poor shots, and more so than I would otherwise be used to.
“But at the end of the day, that’s golf. You just kind of got to go through the rites and work it out and keep grinding. The doctors shut me down after the Wentworth BMW PGA Championship. But yeah, on crutches for nine weeks, or whatever it was, so it wasn’t the best of experiences.”
His injury concern was tempered by the fact that he and his partner Leah Totton welcomed the birth of their first child last year.
“I had a little baby girl in November, so it was an interesting time I must be honest,” said the South African.
“Obviously not being able to play golf was difficult, but having Lila and just being a dad for the first time was awesome. And being able to spend time at home was an added bonus, I got to help out for two months and now I’ve obviously been away from them for a month-and-a-half which is different as well. I’m navigating being a new dad and dealing with all of those sorts of things.”
Doha Golf Club is known as a challenging layout but with a fine record here it is a course that seems to fit Harding’s game nicely.
“I mean it’s a good golf course. It’s a good test. I think when the wind blows, it certainly makes it challenging to get it around. The scores are never really super low, it’s just a good challenge,” he says.
“They’ve put a few tees in, I played the back nine yesterday, and they have put a couple tees in which have made a few of the holes a little different, considerably longer.”
Harding famously won the Bank BRI Indonesia Open on the Asian Tour in 2018 while playing on a sponsors invite, and followed it up two weeks later with another win in Thailand at the Royal Cup for back-to-back victories.
It was a fantastic year for Harding as he finished third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, also helped by a runner up finish in the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup and three other top 10s.
Justin Harding of South Africa pictured during the Pro-am event on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at the The International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club. The US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
He is also a seven-time winner in South Africa.
“I played good [that year], didn’t really ever feel like I played badly. I try to minimize the mistakes, try to keep the bogeys off the card and ultimately, just tally up the birdies if that makes any sense. I know that it’s easier said than done, but it felt like I managed my game well. I kind of knew where the ball was going and managed my misses. Putted great, I mean I’m not denying it, I putted unbelievably well.”
This season Harding will be dividing his time between the Asian Tour and the DP World Tour in order to try to keep his playing status on both Tours, and is also excited to be competing in the International Series events.
He adds: “Yeah, ultimately I want to enjoy the International Series and what that’s brought to the Asian Tour. I’ll try playing as many of those as I can and then throw in a couple other events. Maybe go back to Indonesia end of the year, where I have won.”
He has been paired with Korea’s Bio Kim and Ryosuke Kinoshita from Japan in the first two rounds.
Berry Henson said he had to manage a week of mishits and three putts in order to finish joint second in last week’s International Series Oman, while also trying to recover from a challenging off season.
The American finished four shots behind the champion, Takumi Kanaya from Japan, for one of the finest performances of his 20-year professional career, which also saw him earn his biggest ever cheque, US$173,000.
The end result though disguised a testing tournament and build up that required him to draw upon all his experience and patience.
“I posted something on social media on Saturday, about kind of falling in love with the process,” the 43 year old said ahead of this week’s International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, which features an eye-catching field that includes former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel from South Africa, reigning Asian Tour number one Sihwan Kim from the United States, and Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand, who tied with Henson in Oman.
Berry Henson pictured during an official practice round on Tuesday at the International Series Qatar. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I knew my game wasn’t sharp and I know if I can control the controllables, which is getting into my process and my routine, then I can still play a high level of golf and that’s kind of what I did.
“I didn’t let the bad shots affect me, which I hit a lot, but the mishits worked out ok, I didn’t lose any balls for the week. And I just wasn’t very sharp, I had eight three putts.”
Henson made adjustments to his swing in the second half of last year which he has struggled to implement, including through the off season, which meant he started this season low on confidence, an unusual occurrence for a player who normally has heaps of it.
“I got into some positions that were detrimental and so we spent six weeks over the break trying to get back to where I was and I never quite got there during the trip back home,” said the American, who missed the cut in the season opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers the week before Oman, also a rarity for a player known for regularly making it through to the weekend.
“I also wasn’t able to do the strength training that I normally do, and I feel that beat me up a little. It also affected my mental aura. So, I wasn’t prepared for Saudi and it was a stressful week.”
Henson pictured working out in the gym early on Tuesday. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
A four-under-par 32 on Saturday in the third round in Oman played a big part in helping him to find his confidence. It was the start of an impressive weekend that saw him shoot fine back-to-back two-under-par 70s in extremely challenging, windy conditions on the impressive but testing golf course Al Mouj Golf.
He adds: “The tournament was a massive momentum shift, I can feel it this week. Everything mentally seems a lot clearer. The momentum has shifted back 180 to where I needed to be. I feel like the pressure is completely off now.
