Joohyung Kim claimed The Singapore International today in a gripping sudden-death play-off against Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan at Tanah Merah Country Club.

Korea’s 19-year-old prodigious talent holed a pressure-packed 14-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole, on the Tampines Course’s daunting par-five 18th, before Rattanon missed his birdie attempt from eight feet.

The victory also saw Kim, who earned a cheque for US$180,000, overtake Australian Wade Ormsby on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with one more event remaining this season, next week’s SMBC Singapore Open.

SINGAPORE- Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand pictured during round four, Sunday January 16, 2022, at The Singapore International golf event at Tanah Merah Country Club, (Tampines Course). The US$1 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Kim and Rattanon, playing together in the final pairing, had finished the tournament tied on four under, after Kim closed with a 70 and Rattanon 72, setting the stage for a gripping sudden-death play-off.

Thailand’s amateur star Ratchanon Chantananuwat, aged just 14 years old, was in contention for much of the day, making it a battle of the teenagers, took sole possession of third when he returned a 69 to finish two shots shy of the play-off.

For the fourth day in a row, strong winds swept the challenging Tampines Course, but Kim handled conditions impressively showing maturity beyond his years.

SINGAPORE- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 14 yr old amateur of Thailand pictured during round four, Sunday January 16, 2022, at The Singapore International golf event at Tanah Merah Country Club, (Tampines Course). The US$1 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

This was his second success on the Asian Tour, following his win in the 2019 Panasonic Open in India and when asked which win was the hardest, he said: “Has to be this one. Just because it’s a tough golf course you know, all the players played their heart out. I’m just very lucky to be on top. It was a grind today. I think it was a lot harder than the first one but definitely glad I finished on top.”

He had looked to be on course to take the title in more comfortable fashion and held a one-shot lead playing the final hole in normal time, but Rattanon made an eight-foot birdie after a brilliant chip from behind the green while the Korean took two to get out of the greenside bunker, before making a tense par putt from three feet to force the tournament into a sudden-death play-off.

It was a remarkable turn of events that lead to the gripping sudden-death play-off as the Korean was two ahead with two to play but found trouble with his second shot on 17. He pushed his approach right into a penalty area next to a lake, took a drop, chipped to 15 feet and bravely made a 15 footer for bogey.

“To be honest, I was walking down the fairway on that shot [on 17], to that pin. I thought I had this under control and just didn’t play safe enough,” said Kim.
“I played aggressive the whole day and I felt like sticking to the game plan was the right choice. I took the longer club and just got lazy on it, leaked it right but had a great up and down, you know, I just told myself to give myself a chance and yeah, it all worked out.”

Rattanon was also in trouble on 17 but made a brilliant up and down from the greenside bunker for par before the drama unfolded on the last.

SINGAPORE- Joohyung Kim of Korea and Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand pictured during round four, Sunday January 16, 2022, at The Singapore International golf event at Tanah Merah Country Club, (Tampines Course). The US$1 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He was also trying to win his second title on Tour, after his success in the 2017 Thailand Open, and had held the lead after the first and second days.

Ratchanon, better known as “TK”, was attempting to become the youngest winner on one of the world’s main Tours, aged 14 years, three months, four days.

He would have bettered the mark set by his countrywoman Atthaya Thitikul, who won the 2017 Ladies European Thailand Open when she was 14 years, four months, 19 days.

However, it was not meant to be as despite going out in five-under-par 31, he came back in three over which included a double on 17.

“People will look at those scores online, see those dropped shots, and think I played badly but I didn’t. I was trying so hard and playing well,” said the youngster, who made a 12 footer for birdie on 18.

Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan maintained his lead in The Singapore International today at Tanah Merah Country Club, putting himself in position to try and land his second title on the Asian Tour.

The 27 year old returned a third round one-over-par 73 on the Tampines Course for a two-shot advantage over Korean teenager Joohyung Kim, who returned a 69, on another day of strong winds.

India’s Chikkarangappa S., in with a 70, is in third place three behind the leader – in the penultimate event of the 2020-21 season.

Thailand’s 14-year-old amateur star Ratchanon Chantananuwat, who was two behind the leader at the start of the day, slipped back with a 76 and is five off the pace.

Rattanon Wannasrichan, winner of the 2017 Thailand Open, overcame nerves over the opening holes to stay in front and set up one of the most important days of his career tomorrow.

“I was really nervous in the beginning, but I calmed myself down by singing a Thai song in my mind and by talking to my caddie,” said the Thai golfer, who spent much of last year playing on the secondary circuit in Japan.

“As I keep saying, the course is so hard, everyone feels like that. But it is a good experience for me. I just have to take it shot by shot tomorrow.”

Bogeys on two, nine and 11 suggested it was not going to be Rattanon’s day, but he rallied with birdies on 12 and 18.

For the second day in a row Ratchanon Chantananuwat reached the brutal 626-yard par-five 18th in two but unlike yesterday his eagle putt slipped past the cup.

