Kevin Na believes Ironheads “can still win”
At the LIV Golf Invitational event in Boston, Kevin Na’s Ironheads – comprising Asian Tour members Sadom Kaewkanjana, Phachara Khongwatmai and Sihwan Kim – were close to creating golf’s equivalent of a Great Heist, but a manic finish saw them lose out on a podium finish by one shot. Joy Chakravarty reports from Chicago.
After nine holes in Sunday’s final round at The International, the Ironheads were putting together a masterclass, racing five shots ahead of the mighty 4Aces, the Dustin Johnson-led, all-American team that has now won the last three Team Championships.
As it happened, Ironheads leaked shots coming in. Phachara hit a perfect-looking approach into his third last hole, but the ball smashed straight into his playing partner’s golf ball on the 5th green and ricocheted way back into the fairway for him to make a bogey. The Thai star proceeded to close with further back-to-back bogeys after that.
Sadom was six-under par through nine holes, before his third shot on the 11th hole hit a sprinkler head and disappeared into the bushes for him to make a double bogey against the run of play. He finished with another double bogey on the toughest hole of the golf course – the first – and that pushed the team outside the top-three that would have given them a podium place.
Phachara Khongwatmai (Picture by Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf via Getty Images).
More than a week removed from the event, captain Na still gets unhappy about the finish, especially when they had the chance to make a statement against the strongest team in the tournament.
“Sometimes, when you have an opportunity, you have to take it. You can’t let that slip away. It’s just like with winning a golf tournament. You get a chance to put the hammer down, you put it,” said the American, who turned 39 on Thursday.
“I was really frustrated how we finished in the end. I know those boys gave it their best. But I think, had they been slightly more aware of where the team was looking at the leaderboard, it could have been a different story.
“I played a practice round with Phachara on Tuesday and we played yesterday as a team, and the only thing I told the boys was to be more aware about the team position when on the golf course.
“Sadom played well that whole week and Phachara played decent. He was playing really good on Sunday, before the bogeys on the last three holes. I told him I wasn’t too happy about that.
“I know he was unlucky with the first bogey, but there was no excuse for the other two. And Sadom too…he was unfortunate to get the first hole, which is the hardest on the course, as his last. Once he was in trouble, he needed to take his medicine, and limit the damage to a bogey. That really cost us.
“It is what it is. A fourth-place finish, with how strong the other teams are on paper going by their world ranking, is a great result. So, we are doing good. I am proud of my boys.”
Na said he had great respect for Kim, who had opened his tournament in Boston with an 87, and then engineered a 24-shot swing the next day with a seven-under par 63.
“Can’t complain about Sihwan in Boston. He had COVID the week before and he was not fully recovered. He had not quite adjusted and he was struggling,” said Na.
“But in the second round, he came back and shot 24 shots better. That’s never been done before. That was quite remarkable and he gave us a chance in the team championship by making his round count. Unfortunately, he didn’t play well on Sunday.”
A modest Na said he was not sure if he was able to impart any lessons to his teammates as their captain, but believes the company of some of the all-time great players on LIV Golf would be a huge learning experience for them.
Sadom Kaewkanjana (Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour).
“I don’t know if I’ve done enough, but I think just playing with some of the best players in the world, some of these big names out here, I think it’s cool for them to compete and get paired with. It’s a good experience and it will help,” said Na, winner of five PGA Tour titles.
“I think they’re doing well. Phachara had a couple of decent finish. Sadom didn’t play well before, but he finally came good in Boston. Sihwan played well in Portland. They’re showing signs of breaking through and just need to be a little bit more consistent.”
Na said he had 100 percent faith in his team.
“I’m enjoying being a team captain. It’s fun. I’m trying to get more involved with the guys and trying to push my team,” said Na.
“In the beginning, I wasn’t sure who were going to be in my team (three Asian Tour spots are up for grabs through the International Series Order of Merit). So, there wasn’t so much of me playing a Captain’s role. But it’s different now as I know for a fact that we’re set for the rest of the year. I am trying to get these guys a little pumped up and excited.
“I honestly believe that we can still win. If not here in Chicago, then we will try in Bangkok. I told Phachara to go home after the tournament and make sure he gets plenty of practice at Stonehill (a brand-new golf course that opened earlier this year).