“Last week I wasn’t in my comfort zone but then Saturday morning I came out and boom, that front nine!”
Considering he was not playing up to his optimum level he feels it was the best tournament he has ever played.
“It was great the way I handled it and stayed in the moment and didn’t let the mishits affect me, like they would normally. I made so many mistakes, but I didn’t allow them to affect me,” said Henson.
“I tried to set goals on the plane to Saudi but with the way my game was I could not get my goals right because I was so off for me. So I set one goal, and that was to finish in the top 30 so I can get into the LIV qualifiers and I did that in one week.
“Now we are working on goals for the remainder of the year.”
Henson has won once before on the Asian Tour, at the Philippine Open in 2011, the year he joined the Tour.
He’ll be looking to capitalise on last week’s result to achieve more success this season, starting with this week’s US$2.5 million event that also boasts Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, last year’s winner of the International Series Order of Merit, Korean Bio Kim, second on the 2022 Asian Tour Order of Merit, and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, a seven-time Asian Tour winner, the most recent being last year’s International Series Morocco.
Henson pictured during round four of International Series Oman. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
South Africans Justin Harding and Darren Fichardt, both winners on this week’s course before, are also competing.
Nine players from the top-10 of last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit are playing and 18 from the top 20.
Japan’s Takumi Kanaya secured a convincing victory in the US$2 million International Series Oman today to record his first professional victory outside of Japan and suggest that the gifted young golfer is coming of age.
The 24-year-old from Hiroshima shot a final round one-under-par 71 to finish on 10 under and beat American Berry Henson (70) and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana (72) by four strokes.
England’s Steve Lewton (71) finished fourth one shot further back while Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann from Chile, both in with 74s, tied for fifth another two strokes behind.
The stunning scenic coastline of Al Mouj Golf provided the perfect background for some brilliant front running golf by Kanaya, already a three-time winner on home soil who has been striving to make his mark on the international stage.
He finally achieved that today with an eye-catching performance in what is the second event of the season on the Asian Tour and first of the year’s International Series tournaments.
Takumi Kanaya of Japan pictured during Round Four on Sunday February 12, 2023 at the US$2 million International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. The tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It is an honour to win the event, an International Series tournament,” said Kanaya, after what is also his first win since April of 2021 when he won the Token Homemate Cup, on the Japan Tour.
“It has been a difficult two years but I am so happy to finally win again.”
After taking the lead on day two he was never caught and began today’s round with a one-shot advantage from compatriot Ryo Hisatsune. At the turn, thanks to a fine outward nine bogey free three-under-par 33, he had opened up a five-shot gap from Hisatsune and appeared to be coasting before he missed short putts on 12 and 13 to see his lead cut to three from playing-partner Sadom.
Despite the wind starting to strength and threatening to play havoc with his push for victory Kanaya then moved four ahead again when he birdied the 15th but dropped a stroke on the next to return to three in front.
The contest was soon virtually settled when he made a birdie on the 16th before Sadom dropped a shot on 17 to give his Japanese opponent a five-shot lead playing 18.
Kanaya could afford the luxury of missing a 10-foot par putt on the last.
Said Kanaya: “Sadom got close, but I played within myself and was able to see it through.”
It is arguably the most important win of his career, which has already seen some significant highs. He turned professional in 2020 after a glittering amateur career that saw him win the 2015 Japan Amateur, the Asia Pacific Amateur in 2018, and the team gold medal at the Asian Games that year. He also won the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters in 2019 as an amateur and was ranked the world’s number amateur for 55 weeks. In 2020 he was victorious in the Dunlop Phoenix tournament.
Sadom Kaewkanajana of Thailand pictured during Round Four on Sunday February 12, 2023 at the US$2 million International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. The tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
This was only the third start by Kanaya as a professional in an Asian Tour event, it is his maiden appearance in an International Series tournament, and it also marks the first time that an International Series event has been won by a player from Japan.
In addition, he becomes the first Japanese golfer to win an Asian Tour event outside of Japan since Tetsuji Hiratsuka claimed the Black Mountain Masters in 2010.
For Sadom it was yet another fine tournament which extended a phenomenal run of him having finished in the top 10 on 12 occasions in his last 20 events on the Asian Tour.
If not for costly double bogeys on five and nine it could well have been a different story.
“I started pretty good with three birdies in a row on holes two, three and four, and then the wind came up,” said Sadom, who finished fourth in last week’s Saudi International.
“It was a different wind, different conditions, so I’m very happy today to score even par today. Takumi is good player, he deserves it.
“I am very happy to finish tied second, so next week maybe will be better than this week.”