SINGAPORE- Jooyhung Kim of Korea pictured during round three, Saturday January 15, 2022, at The Singapore International golf event at Tanah Merah Country Club, (Tampines Course). The US$1 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He said: “It’s so hard to be aggressive here just because of the conditions, obviously you see the scores … you shoot even par, you’re jumping up. So, play aggressive when I can but just try to play as conservative as I can, if possible. That’ll be the game plan.”

In 2019 after earning a battlefield promotion from the Asian Development Tour by claiming three events, he made an instant impact by winning in just his third start on the Asian Tour at the Panasonic Open in India.

Ratchanon, nicknamed “TK”, once again started impressively and was in the mix until a double-bogey on 11 was followed by three bogies in the last six holes.

SINGAPORE- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 14 yr old amateur of Thailand pictured during round three, Saturday January 15, 2022, at The Singapore International golf event at Tanah Merah Country Club, (Tampines Course). The US$1 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“Hole 11 just unsettled me,” said Ratchanon Chantananuwat.

“I should have not let that happen. It’s disappointing but at least I will be in the penultimate group tomorrow which has its advantages.”

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, also carded a 76 and in joint 10th, eight behind Rattanon.

Wade Ormsby, the current leader of the Merit list, was another to card 76 and is 10 off the pace.

SINGAPORE- Chikkarangapa S. of India pictured during round three, Saturday January 15, 2022, at The Singapore International golf event at Tanah Merah Country Club, (Tampines Course). The US$1 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan sensationally eagled the 626-yard par-five 18th to take the lead after the second round at The Singapore International today at Tanah Merah Country Club.

The 26 year old fired a six-under-par 66 for a two-shot lead, on five under, over Ratchanon Chantananuwat, Thailand’s 14-year-old amateur golf sensation, and India’s Khalin Joshi.

Ratchanon, nicknamed “TK”, also returned a 66 while first-round leader Joshi carded a 74.

The US$1million tournament is the second from last event on the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 season.

On another difficult day in strong winds on an exacting Tampines Course, Rattanon Wannasrichan took some of the attention away from headline grabbing Ratchanon with his brilliant finish.

“The 18th was playing downwind. My second shot was with a three wood, it was a low cut. I was just hoping for a good shot, and it finished 10 feet away. It was a little bit lucky,” said Rattanon Wannasrichan, whose sole Asian Tour victory came in the 2017 Thailand Open.

“Today I played very well. My shots were very good. I am super happy. I had one bogey and it was a three putt. Every hole was so good. This course is so difficult, very, very difficult and windy. I am super surprised because this course is so hard.”

Ratchanon, who is playing in his first professional event overseas, shot 75 yesterday and complained of feeling unwell but was thrilled to get himself back in contention today.

“Yesterday I was just sick, I got heat stroke since Wednesday. I was sneezing quite a lot on the golf course, and I played 18 and went to the range for an hour and half and that was a bit too much,” he said.

“It was hot, and I always get sick if it’s too hot. I was sneezing so much and some of the holes I could barely open my eyes when I was walking. And I was so hungry as well: I had an apple, a banana, two 100plus and two chocolate bars through seven holes. But I had some medicine and slept late night and played better today.

“And it’s not just the score. I am just really happy with the way I am playing because it’s the first time I have played a course this hard.”

Said Joshi: “My putting wasn’t good today. It wasn’t a good day on the greens for me. I struggled with the putter but overall, I am happy with the way I’m playing. Obviously, it was tough out there. It’s not going to be easy. The winds were up. I felt like I should have capitalised more earlier in the day because it wasn’t as windy as now. But overall, I’m in a good position and just looking forward to the next two days.”

Filipino Angelo Que and Paul Peterson from the United States returned rounds of 71 and 73 respectively to sit at one under for the tournament.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, finished in solo possession of sixth place on level par after a 73.

Wade Ormsby, the current leader of the Merit list, is in a tie for 10th on two over following a 74.

The Australian is not playing in next week’s season-ending SMBC Singapore Open so needs a strong finish over the weekend to hold on to top spot on the Merit list with a host of leading players chasing him.

Singapore Open Amateur champion Ryan Ang, helped by an eagle on his penultimate hole, made it through to the weekend after firing a 73 to finish five over.

Singapore’s Mitchell Slorach, Abdul Hadi and Koh Dengshan also survived the halfway cut which was made at seven over.

India’s Khalin Joshi overcame strong winds and a demanding yet impressive golf course to claim the first-round lead in The Singapore International today at Tanah Merah Country Club.

Khalin Joshi shot a brave five-under-par 67 on the Tampines Course, ahead of Englishman William Harrold who finished in second place after a 69 in the US$1 million event, which is the penultimate tournament of the 2020-21 season on the Asian Tour.