“And yes. I love Thai food, so I am also looking forward to both Phachara and Sadom taking us for out to some nice Thai restaurant for dinner.”
LIV Invitational Chicago begins at Rich Harvest Farms course from Friday, September 16.
A big cricket fan, Wade Ormsby knows the values and virtues of a good captain when he sees one. So, after all that’s recently happened with his all-Australian team in the LIV Golf Invitational Series, let’s say he is pleased as “Punch” where things are right now – writes Joy Chakravarty, from Chicago.
The 42 year old, playing the LIV Golf Invitational Series by virtue of his Order of Merit finish in the combined 2020-21-22 Order of Merit on the Asian Tour, greatly enjoyed the company of world number three and the reigning Open champion Cameron Smith as captain of Team Punch in LIV Invitational Boston.
Having experienced the camaraderie that came easily to the all-Australian members, Ormsby is in no doubt that the foursome is going to be a force to watch this week at the stunning Rich Harvest Farm in the outskirts of the Windy City.
Seventh in the inaugural event in London, where Ormsby captained the team, Punch finished in last place in Portland and 11th in Bedminster, before a much-improved showing at Boston a couple of weeks ago. The addition of Smith and Marc Leishman helped the team finish in tied sixth place, and the three-time winner on the Asian Tour is certain they are now trending in the right direction.
“It was great for Team Punch to have a nice boost with a couple of superstar players. They have a huge pedigree. Cam comes in fantastic form and Leish is a fantastic player. So, along with Matt Jones, who is playing good golf, I have three really strong guys as part of my team,” said Ormsby, a two-time winner of the Hong Kong Open.
Wade Ormsby. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Straightaway, you can see Cam is a world-class player. He is right there at the peak of his powers. That just gave us a huge boost. I would have personally liked to play a fraction better than I did. But the game is coming back around now. So hopefully, I can be of more help.”
Ormsby has known Smith for a long time, but even he was left impressed at how he knuckled down and shut off all the noise going around him with his decision to quit the PGA Tour and join the Greg Norman-fronted LIV Golf Series.
“Obviously, he is a few years younger than me, but your paths keep crossing in international golf. We have a lot of similar interests and I have spent a bit of time with him,” said Ormsby, who plays mostly on the Asian and DP World Tour.
“There’s a lot going on around Cam. He is such a huge signing for LIV. So, there is that pressure as well, apart from whatever else good or bad is being said about him. But, I think once he gets inside the ropes and plays golf, he’s still playing tournament golf.
“I wasn’t surprised at all that he showed up and performed straightaway. He is obviously got a lot of good stuff in there. He is a great ball striker, he has got fantastic mental processes going on, and then there is his short game and putting… he is the best in the game there is.
“It’s nice being in the team box when someone’s playing as well as Cam is. It’s always nice to be around such people. There’s a lot of good stuff happening, a lot of good energy coming off them. As a team, we will try to feed off Cam. It’s only good when you’re around guys like that.”
Wade Ormsby. Picture by Thananuwat Srirasant/ Asian Tour.
Smith may be the motivator-in-chief for Team Punch, but Ormsby insists Leishman and Jones are adding tons of value to the team.
“Mattie is the same age as myself and we came through Australian golf at the same time and turned pro. Marc has had an amazing career, and he’s just a really good guy overall. I think all three of them are so down-to-earth, which makes it easy. There are no massive egos in the team, which is fantastic,” explained Ormsby, winner of the 2013 Panasonic Open India – his maiden Asian Tour title.
“It just makes it easy for anyone just to rock up and get along, even though I spend most of my career in Europe and Asia. It’s nice to click straightaway as a team.”
Ormsby played his first tournament on the DP World Tour way back in 2003, and while he is disappointed at the attempts being made to stop LIV Golf players from playing on it, he said he was looking forward to getting back full-time on the Asian Tour and play events back home in Australia.
“We’ve got an amazing new partner in Golf Saudi, and we all know how much they have supported the Asian Tour. I think it’s the most exciting time the Tour has ever seen. I’m just happy to be part of it. I’m happy to be over there a lot more,” said Ormsby.
