Published on March 10, 2023

American Dodge Kemmer backed up his opening round eight-under-par 64 with a fine 66 to take the lead in the International Series Thailand today at Black Mountain Golf Club, in Hua Hin.

The 35 year old, impressively out in front on 14 under, holds a two-shot lead from two of the giants of golf in Thailand, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Jazz Janewattananond, who carded 67s, and their countryman Settee Prakongvech, in with a 66.

Australian Zach Murray returned a 66 and is an another stroke back, while Filipino Miguel Tabuena, the joint-overnight leader with Kemmer, fired a 70 and is in a group of players tied sixth on 10 under.

Kemmer is an emerging story. At last year’s season-ending Indonesian Masters in December he agonisingly missed keeping his Asian Tour card by one place on the Order of Merit (OOM), but immediately bounced back with two top-four finishes on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in the ensuing two weeks, which helped him to finish in the top 10 the ADT OOM, which also provides passage on to the Asian Tour.

He said: “[After the Indonesian Masters] I had to turn around the next week and go and play ADT and I did really well those two weeks. I came back nicely, and I was proud of myself, to earn my card from the ADT season.”

The American caught the birdie train again today, making eight and dropping just two shots. He was 15 under with two to play but his final bogey of the day came on his penultimate hole.

“I have been hitting it nicely, struggled on the greens last week, but if I can get a few more of those to fall I will be right in there. It would be great [to win this week], it was tough last year,” said Kemmer, whose best finish on the Asian Tour is third at the Bangladesh Open in 2017.

“The greens were superfast in the practice rounds, they have slowed down a little bit but they are still really good. You have to think your way into the greens, and around the greens. There are no easy two putts, especially above the hole, so it takes a lot of strategy and I enjoy going through that.”

Kiradech, the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion 10 years ago and a three-time winner on Tour, got off to a surprisingly slow start, touring his first nine in event par but ripped through the second half in five under.

“I am very happy with my first two rounds, especially the way I started today quite slow,” said the Thai star.

“My putter was a little cold, couldn’t sink any birdies on the front nine. One single birdie, one three putt. I woke up on the back, birdied five of first six holes, they helped me get back into it.

“I don’t think I am far off from my A game, but to be honest I know I shot good scores over first two rounds, but it’s not my A game out there, I left a couple of strokes out there. I think I know what I have in my pocket, I am playing quite smart, in middle of the green sometimes, which is not normally my game. But I am concentrating on everything and focusing.”

Jazz, the Tour’s number one in 2019, is enjoying performing well on what is his home course and where he says he rarely performs well in tournaments.

“Yeah, pretty happy. I mean, before the tournament I didn’t have much of an expectation, because it’s my home course and I’ve never really performed well, but just changed a lot of my mentality this year. Just take it easy, do whatever, if it comes it comes,” said Jazz, who won last year’s International Series Morocco.

“I feel like every year so far when I play my home course, I take it so seriously. I’m not even like stressed out about the tournament this time, but more like practicing, grinding it out and stuff.

“Just because when I’m at home I feel like I have to practice, and if I don’t practice, I feel like I’m missing out. So, this year, I just take it very easy, didn’t even do much practice and just come out here and chill. And the score kind of perform a lot better than the past year, so maybe going forward I’ll do this.”

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Three-time Asian Tour winner Prom Meesawat is more than at home at this week’s International Series Thailand at Black Mountain Golf Club, here in Hua Hin.

The player nicknamed ‘the Big Dolphin’ is a Hua Hin native, and grew up here under the watchful eye of his famous father Suthep – who in 1991 famously became the first Thai to win the Thailand Open.

“It’s always nice to have a tournament in Thailand and this week especially at my home, I can stay in my own bed, and see family,” said Prom, who carded a first round three-under-par 69 yesterday.

“I live in Bangkok with my wife and kids, but my auntie and my dad are here. It’s the best to be able to play a tournament and then just relax at your own place.”

Prom will have to rely on making the cut today for his wife and children to join him in Hua Hin but expects plenty of support otherwise: “My kids have school so my wife will bring them at the weekend. There are lots of local fans and foreigners too though and I think everyone will be interested.”