Henson was delighted with one of his finest performances on the Asian Tour.
“I love these conditions; I was hoping for this,” said the American.
“Unfortunately, my putting just wasn’t up to standard this week, but I managed my game really well and my ball striking in these conditions was pretty good considering it was just so hard. But I think I had like seven or eight three putts for the week and it looks like that’s gonna cost me.”
Berry Henson of the USA pictured during Round Four on Sunday February 12, 2023 at the US$2 million International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. The tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Asian Tour stays in the Middle East next week and will stage the inaugural US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, from February 16-19.
Takumi Kanaya continued to put together one of his most impressive performances outside of Japan today when he took the third-round lead in the US$2 million International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf.
The Japanese star led at the start of the day by one shot from compatriot Ryo Hisatsune and that is how it finished today after they both returned five-under-par 67s.
Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, such an ever-present name on the leaderboard for the past year on the Asian Tour, also shot 67 to sit in third place, three back from the leader.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann from Chile moved ominously into fourth, four off top spot, after rounds of 68 and 69 respectively.
Kanaya showed why so much is expected of him today with an exceptional round that showed he is comfortable leading from the front.
Ryo Hisatsune of Japan pictured during Round Three on Saturday February 11, 2023 at the US$2 million International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. The tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Enjoying calmer conditions compared with the strong winds of Friday, the 24 year old moved to nine under for the tournament, helped by a brilliant run of four birdies in five holes from the eighth. He made six birdies in total and just one bogey.
Surprisingly he missed a four-foot putt for birdie on 17 and another makeable birdie putt on the last.
“I feel good, it is because this course really suits me,” said Kanaya.
“I am able to play my shots, find the fairways, and find the greens. Will just take it shot by shot tomorrow.”
The Japanese star, with the distinctive golf swing and quick follow through, has won three times on the Japan Tour – the 2019 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters, as an amateur, the 2020 Dunlop Phoenix and the Token Homemate Cup in 2020 – but is looking for his maiden professional title overseas.
He was one of his country’s most successful amateurs having claimed the 2015 Japan Amateur, the Asia Pacific Amateur in 2018, and the team gold medal at the Asian Games that year. He was also ranked first on the World Amateur Golf Ranking for 55 weeks.
Hisatsune, who is looking for his first big Tour win, is four years younger than Kanaya and looking forward to playing with his decorated compatriot tomorrow.
He said: “Yeah, I so respect my older friend, we’re both Japanese and I’m so happy to play with him. Yeah, so happy to get both of us playing together and making a lot of birdies.
“Today was great, I feel like I was smart in my game management.”
Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand pictured during Round Three on Saturday February 11, 2023 at the US$2 million International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. The tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Sadom was fourth in last week’s season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers and will no doubt be a threat tomorrow.
“Today was pretty good for me, I hit more fairways than the last two rounds,” said the Thai star, whose last win on the Asian Tour was the Singapore Open at the beginning of last year.
“I missed only one fairway today and I had many chances to make birdie. I played solid and my putting was also good today.
“Today I think it was easier, because yesterday the wind was strong and it was hard to hit the greens. And today I think my putting was much better than yesterday and that was the key.”
Garcia bounced back well today after yesterday’s 76 – which considering the windy conditions was more like par for the course.
“Obviously, today it was windy, but it wasn’t as windy as yesterday,” said Garcia.
“And yesterday a couple of holes kind of killed my round really. Other than that, I felt good. I played nicely today, gave myself a lot of chances. Made some really good putts, some went in, and some lipped out but really happy. It was important to put a good score out there today to have a chance tomorrow.”
A six-time winner on the Asian Tour he is trying to win for the first time on the circuit since the 2018 Singapore Open.
He added: “I don’t know, we will see. It is going to depend a bit on the weather and whether the wind picks up. We will see what the leaders finish tonight, it is looking like I could be two or three shots behind, so it is definitely going to take another good round. Hopefully I can shoot another good one and we will see what happens.”
Sergio Garcia of Spain pictured during Round Three on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at the The International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf Club. The US$2 million golf tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023 at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
Two-time Australian Open champion Matt Jones fired a 67 to finish on three under to give himself an outside chance on Sunday. The Australian is an expert playing in the wind and will hope for it to blow tomorrow.
Takumi Kanaya, one of Japan’s most exciting young prospects, made the most of slightly easier conditions in the morning to take the halfway lead in the US$2 million International Series Oman today.
The world’s former number one ranked amateur shot a one-under-par 71 to reach four under par for the tournament, an unassailable lead with the wind getting progressively stronger and blowing the field off course at Al Mouj Golf.