“And it’s close to home. That’s fantastic for me. Any combination between LIV Golf and the International Series, and the fact that individual events on the Asian Tour continue to become stronger, is a very exciting schedule for me going forward.
“The Asian Tour is going to be high on the priority list for a lot of players around the world to come and play as it continues to evolve into a new, stronger Tour. The International Series is such an exciting addition to the existing Asian Tour. I know it’s going to be an enviable Tour worldwide.
“It’s been nearly 20-odd years I’ve played in Europe, so that’s kind of sad in a way that you’re not gonna go that way, but nothing is forever. There’s always got to be an end. I guess I am lucky that I have got these new opportunities and I’m really excited about it.
“We’re all in different phases of our life. I’ve got a young daughter and I want to be closer to her and see her grow up, but I still want to play world golf. I’m trying to compete at the highest stage I possibly can. I feel like the balance is back in my favour.”
By Olle Nordberg, Contributing Editor – Asian Tour
After playing in the International Series England in Newcastle in early June and a long summer on the road travelling to events such as the LIV Golf Invitational London, the Amateur Championship and U.S. Amateur, Thailand’s teenage phenom Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat will be back on the Asian Tour next week, and ready to tackle the Yeangder TPC, followed by the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, both in Taipei.
“I have definitely missed the Asian Tour and I’m very excited to go to Chinese-Taipei next week,” said the 15-year-old great hope of Thai golf.
“I’ve never been there before, so it will be my first time. I’ve heard from a couple Asian Tour guys that have been there saying the greens and the courses are just very different styles, so I’m very excited to play.”
After Newcastle he went straight from there to the LIV Golf Invitational London at Centurion Club where he was on the same team as Phil Mickelson, and immediately after that he travelled north for the 127th Amateur Championship, played at Royal Lytham & St Annes and St Annes Old Links.
He added: “It was a little tiring. I made the mistake of booking my practice round tee time at eight o’clock in the morning after the LIV event in London and I had to go to Blackpool which is up in the north of England. I got there at like 4am the day of the practice round, so obviously I missed it. I got to the course at nine o’clock in the morning and I had to wait around three or four hours to get a practice round. I only got one practice round in, and yeah, I mean the results showed it. I played eight over the first day and two under the next day, it definitely wasn’t enough.”
US golfer Dustin Johnson (L), Northern Irish golfer Graeme McDowell (C) and Thailand golfer Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat attend a press conference ahead of the forthcoming LIV Golf Invitational Series event at The Centurion Club. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Those rounds meant he fell way short of making the Matchplay knockout rounds but undeterred he was not done with the English summer and played one more event just outside of London in early July.
“I played another event, a Euro Pro Tour event. I just had a little pocket of time for two weeks and there was an event that popped up in north London. So, I played that one, and the only reason I played was for world ranking points, the first place gets like four points and top four gets points. I finished seventh, so for a pro event it’s definitely not bad, but it was a little sad that I only missed out on world ranking points by like two strokes so that hurt a little bit,” he said.
From there he travelled to the U.S. Amateur at Ridgewood Country Club and Arcola Country Club in New Jersey, courses known for their difficulty.
Said the Thai: “The courses were difficult: the rough and the course length and how fast and firm the greens were; basically everything, it was just your average, tough U.S. Amateur courses. Playing the U.S. Amateur definitely was great, it was different to anything I’ve played. I was there for quite a while but didn’t get too many practice rounds in because the courses were closed. Obviously, I missed the cut, but I think it was just like two bad rounds.”
After playing in professional events from the beginning of the year and racking up outstanding results – highlighted by his incredible victory in the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup in Pattaya in April on the Asian Tour which meant he became the male youngest golfer to win on a tour recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking at the age of 15 years and 37 days – he spoke highly about the experience of playing against the best amateurs in the biggest amateur events in the world.
“I mean, they’re definitely really good. Obviously, I’ve been away from amateur golf for a while, so it was good to go back and play a bit. I think I can really say I’m just excited to go back and play next year, because now I know what both of them are like and what to expect; how to play the courses, and how to play in Europe and the U.S.,” he said.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, amateur, of Thailand pictured with the Low Amateur Award on Sunday, November 28, 2021 during the final round of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
After returning home to Thailand from the U.S. he teed it up in the Thailand Open this month on the All Thailand Golf Tour and was tied for the lead after the first two rounds, although he would have to settle for a tied eighth in the end.