Prom, who is one of 44 Thai players teeing up in the 156-man International Series field, is fully aware just what an important role his father played in promoting golf in Thailand with that win a mere 32 years ago.

“At that moment, everyone realised golf was a sport that could be your job and you can make money from it,” he said.

The 38 year old, whose largest paycheck of the past five years came from a top 10 finish in 2022’s International Series Egypt, said of the International Series: “It’s a big opportunity for me as well as younger players.

“It’s not all about the prize money, although of course we are here to win tournaments but it’s also a great chance to play with top international golfers, like LIV players. You can learn a lot from them and it has been a good change for the Asian Tour and we’re very grateful to Golf Saudi for supporting the Asian Tour and bringing us The International Series.”

Among fellow Thai stars in this week’s field are former Asian Tour number one Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who became the first Thai player to play on the PGA Tour in 2018. Prom describes him as ‘a younger brother,’ and is pleased to see him back on the Asian Tour.

“For Thai people, seeing the Thai flag on the PGA Tour when he represented the country there, was big for us. We are a small country and to have a player on the PGA Tour was special.

“It’s nice to see him come back and start on the Asian Tour… that’s his home. It’s also important for the Tour to have a player like him playing.”

At the other end of the spectrum of talent on display this week at the International Series Thailand is the prodigious amateur talent of Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, who won the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup on the Asian Tour in 2022.

A prolific amateur in his own right, also winning a professional tournament before turning to the pro ranks – something he would be convinced to do by three-time Major winner Vijay Singh, a friend of his father – Prom, with a glint in his eye, suggested now is the time for TK to seek advice from his professional peers.

“Right now, I’m happy giving him advice because he’s not my competition!” he said, before adding on a more serious note: “I can see that he’s working hard and his family supports him very well. He’s the next Thai generation for sure and we put a lot of hopes on him to inspire the generation after him.”

 

Published on March 9, 2023

The International Series has once again chosen the Bright Dawn Foundation to be the benefactor of its CSR initiative in Thailand as competition gets under way at Black Mountain Golf Club today.

The Thai children’s charity has now received US$50,000 from The International Series, which launched in Thailand in 2022, with this year’s cheque handed over by the Asian Tour’s Commissioner & CEO, Cho Minn Thant.

Bright Dawn’s mission is to improve the lives of low-income Thai children around rural Hua Hin through the provision of healthcare and educational support to the primary schools they attend.

Donny Nimmo, CEO, Bright Dawn Foundation, said: “Our gratitude towards everyone involved in selecting us as beneficiaries cannot be overstated – this is a significant sum that will vastly improve the lives of the children in our care. Getting this money from the Asian Tour is honestly a godsend.”

Set up 13 years ago, the charity now supports 700 children across five schools. This week’s donation of US$25,000 will support ongoing healthcare and education programs, including annual medicals and provision of eye tests and glasses to those who need them.

The educational program is specifically focused around practical skills for use in later life, and includes speaking and reading in English and Thai, plus the provision of computers for IT skills including coding.

Nimmo added: “We are looking more at agriculture, cradle to grave, with market gardens and a fishpond. They grow fruit and vegetables, which the kids see the lifespan of from planting through to being served in the school canteens. Anything we think can be used as a practical vocational skill.”

The foundation is also now involved in what it calls ‘special projects’, building libraries, reading rooms, first aid rooms, outdoor gyms and classrooms, where necessary, at each of the schools.

The International Series comprises of 10 enhanced Asian Tour events at world class venues, featuring elevated prize funds, and welcoming golfing talent from every continent and tour.

Committed to the communities of the places it visits, The International Series’ CSR initiative offers US$25,000 to a broad range of initiatives targeting education, environmental sustainability, golf development programs, and the well-being of communities in the short and long term.

The ground-breaking series will visit a further seven countries following Thailand, with its aim to donate to local causes to help further the development of each region.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour, said: “It’s hugely important for us at the Asian Tour and The International Series to be able to contribute to the communities that support us.