Another up and coming Japanese player Ryo Hisatsune, who also competed in the morning, is one shot back after carding a 70. They were two of only nine players to break par on a truly testing day.
Scores soared in the afternoon with wind speeds close to 30 km per hour at times – in what is the second event of the season on the Asian Tour and the first of 10 International Series tournaments.
Canada’s Yonggu Shin, who led after the opening round with a 66, came in with a 76 to share third with Chilean Joaquin Niemann, Australia’s Zach Murray and Berry Henson from the United States.
Ryo Hisatsune of Japan pictured during Round Two on Friday February 10, 2023 at the US$2 million International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. The tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Niemann showed his class by firing a 70 in the afternoon while Murray and Henson, who also played later, returned rounds of 72 and 73 respectively.
Kanaya is known for being a precision iron player and had to rely on that and more in order to overcome today’s turbulent conditions.
“Today was a tough day, the breeze was very strong. But yeah, I’m feeling great, I shot 71 and that’s good score,” said Kanaya.
“I like ball control, it’s my favorite, so yeah I have a chance. Two more days so I will do my best.”
The 24 year old turned professional two years ago after a sensational amateur career, which saw him ranked the number one amateur in the world for 55 weeks, during which time he won the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan Tour. He has since triumphed twice on that Tour as a professional, most noticeably at the prestigious Dunlop Phoenix in 2020.
He traded four birdies against three bogeys, while Hisatsune made six birdies and four bogeys.
Hisatsune is also another of his country’s great hopes trying to make an impression internationally. He also joined the professional game three years ago and won three titles on Japan’s secondary circuit in 2021.
Yonggu Shin of Canada during Round Two on Friday, February 10, 2023 at the The International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf Club. The US$2 million golf tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023 at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
He said: “It was so tough even though I had an early start, but for me it’s so windy. I made a lot of clutch putts today and I made birdies on every par three, so I’m very happy with the game.
“My strong point is the driver, like I hit almost every fairway so that makes it easier to hit the second shots. But it was so difficult in this wind.”
Shin failed to make a birdie today but is still very much in contention.
“It is a totally different course compared to yesterday,” said the Canadian.
“I knew the wind was gonna pick up, definitely going to be tough, but the pins are also tough today. I mean, greens are firmer than yesterday, obviously I was playing in the morning yesterday, this afternoon the pins were very difficult out there especially with this wind.”
Niemann has put himself in a strong position heading into the weekend and will be one of the favourites with a style of play capable of handling the wind.
He said: “It was a really good round. I played really well. I probably could have actually scored even better but there were a couple of short putts I missed. Very happy though, conditions were tough so can’t complain with two under. The wind was blowing, the greens were firm so I’m happy.”
He was paired with Spaniard Sergio Garcia today, a close friend.
“You want to see him [Sergio] playing well, as well as yourself so it is always fun playing with Sergio,” said Niemann.
Joaquin Niemann of Chile during Round Two on Friday, February 10, 2023 at the The International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf Club. The US$2 million golf tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023 at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
“We have played a lot of practice rounds together but it is nice to have tournament rounds as it is different to practice rounds. He didn’t play his best golf today but Sergio is Sergio, so I need to keep an eye on him over the weekend!”
Garcia made triple on the fourth hole and worked hard to stay in the hunt but shot a 76 and is three off the lead along with Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat (71), Australian Todd Sinnott (73), American Andy Ogletree (75), and Sadom Kaewkanjana (76) from Thailand.
Two of Asia’s longest-running and most popular championships will return to the Asian Tour schedule in 2023.
The 42nd edition of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship will be staged at Namseoul Country Club from May 4-7.
The Asian Tour’s finest players will then return to Korea from June 22-25 for the Kolon The 65th Korea Open Golf Championship at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & Chief Executive Officer at the Asian Tour, said: “We’re delighted to be able to confirm that these two fabulous championships will form part of what’s shaping up to be a record-breaking season for the Asian Tour.
“Our thanks go to the sponsors, the Korea Golf Association for their continued support, and Namseoul and Woo Jeong Hills, which are familiar venues to top-level tournament golf.”
Minkyu Kim with the 2022 Korea Open trophy.
In particular, Bio Kim and Minkyu Kim will be looking forward to returning to the scenes of memorable triumphs in 2022.
Roared on by a large final-day gallery, Bio Kim carded a closing one-over-par 72 to claim his overdue maiden Asian Tour title with a nine-under total. He had also won the Maekyung Open at Namseoul in 2012, although it was not then part of the Asian Tour.
Of the Namseoul venue, Kim said: “It’s a place where I grew up and where I practice a lot. That’s a reason why I’ve had success here. I like the golf course … and my house is about 20 minutes away. That helps!”