“Yes, I was leading after two days but I flopped on day three. Day four was ok but day three was really bad, I couldn’t hole one single putt. But it’s always good to be back home playing the national Open,” he said.
Despite his busy summer schedule, the Thai youngster still has a lot more golf to play before the season comes to a close, and has more demanding schoolwork to worry about before the end of the year.
“It’s just been a pretty busy summer although very fun, I have learned a lot of things. I’ve moved on from the past, but I’m a little more worried about my future than what I was this summer because there are quite a lot of things I need to do before the end of the year,” said Ratchanon.
Following his two weeks in Chinese-Taipei he will play the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok in October, followed by several International Series events on the Asian Tour.
“But what has been stressing me out the most is my physics and economics IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) tests in October and November,” he adds.
“Now that I’m in year 11, IG’s are at the end of this academic year, so definitely getting a lot more serious as well. I’ve been doing a ton of tutoring, but that’s mostly on economics and physics. I know after I finish those tests, it’s going to be seven more subjects that I have to give a lot of my attention to. So, to be honest with you, it’s very hectic and a little overwhelming at times but the school is helping a lot. I still have time to practice. I do study when I have time to study, but golf is still the number one priority.”
The Yeangder TPC tees-off at Linkou International Golf and Country Club on September 22, returning after a three-year hiatus caused by the global pandemic.
Japan’s Kazuki Higa showed just why he is currently ranked the number one player in Japan when he birdied the final two holes to win The 38th Shinhan Donghae Open today at Koma Country Club in Nara, near Osaka.
On a memorable final day at one of Korea’s premier tournaments, he holed a pressure-packed 15-foot birdie putt on the short, driveable par-four 18th to return a six-under-par 65 for a tournament total of 20 under, and a two-shot victory over Tirawat Kaewsiribandit from Thailand, Korean Mingyu Cho and Yonggu Shin from Canada.
Tirawat, who started the day with a three-shot advantage and held a narrow lead for much of the day, closed with a 72 – which featured an incredible albatross – while Cho fired a 66, and Shin a 68.
The event is tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan Tours, and this year marked the first time in its history it had been played in Japan.
Korea’s PGA Tour star Siwoo Kim, playing in the final group, returned a 70, to end three behind the winner, in a tie for fifth, along with the 2019 champion Jbe Kruger from South Africa, who signed off with a best of the day 63.
Higa’s bid for victory came at the very death. Playing in the penultimate group and trailing Tirawat by one with two to play he birdied the par-five 17th to draw level before the under-pressure Thai golfer bogeyed the 16th to fall one behind.
However, Tirawat bravely bounced back with a birdie on the 17th to draw level again before Higa made his brilliant birdie on the last, where he found a greenside bunker from the tee before splashing out to set up his sensational closing putt.
That meant Tirawat needed to make a birdie to force a sudden-death play-off. And after missing the green left with his tee shot he chipped to 10 feet suggesting extra time looked a strong possibility but the 32 year old just missed the birdie putt before also seeing his short par putt slip by.
“I worked so hard during the off season, and it has really paid off,” said Higa, who received a cheque for US$214,650.
“I played well today, and hit some great approach shots, but the putts really were not dropping. But I trusted myself, made a lot of pars, and stayed confident.”
The 27-year-old Okinawan’s latest victory is another landmark moment in a career which continues to go from strength to strength and attract attention. He was victorious on the Asian Development Tour in 2017, the year he turned professional, and won again on that Tour the following year. He tasted victory next on the Japan Golf Tour in 2019 and 2021 before moving to the top of the Japan money list this season with wins at the Kansai Open Golf Championship in April and the BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup in June.
Added Higa: “I am happy to win a tri-sanctioned event and also win Tour cards for three tours. Top-ranked players from each Tour are here, and their game levels are really high. I am standing on the top of the money list [in Japan], and I felt like I was the representative of the Japan Tour, and I managed to win, which made me feel great.
“I was playing in Asia before competing on the Japan Tour, so I am glad to get a Tour card now on the Asian Tour. The Asian Tour is getting bigger.”