“The Asian Tour has been coming to Black Mountain for the last decade. In fact the first tournament here was in 2009. We visit Hua Hin on a regular basis. We have several tournaments per year here, we host qualifying school here and to give back to the community that supports us so much over the years is fantastic.

“It’s really good for us to visit the school and see what they do with our own two eyes.  To see the kids in the school in the playground, learning how to use computers, seeing the facilities that have been provided through the Bright Dawn Foundation is remarkable. It’s a great initiative and it’s great for us to be here.”

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Filipino Miguel Tabuena and Dodge Kemmer from the United States enjoyed a brilliant start to the International Series Thailand today carding eight-under-par 64s to take the lead on day one.

The duo lead from Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Jazz Janewattananond who fired 65s at Black Mountain Golf Club, in Hua Hin.

Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, American Turk Pettit, Andrew Dodt from Australia, Korean Bio Kim and Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, Danthai Boonma, Ekpharit Wu, and Settee Prakongvech, all came in with 66s.

The US$2 million event is the fifth event of the season on the Asian Tour, and third International Series tournament.

Last year Tabuena endured an uncharacteristically poor season and only just retained his Tour card. The top 70 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit kept their cards and Tabuena finished 70^th, exactly US$71.89 ahead of none other than Kemmer, in 71^st position.

But he has returned with a vengeance this year and finished in the top 15 in his last two events on Tour, the International Series tournaments in Oman and Qatar.

“It is a bit of a long story, I didn’t play too well last year,” said the 28 year old.

“I had some time off, but I was lucky enough to keep my card by about 50 dollars, I was the last person to get in, and I told myself that is never going to happen again.

“I worked really hard during the off season, and I guess it is showing a bit. I finished 13^th in Oman and top 10 in Qatar. The game has been there, even back home. I am just glad it’s coming together.”

He made four birdies on each nine including one on the final hole.

He added: “The course is pretty gettable in the morning. I was lucky enough to get off to a hot start. I was four under after six. I actually left a couple of putts out there, mis-read two of them. I was lucky enough to finish with a birdie on the last. Can’t complain shooting 64.”

The Filipino’s fine round could not have come at a better time as he was watched all the way by his family.

“My whole family is here, finally, it has been a few years. It’s just been my wife for the past couple of tournaments, but I am very, very grateful to have my dad here, my mum, brother and sister,” said Tabuena, who last victory came in 2018 at the Queen’s Cup, also here in Thailand.

Kemmer made up for not keeping his card via the Merit list by earning it through a top 10 finish on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit.

“Kind of a slow start, got a lot of chances and took a while to figure out the greens,” said Kemmer, who played the back nine in six-under-par 30 which included a three putt on 18 for a par.

“I turned in two under and then started hitting my wedges pretty close, a bunch of them within four or five feet, that took some of the guess work out of the greens.

“I will try and do better tomorrow, keep swinging aggressively and maybe learn a little bit more about the greens and make even more putts.”

The American’s good season on the ADT was highlighted by victory in the Gurugram Classic in India in April.

He added: “I had great season on ADT, won once with a bunch of top fives, never quite got it going on the Asian Tour. So I knew it was in there, been hitting it nicely this year. Great to get off to a good start.”

As expected Kiradech, looking for his first win in five years, has made a strong start.

“Opening round, one stroke behind, seven under, always great to start that way,” said Kiradech, who missed a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-five 18^th having hit a brilliant second shot using his three wood 300 yards.

“I am striking the ball much better. I am working with my new trainer, my swing coach Mike Walker, I think we are working it the right way. I just need one good week to get everything together. And hopefully my body is strong enough to play these next four days. I have played with an injury a lot over the past three years, hurt my right knee, my left hip, it just popped up.”

ENDS

Published on March 8, 2023

Andy Ogletree, current leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM), has offered a glimpse of the mindset that has allowed him to finally fulfil his potential in the professional game with two International Series victories.

After an exceptional amateur career, the American struggled after turning professional in 2020, partly through injury and a lack of playing opportunities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he remained undaunted about the task at hand.

“There wasn’t outside pressure, I just have high expectations for myself,” said Ogletree, who tees-off in the International Series Thailand tomorrow at Black Mountain Golf Club, also leading the International Series OOM.