Minkyu Kim, meanwhile, secured his first Asian Tour title and first victory as a professional on Korean soil at his country’s national Open at Woo Jeong Hills in 2022 following a tense three-hole play-off with compatriot Mingyu Cho.
In so doing he added his name to the illustrious list of Korea Open winners, which includes Major champions Y.E. Yang, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and John Daly.
Yonggu Shin took advantage of benign early morning conditions to shoot a six-under-par 66 to take the first round in the inaugural International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf today.
The Canadian, who first shot to prominence last year when he finished joint second in the Shinhan Donghae Open, carded six birdies and impressively was bogey free – in the second event of the season on the Asian Tour, and first International Series tournament.
Spanish star Sergio Garcia looked set to join him in first place but made bogey on his last hole to finish with a 67, along with Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand.
American Andy Ogletree returned a 68, despite battling illness.
Japan’s Takumi Kanaya, Korean Kyongjun Moon, and Americans Berry Henson and Trevor Simsby shot 69s, while Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, last year’s International Series Order of Merit winner, was one of 12 players who returned 70.
Sergio Garcia of Spain pictured during Round One on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at the The International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf Club. The US$2 million golf tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023 at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
Shin breezed through the opening nine holes with birdies on four, five, six and eight, before further gains on 10 and 17.
“I really can’t complain, especially with the conditions out here,” said Shin, better known as Justin Shin.
“I got lucky being out first as the conditions were pretty good on the front nine and I managed to come away four under for those nine holes but then the wind picked up in the afternoon and made it tricky, so really happy to come away without any dropped shots.
“I walked off at 18 and that was the first time I realised I was leading so I definitely can’t be unhappy with that. I think as the wind continues to pick up that score will be difficult to get near so yeah very happy with the start, now I just want to relax into the rest of the week.”
Shin, whose family emigrated to Canada when he was three years old, also won on the Korean PGA Tour last year at The 4th Woosung Construction Open.
He added: “It is my first time in Oman, and also my first time in the Middle East so I am really excited. It is pretty cool, I’ve spent most of my time in the US, Korea and Canada so I’m so excited to be here. The course is in really great shape, it is tough out there, but I am really enjoying it and luckily I am playing pretty well.”
Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand pictured during Round One on Thursday February 9, 2023 at the US$2 million International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. The tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Garcia began his round on the 10th and was mid-leaderboard before a stunning run of five birdies in six holes starting on the second.
Said the Spaniard: “Obviously delighted. Mainly because my swing didn’t feel great, especially on the front nine, but then I got it going a bit on the back nine. Yeah, very happy with the score, especially with the wind picking up and how firm the greens are so very happy.”
The 43 year old, who recently returned to playing following a three-month break because of a torn meniscus, is attempting to win for the seventh time on the Asian Tour.
“I hit some really good iron shots out there,” added the 2017 Masters champion.
“Like I said I didn’t feel like I was striking the ball too well, but I was managing to make a few saves on the front nine and then on the back nine I got going a bit and made five birdies in six holes or something like that which was a great feeling.”
Sadom’s presence on the leaderboard is no surprise, especially after a strong performance in last week’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Advisers, where he finished fourth, five behind the winner, Abraham Ancer from Mexico.
The in-form golfer, who remarkably has enjoyed eight top-10 finishes in his last 14 Asian Tour starts, switched putters recently and said he can do no wrong on the short grass.
“Over the break I started using an old putter of mine, it’s eight years old, and I’m holing so many putts,” said the 24 year old, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, including last year’s Singapore Open.
“I feel confident, playing on LIV last year with so many great players has helped my game so much.”
Andy Ogletree of the USA pictured during Round One on Thursday February 9, 2023 at the US$2 million International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman. The tournament is being held from February 9-12, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He made an eagle, four birdies and a bogey.
Ogletree’s performance was a brave one considering his physical condition.
Said the American: “Yeah, pretty good. Being honest, I didn’t even know if I was going to play this week. I have been pretty ill over the last couple of days and haven’t been able to eat anything, only just now drunk water for the first time so pretty happy with four under to start the week.”
Since his win in last year’s International Series Egypt the 24 year old has been something of a golfer reborn and has big plans moving forward.
“For me, the ultimate goal is to get back on LIV,” he said.
“I have only played one tournament, but I really want to get back there and experience it again. It is a great place to be, I know my game is coming into form at the right time so hopefully I get some more opportunities. These International Series events are great, the course is set up great and it’s a great place to be but yeah, my aim is definitely to take advantage of that pathway and get an opportunity there again.”
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