Tirawat, also the leader at the halfway mark, experienced the full gamut of emotions today.
A dropped shot on the second hole was not the start he was looking for but to the amazement of those walking with his group and following at home on television, he holed his second shot on the par-five third, using a three-wood from 277 yards. It was the first albatross in three years on the Asian Tour.
But the thrill of that moment was quickly replaced by concern on the following hole, a par three, when he pushed his tee shot into trees on the right and made par with his second ball for a double.
Despite the turbulent start he remained in front until Higa joined him on top of the leaderboard with his birdie on 17.
Said Tirawat: “I wasn’t in position to make birdies today. I just kept getting out of position. I lost my focus too many times, like that par putt on 18th, but I am proud of myself.”
He was attempting to win his second title on the Asian Tour, having claimed the UMA CNS Open Golf Championship in Pakistan in 2018.
Three-time PGA Tour winner Siwoo Kim challenged for much of the day and was many people’s favourite to prevail, but he surprisingly found water on the par-four 14th and made a six before dropping another shot on the next hole.
A brilliant tee shot on 18 to 20 feet, which he holed for a stunning eagle, will have been some consolation for the Korean, who will play in The Presidents Cup later this month.
As well as the action on the golf course today, an important signing ceremony was held which saw officials proudly announced that the prestigious tournament, one of Korea’s flagship tournaments, will be sanctioned with the Asian, Korean and Japan Tour’s for an additional three years, from 2023 to 2025.
The next event on the Asian Tour is the Yeangder TPC at Linkou International Golf and Country Club in Chinese Taipei, from September 22-25.
At an important signing ceremony today at the Shinhan Donghae Open officials proudly announced that the prestigious tournament, one of Korea’s flagship tournaments, will be sanctioned with the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour Organisation and Korean PGA Tour for an additional three years, from 2023 to 2025.
Japan’s Kazuki Higa won the event after a thrilling final round, which was played in Japan for the first time in its history, at Koma Country Club, and is the only tournament tri-sanctioned by the three Tours.
The popular Shinhan Donghae Open first became part of the Asian Tour in 2016, when Indian star Gaganjeet Bhullar was triumphant, and since then it has become an integral part of its schedule.
“The Shinhan Donghae Open is one of the solid, standout pillars of our schedule,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, of the Asian Tour.
“We are truly honoured that the Shinhan Financial Group have chosen to collaborate with us for many more years, which allows us to continue to grow the tournament into a regional property, attract even bigger audiences and further help facilitate the growth of the game in Asia.”
Held annually in Korea since 1981, the Shinhan Donghae Open was jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Korean PGA Tour in 2016 before becoming the first event to be tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan circuits in 2019.
“This week we heard former champion Gaganjeet Bhullar explain that just by being here and seeing the Shinhan Donghae branding on the course inspired him and made him realise just how much the tournament is close to his heart. This speaks volumes about the significance of the tournament, and its partners and organisers.”
It was hosted in Japan this week as Koma was overseen by Shinhan Financial Group’s founder Heuikeon Lee in the 1980s and the impressive venue is a special place for the Group.
Chairman and CEO of Shinhan Financial Group, Yongbyoung Cho said he hopes the tri-sanction agreement will continue the tradition of allowing each Tour player the chance to compete beyond the barriers of their country; in line with the Shinhan Donghae Open’s slogan: “To Continue The Tradition and Open The Future”.
Travel restrictions caused by the global pandemic meant it could only be played as a domestic event in 2020 and 2021, but the tournament, which this week saw some remarkable golf and low scoring, has returned to the international arena with a vengeance.
Thailand’s Tirawat Kaewsiribandit opened up a three-shot lead after the third round of The 38th Shinhan Donghae Open today following a fine five-under-par 66.
Playing some of the best golf of his 12-year professional career he reached 19 under par for the tournament – which is the second lowest 54-hole total of the season.
Korean Siwoo Kim, the event’s marquee player with three wins on the PGA Tour, fired a 67 to sit solo second.
The event is being played in Japan for the first time in its history, at Koma Country Club, in Nara, near Osaka, and is tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan tours.
Canadian Yonggu Shin and Sanghee Lee from Korea both returned 66s and are a further shot back.