“I believe I want to be one of the best players in the world, that’s the expectation I have and that’s the standard I set for myself. I don’t think I try to live up to anyone else’s expectations but if I can live up to mine I am doing pretty good.”

It’s an impressive outlook and one that helped guide him to victory in the International Series Egypt last November, which was his first professional victory, and the International Series Qatar last month. Both were convincing victories: he won the former by four, and the latter by three.

“I am in good form, my confidence is super high right now after Qatar,” adds the 24-year-old Mississippian, a former Georgia Tech college golf star who reached the pinnacle of the amateur game in 2019 when he won the US Amateur, and that same year was part of the victorious United States team at the Walker Cup.

“The goal is to win every week. I wouldn’t come here unless I had a chance to do that.”

It was in August last year that he feels the signs were there that a first victory was not far off.

“I had been playing well for a while, but I was still getting into tournament form. I had taken a few months off due to some injuries after LIV and then I made the cut in Singapore in August and had a chance to win the week after on the back nine in Korea, so I knew after Korea my golf game was getting to a point where I was contending and had chances to win.”

His two victories have been complemented by two other top 10s this year helping to start a season on the Asian Tour that could potentially be life changing, although once again and despite this he remains level headed.

Adds the American: “I wouldn’t say my life has changed at all, still wake up and do the same thing. I am just playing a lot better golf.”

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Former Asian Tour number one Kiradech Aphibarnrat feels this week’s International Series Thailand, at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, could help to re-ignite his career with everything working in his favour.

Without a win in five years, he is hoping that competing on home soil, at a venue where he has won before, surrounded by family and friends, and on the Tour where it all began for him, will provide the much-needed inspiration he is looking for.

“This week is very special,” said the 33 year old.

“Playing in front of my family, all my fans coming over to support, being with my friends on tour – I really want to win this week. I’m going to try as hard as I can to get the job done.

“I feel this week is quite important. It might be a key to bringing me back to where I belong, help build my confidence. I don’t think I’m far off my A game. This title might be a big turning point.”

Kiradech Aphibarnrat is in search of his first win in five years. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Winning became a habit for Kiradech after he turned professional in 2008 – he has triumphed three times on the Asian Tour and four on the DP World Tour – and in 2018 he became the first player from his country to secure a card on the PGA Tour.

However, his career has stalled since then with his last victory on one of the game’s main Tour’s coming at the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth in 2018, an event co-sanctioned by Asia, Australasia and Europe.

He adds: “This Tour is where I belong. I’ve played international golf events worldwide, but I started in Asia. Every time I come back, even when not on my A game I find it more comfortable playing here.

“I have a lot of good friends here in the field – I feel like I’m back home and I enjoy playing. The Asian Tour staff too – I’m like a kid when I come back to this tour – we’re all family and friends.”

Kiradech is also a fan of Black Mountain, where he won the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation event in 2015 on the Asian Development Tour: “I have played Black Mountain twice in events – I think I finished one shot off a playoff in one, so top three, and the other I won. So, that’s a good record. The holes at Black Mountain really suits my eye and I think I know this golf course well enough to play around here.”

It was 10 years ago that he won the Asian Tour Order of Merit – the year he claimed the Maybank Malaysian Open, while his first victory on the Asian Tour came at the Sail Open in India in 2011.

One of the friends he is particularly happy to be hanging out with here is fellow Tour star Prom Meesawat, whose hometown is Hua Hin.

“We shared a room at the International Series Morocco and he wasn’t quite happy with his game but he said to me: ‘You know, bro, this is my best week of the year. It’s my happiest week,” said Kiradech, who finished tied for fifth in Morocco last November in what was his first International Series event.

The Thai star won at Black Mountain in 2015. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“Prom and I grew up together. Same coach, same schools but we hadn’t spent a lot of time together. To do so was fantastic. Neither of us had our A games but we understand each other quite well and push each other the whole time. We don’t want to let each other down.

“We spend a lot of time together, sharing rooms, eating together, etc. – that’s when I feel happiest.”

And while the Thai star still has ambitions to succeed on the world stage, being successful on the Asian Tour has once again become a priority.

“I changed my mind around, I want to come back to Asia and play where I feel comfortable. I want to build up my confidence and talent – that’s what I am looking forward to,” he said.

“Although my schedule isn’t set for the year, I will try to play as much Asian Tour as I can.”

He also acknowledges the need for Asian Tour members to travel and embrace The International Series philosophy to play globally.

“The more players can get experience the better. You need to experience different types of conditions, different types of grass and different types of weather,” said Kiradech.

“Everything can change, and you see a lot of Asian Tour players playing Majors and big events but with little success because we only play once or twice a year. We don’t get used to the grass or the cold weather.

“It’s definitely a good way to build a golfer to play at the highest level in the world.”

Published on March 6, 2023

Close House, a premier golf destination in the North-East of England with a strong affiliation to one of the country’s greatest golfers Lee Westwood, will host this year’s International Series England and ensure another world-class venue will feature on The International Series schedule.

The US$2 million tournament will be played from August 17-20 and represents the fifth stop on The International Series in 2023.

The International Series England made its debut last summer, in the same region, and was a landmark event for the International Series and Asian Tour as it marked the first time the Tour had staged an event in the United Kingdom.

Close House Managing Director, Jonathan Lupton, said: “Welcoming The International Series back to Northumberland for a second consecutive year is an exciting development.

“Having had the pleasure to visit the International Series Oman in February, it was fantastic to see the growth of the Series over the last year and we’re looking forward to working closely with the Asian Tour to create a memorable event in England.”

The Scott Macpherson-designed Lee Westwood Colt Course will be used for the tournament. The highly rated par-71 layout measures just under 7,000 yards, and incorporates historical features throughout, including ha-ha walls and ancient woodland. It is one of two courses at Close House, with the other being the Lee Westwood Filly course.

“I am sure that the players will relish the challenge of the Lee Westwood Colt Course along with enjoying a very warm welcome from the members and guests,” said Close House owner, Sir Graham Wylie.

“The people of the North-East are extremely passionate about sport and to host another world class event in the region is a huge honour.”

The International Series was launched last year through a historic investment by LIV Golf that created a premier level of events to develop the next generation of stars and offer unprecedented pathways to top competition in the LIV Golf League. The ground-breaking initiative sits with the Asian Tour schedule and saw seven International Series events staged last season across seven countries in three continents.

“The Asian Tour is excited to be returning to Newcastle for the International Series England. We enjoyed a very successful event there last June, which marked the Tour’s first trip to the United Kingdom,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.

“To be able to stage the tournament this year at Close House, a fantastic venue that has such strong ties with Lee Westwood – a nine-time winner on the Asian Tour – adds an exciting new dimension to the tournament and provides another great opportunity for our membership.”

“We thank Close House for making this possible and look forward to another trip to the North of England, which, as we learned in 2022, is an incredible region for golf.”

A strong field will once again make the trip to Newcastle hoping to emulate Scott Vincent’s win which was the start of a brilliant season for the Zimbabwean that culminated in him winning the International Series Order of Merit and a place in the LIV Golf League in 2023.

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Published on March 5, 2023

Australian Brendan Jones drew upon his wealth of experience to edge ahead of a packed leaderboard and win the 102nd New Zealand Open presented by SKY SPORT today at Millbrook Resort, in Queenstown.

The 49 year old, a 15-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, shot a closing five-under-par 66, to finish on 18 under and win by three from Australian John Lyras (64), New Zealand’s Ben Campbell (66), Korea’s Jaewoong Eom (67) and Tomoyo Ikemura (68) from Japan.

Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul (69) was one of six players to finish one stroke back in a tie for sixth.

It is Jones’ first victory in four years and marked the first time he has triumphed on the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia, despite a glittering 24-year professional career.

“This is just incredible. I’ve been supporting this event for many years and I’ve always said to myself as long as my bum is pointing to the ground, I’ll never win it,” said Jones.

“I don’t know what to think. When you are out there playing you aren’t thinking about winning, you are just thinking about playing. I hit a lot of good shots through the middle of the round, made some clutch par saves on a few of the holes coming in.”