Tirawat led after the first two rounds thanks to a pair of sublime 64s and began today in the same impressive manner.
“I started really good today, with four birdies in the first six holes,” said 32-year-old Tirawat, who revealed his nickname is “Oat” because of his love of oatmeal.
Those birdies helped him make the turn in four-under-par 31 before he extended his lead with a birdie on the 13th. He surprisingly dropped his only shot of the day on the par-five 17th but then showed just how confident he is playing this course by making birdie on 18.
Siwoo Kim. Picture courtesy of Korean PGA Tour.
“Tomorrow will be the same game plan and I will try to make as many birdies as I can. I will focus on playing the par fives well as I like them and it’s where you can make your score,” he said.
“I am not thinking about the trophy, I am just thinking about my game and relaxing. I just want to have fun, and I also enjoyed playing with Siwoo Kim. He is a PGA Tour player and I want to learn from him. After playing well today I have more confidence, my all around game was good.”
Despite being relatively unknown Tirawat has won before on the Asian Tour, at 2018 UMA CNS Open Golf Championship in Pakistan, and the year before that he also triumphed in the Betagro All Thailand Championship on the Asian Development Tour.
Siwoo Kim, ranked 75th in the world, will most definitely be his main threat tomorrow.
He got off to an unexpected bad start with bogeys on two and four but showed his class with a five-under-par back nine that included four birdies in a row from the 11th.
Malaysian Ben Leong carded the joint-best round of the day, a 65, and is six behind the leader. He last won on the Asian Tour back at the 2008 Worldwide Selangor Masters and rekindled the kind of magic that saw win that title when he made six birdies in a row on the back nine starting from the 12th.
He said: “On the front nine I thought I played pretty well but couldn’t score but I didn’t let that upset me. I just kept griding along. They say stay patient, and I did. I just tried not to get too involved in the golf game, and just enjoy the company.”
American Todd Baek and Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita both came in with 66s, and Japan’s Kazuki Higa – the current Japan Golf Tour number one – a 70 and are five off the pace.
Defending champion Yoseop Seo from Korea shot 65 and is eight off the lead, while his compatriot Bio Kim, the current leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, returned a 68 and is seven under.
Tirawat Kaewsiribandit carded his second successive seven-under-par 64, helped by two eagles, to take the clubhouse lead in The 38th Shinhan Donghae Open today at Koma Country Club in Nara, Japan, upstaging an exceptional line-up of players from the Asian, Japan and Korean Tours.
The Thai golfer has won once before on the Asian Tour – in the 2018 UMA CNS Open Golf Championship in Pakistan – but is now in uncharted territory in one of the region’s biggest and most prestigious events, moving to 14 under par at the halfway mark.
A 90-minute weather delay at the start of the day meant 32 players were unable to complete round two. Play will resume at 6.50am local time tomorrow.
Japan’s Kazuki Higa, currently ranked number one in Japan, came in with a 63 and is one back, while PGA Tour star Siwoo Kim from Korea, shot a 65 to sit a further stroke behind.
Japan’s Riki Kawamoto also fired a 65 and is 11 under.
First-round leader Richard T. Lee from Canada, who carded a course record 62 yesterday, is 11 under with five holes left.
Siwoo Kim. Picture courtesy Korean PGA.
“I am very excited to maybe play leading group at the weekend,” said Tirawat, also a winner on the Asian Development Tour.
“It is my first time playing this course, it’s great because I like the big greens, which helps me get more confidence. I am enjoying this new experience in the big time.”
He began on tee 10 and quickly raised the bar with eagles on 13 and 17, both par fives. He made four birdies and one bogey in total.
Higa has triumphed twice on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation this year and his fine form was once again on display when he put together a flawless round of eight birdies.
He said: “I am bogey free for two days now, that’s great. The greens are so soft which helps but you must stay out of the rough. I am pleased I finished before it got dark.”
In April he won the Kansai Open Golf Championship, and in June the BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup.
The event’s star attraction Siwoo Kim, a three-time PGA Tour winner, is lurking ominously going into the weekend.
“I just want to concentrate on myself without thinking about the others. I’d like to play the final two days like today and yesterday.”
Defending champion Yoseop Seo from Korea returned a 68 and is five under for the tournament, while his countryman Bio Kim, the current leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, shot 67 and is four under.