Brendan Jones. (Picture by photosport.nz).

Jones said he hit “the two best shots of my life” to make vital birdies down the stretch.

Red hot golf was the order of the day despite the surrounding snow-capped peaks that are such an imposing feature in Queenstown.

Multiple players, including Jones, were tied on 15 under over the closing holes but he pulled one ahead with a birdie on 14, went two in front after another gain on the following hole, before opening-up a three-shot lead that would remain with a bird on the 17^th.

He had a minor scare on 17, a par five, when he blocked his second shot right, but his ball kicked off a bank and landed safely in a green side bunker, from where he splashed out to four feet.

Jones started the final round four behind overnight leader Shae Wools-Cobb from Australia and played in the penultimate group. Wools-Cobb struggled on the final day carding a 78 to finish equal 26^th.

Asian Tour regular Campbell, whose home club is Millbrook Resort and who was part of a dramatic play-off here before finishing runner-up to countryman Michael Hendry in 2017, was in the hunt but stumbled with a double-bogey on the 15^th before birdies on the next two holes.

“I really wanted to shoot eight under today. I thought if I got to 18 under it would be a good score. I just had that in mind – Jonesy is a very good finisher and you know he isn’t going to go backwards too fast. Whether I pushed a little too hard – it is what it is,” he said.

Lyras and Eom are both graduates from this year’s Asian Tour Qualifying School and have made the ideal start to their season while for Gunn it was yet another fine week after his second-place finish in the International Series Qatar two weeks ago

The Thai star missed birdie opportunities on 16 and 18 and an eagle chance on 17.

“It’s been an incredible week. To follow up my second place finish in Qatar with a top finish here validates I am going in the right direction,” said Gunn, who was one of 33 Asian Tour members to make the cut this week, in an event joint-sanctioned by Asia and Australasia, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.

Gunn Charoenkul. (Picture by photosport.nz).

“And it’s good to be heading home for the International Series Thailand in good form with an opportunity to do well there.”

The Asian Tour heads to the International Series Thailand next week.  The US$2 million event is being played at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin and is the third International Series event of the season, and the fifth stop on the Asian Tour.

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Teenager Chen Guxin may not have had the finish he was hoping for in the final round of the New Zealand Open presented by SKY SPORT today, but the Chinese golfer once again showed that he is a player to be on the lookout for.

Chen closed with a four-over-par 75 on the Coronet Course at Millbrook Resort having impressed in the earlier rounds shooting 67 and 68, before a 73.

Remarkably, he played the first round with a set of borrowed clubs, as his didn’t arrive until late Thursday, and at the halfway mark he was tied for 12th.

“Not having my own clubs on the first day, I think it made me concentrate more,” said the 19 year old, from Hainan Island in China.

“Today I just hit too many bad shots but those first two rounds were some of my best at this level.”

Considering it is his first time playing in New Zealand it is a commendable performance for a player who rose to prominence on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) last year with two victories that helped him into fifth place on the ADT Order of Merit.

He secured his Asian Tour card because of that as the top-10 on the Merit list earn playing privileges for the main tour.

Because of strict travel restrictions in China due to the pandemic Chen has not been home in over a year.

He said: “I have been mainly staying in Thailand and Indonesia as they have visa on arrival.”

The promising young player will compete in the International Series Thailand at Black Mountain next week and may head home to Hainan after that.

His victory in the first of those ADT wins last year, the Blue Canyon Classic on Phuket Island, in Thailand, meant he became the first player from China to win on the ADT.

“I had an amazing year playing that Tour, my goal was to get my Asian Tour card, and I was so happy to do that and be here now,” he said.

He second win came at the BRG Open Golf Championship in Vietnam,  allowed him to add the two ADT wins to the two events he claimed on the China Tour the year before.

“I am looking forward to playing the International Series Thailand, I was a reserve last year and played some practice rounds but didn’t get in. I am playing well and will try and play all four rounds next week well, not just two like this week,” said Chen.

He finished New Zealand’s national Open two under, some distance from the top of the leaderboard but he showed enough quality to suggest trips to this part of the world in the future will be more successful.