Day one of The 38th Shinhan Donghae Open witnessed some remarkably low scoring today with Canadian Richard T. Lee taking the lead with a sensational nine-under-par 62, which is a course-record at Koma Country Club in Nara near Osaka, while Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong returned a 63.
Thailand’s Tirawat Kaewsiribandit was also in rampant form carding a 64, while PGA Tour star Siwoo Kim from Korea and his compatriot Taeho Kim, Filipino Juvic Pagunsan, Japan’s Yuki Furukawa and Americans Seungsu Han and Todd Baek fired 65s.
It’s the first time the tournament, one of Korea’s most prestigious events have been played in Japan, and boasting a purse of KRW1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,050,500) it is being tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan Tours.
Lee, aged 31, won this event in 2017 for one of two victories on the Asian Tour, and despite it being held in a different country he felt right at home from-the-get-go. Stating on the back nine he made four birdies and five on his second half.
Nitithorn Thippong. Picture courtesy of Korean PGA.
He said: “Like the fairways here, you gotta hit fairways, the rough is up, and the greens are actually playing pretty fast, but I like fast greens. It was a bogey free round and I felt I took advantage of the par fives pretty well today.”
Lee is clearly coming into good form as he tied for second in the International Series Singapore last month.
“To be honest I have not had any good results in Japan before, but I have always played well in the Shinhan Donghae Open, which has been kind of funny. I think I just like the atmosphere of this tournament and I think they run it very well,” added Lee.
The previous course record was held by Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino who carded a 63 in the final round of 2019 Kansai Open, on the Japan Tour.
Nitithorn’s undeniable talent and growing reputation as a star of future was on display again today. He is one of only two players to have tasted victory twice this year: in The DGC Open presented by Mastercard and the International Series Singapore.
“I didn’t expect to shoot a score like that, but I drove the ball very good – which is key for the course as the next shot is not very far,” said the 25 year old, who was in the first group out today at 6.50am local time.
“I am really happy, it’s awesome, the course is not that long. Every guy came here for a win, and I will certainly try my best to do that. Yes, I won in Singapore and India, but the past is the past, I want to focus on the present.
Like Lee he started on 10 and was bogey free and birdied five of the last seven holes on the back nine.
Defending champion Yoseop Seo came in with a 69 while current Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Bio Kim from Korea came in with a 71.
Siwoo Kim. Picture courtesy of Korean PGA.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, winner of this event in 2016, carded a 72.
Korean Taehoon Ok, who won the International Series Korea two weeks ago, was forced to withdraw because of a back injury.
It is the first time the tournament has been played on the Asian Tour in three years because of the pandemic.
Gaganjeet Bhullar, one of the most prolific winners on the Asian Tour, will bid to claim his 11th title this week at The 38th Shinhan Donghae Open – a tournament where he has enjoyed success before, in 2016, and which has special meaning to him.
“It was six years ago but it still seems like it was last week,” said the Indian.
“Going back to all my last 10 victories I think the Shinhan Donghae Open was definitely very close to my heart: the reason was I was coming back from a bad patch of two years, including injuries and a lot of adjustments in my golf swing back in the day, so that basically gave me another kick in my career.
“So, looking at all the Shinhan Donghae Open branding this week it brings back all the good memories.”
The Shinhan Donghae Open, is one of Korea’s most prestigious events, and when Bhullar claimed the title, it was played at Bear’s Best Cheongna – the tournament’s home for the past seven years.
However, this week the tournament is being held in Japan for the first time in its history, with Koma Country Club near Osaka playing host.
JAKARTA-INDONESIA – Gaganjeet Bhullar of India pictured after round four with the winner’s trophy on Sunday August 7, 2022 of the Mandiri Indonesia Open 2022 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, Indonesia. The US$500,000 Asian Tour event is staged from August 4-7, 2022. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.
Added Gaganjeet: “I played a practise round yesterday and I would say the conditions are very favourable for my game; rough is still up, greens are still very pure. I have been playing the past few years in Korea and Japan and the goal is to stick to my routine.”
The 34-year-old from Amritser, in the Punjab, was triumphant in the Mandiri Indonesia Open for a record third time in August, for his first victory on the Asian Tour since his win at the 2018 Fiji International. Having struggled with his form over recent seasons while focusing on Europe and battling with a bad dose of Covid at that start of the year, it was a much welcomed return to the winners’ circle.
“I have been working very hard on my swing, my pre-shot routine, and some mental stuff I have been doing on and off the golf course, and that is the result of my input,” he added.
“Winning in Indonesia also gave me a boost. Every time you go out and play well that boosts your career for the next few years and I feel I am riding high on confidence, focusing one shot at a time. I will give 100 per cent this week.”
He is currently in 11th place on the Order of Merit with earnings of US$248,910 having played 10 events. And with a wealth of big money events to come finishing in top spot is a realistic possibility.
Since first playing on the Asian Tour in 2007 his best Merit list finish was fourth in 2018, while he was fifth in both 2012 and 2013.
He has been paired in the first two rounds with Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita and Korean Junggon Hwang.
Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Bio Kim from Korea, and his compatriot Taehoon Ok, who won the International Series Korea two weeks ago, are just two of the big-name players competing this week.
Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong and Sihwan Kim from the United States, the only two players who have won twice this season are also competing, as well as PGA Tour star Siwoo Kim from Korea.
Defending champion Yoseop Seo from Korea is playing, he won last year when the tournament was played solely as a Korean PGA event due to travel restriction caused by COVID-19.
Ganganjeet Bhullar (picture by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images).
It is the first time the prestigious tournament has been played on the Asian Tour in three years because of the pandemic.
Tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan Tours it boasts prizemoney of KRW 1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,050,500).
The Asian Tour Qualifying School will return after a break of nearly two years, giving players from all over the world the opportunity to secure much sought-after playing privileges for the Asian Tour’s 2023 season.
The Asian Tour has seen a recent resurgence with several new highly lucrative tournaments added to its tournament schedule. However, the playing membership has not seen a reshuffle since the 2020 season with members who secured playing rights from that season retaining their status through the end of the 2022 season. The Qualifying School was not staged in 2021 and 2022 because of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The last version of the Asian Tour Qualifying School, held in Thailand in 2020, saw Zimbabwean Benjamin Follett-Smith (main photo) top the class. Korea’s Bio Kim and Taehoon Ok, both winners on Tour this season, as well as South African standout Ian Snyman, also came through the Qualifying School that year.
The Final Qualifying Stage, which will see the top-35 finishers earn their coveted Tour cards, will take place at Lakeview Resort & Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand, from January 18-22; while that will be preceded by five First Stage Qualifying events, including a first in the United States, which will signal the start of Qualifying School.
The United States stage will take place at Oakcreek Country Club in Arizona from November 15-18, 2022, and will mark the first time the Asian Tour has visited the country.
American Austen Truslow won the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2018. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The other four First Qualifying stages will be held on Blue Canyon Country Club’s Canyon Course, on Phuket Island, from December 7-10; Blue Canyon’s Lakes Course from January 4-7; Thana City Country Club in Bangkok from January 11-14; and Springfield Country Club in Hua Hin, also from January 11-14.
Players entering the First Qualifying Stage will be on a first come first served basis, with the top-placed finishers progressing to the Final Stage.
The Final Qualifying Stage will be played over five rounds. The top 140 (and ties) after 36 holes will progress to rounds three and four. The top 70 players (and ties) after 72 holes will play in the pivotal final round, which will be held on January 22. At the conclusion of 90 holes, the top 35 will be ranked accordingly for the 2023 season.
Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour: “The Asian Tour Qualifying School is the gateway to the Asian Tour and a critical component of our platform.
“The fact that we are able to hold the Qualifying School once again after a lengthy break is a strong indicator that the Asian Tour is fully back on track and well and truly in position to follow through with the most exciting period in our history.”
“The Asian Tour is committed to providing a multi-tier platform for professional golfers, with the Qualifying School being an integral part of this,” added Cho.
“So many of our most prominent golfers have been successful at the Qualifying School and have gone on to achieve great things in the game – such as Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (1999) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat (2009), Australian Scott Hend (2007), and American John Catlin (2018). I am sure the next edition of the Qualifying School will see the emergence of more Asian Tour stars of the future.”
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