India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu and American Paul Peterson carded 70, while Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Pavit Tangkamoprasert, Chan Shih-chang from Chinese-Taipei plus South African Mathiam Keyser returned 71.

Australian Wade Ormsby, the current leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, was in a large group of players who fired 72.

Scores were high as the field battled wind speeds that reached 35km per hour, but Joshi was undeterred as he nailed seven birdies and dropped just two shots.

“It was obviously a very challenging golf course to start off with; it’s long, it’s windy and the flags were all tough, so it wasn’t very easy, greens are firm,” said Khalin Joshi, who has won once before on the Asian Tour, the 2018 Panasonic Open India.

“So, I’m just very pleased with the way I’m playing and with the way my round went today. Hopefully we can continue with the way I’m playing and see what happens at the end of the week.”

The Indian will have enjoyed his first day success even more as he has family in Singapore including his grandmother, sister and uncle. He’s been visiting the country since he was a child.

Added Khalin Joshi: “It’s been a while since I’ve been leading on the Asian Tour. It’s obviously feeling very good. But it’s a four-day tournament, so you know, there’s a long way to go still. Obviously, it’s a challenging golf course, everybody is going to make mistakes. The key is to stay patient and whenever you have the chance to capitalise, whenever you have chances to make birdies to capitalise, and you know, just enjoy the set because it’s going to be a long week for sure.”

SINGAPORE- William Harrold of England pictured during round one, Thursday January 13, 2022, at The Singapore International golf event at Tanah Merah Country Club, (Tampines Course). The US$1 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Journeyman tour pro Harrold – who played on the EuroPro Tour last year – made an eagle, four birdies and three bogeys to take the clubhouse lead in the morning session.

“It’s a really hard round! Fast and windy obviously,” said Harrold.

“I hadn’t played much golf. I haven’t played on the Asian Tour for ages, and this is a big event, so it just got into my head a little. I have been playing quite good last year, I was playing in England. And I have tended to play reasonably well when I have played on the Asian Tour. I was really happy just to get in. I think I’m the last man on the field, I got in on Tuesday last week, sorted out the paperwork quickly. For the first time in a long time, I’m just happy to be here.”

The 34 year old much travelled golfer turned professional in 2012 and claimed a title on the MENA Tour that year and won the Belgian Challenge Open on Europe’s Challenge Tour two years later.

He played on the Asian Tour in 2017 and 2018 and finished runner-up twice on the Asian Development Tour in 2017. He just missed securing his Asian Tour card at Qualifying School in 2020.

SINGAPORE- L-R – Wade Orsmby of Australia and Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand pictured together on the 17th fairway during round one, Thursday January 13, 2022, at The Singapore International golf event at Tanah Merah Country Club, (Tampines Course). The US$1 million Asian Tour event is being staged January 13-16, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Jazz, coming off a five-week break, was content with his round after birdieing his final two holes.

He said: “It was pretty good. I was a bit rusty on the front nine and holed a couple of good putts but missed some really easy ones as well. All in all, it was a pretty good round on a tough Tampines course.

“I think we only had one hole today without the wind. But I think we are playing the same condition as the afternoon – it’s pretty tough.”

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Gavin Green from Malaysia are back in action this week after a much-needed break following a long and grueling 2021 that left them both exhausted.

The Singapore International at Tanah Merah Country Club, being played on the Club’s Tampines Course, is the penultimate event of the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 season, and for both players the US$1 million tournament is a chance to evaluate their games ahead of another important year in their young careers.

Said Jazz: “This is my first event of the year, I had a long break. Didn’t touch the golf clubs for 20 days so I’m pretty much trying to get back on track, get back into the groove. It’s [The Singapore International] almost like a warm-up event but hopefully I can create some positive results to move forward.”

Jazz Janewattananond and Gavin Green both competed in the two-leg Asian Tour Phuket Series at the end of last year before taking five-weeks off.

“[At the end of 2021] I felt like my physical ability was not that tired but mentally I was gone,” added Jazz.

“I couldn’t think, I was on the road for a year and a half. With no news of Thailand opening up, I didn’t miss home at all but once they said Thailand was going to do the test and go scheme, it finally clicked that I actually wanted to go home, and I was feeling homesick. So once I arrived in Thailand, my mind wasn’t on golf, so it was good to kind of get away from it.”

Jazz Janewattananond is determined to rediscover the form that saw him win the 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit title, with four victories, and get back into the top-50 in the world but says the Tampines Course ‒ which was re-opened in 2019 after renovations ‒ is an unexpected and difficult challenge to start the year.

He said: “I played the Pro Am yesterday and have to say I found five to six really long holes which I didn’t expect, and this golf course is a beast. It’s built on a very big property. So, I’m looking forward to playing it.”

“I feel stronger now,” said Green ‒ the 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner.

“At least I feel stronger. I was so weak by the fifth month that I was out, and I was out for seven and a half months. By the fourth/fifth month, I was done. I was just done, and it was tough. But I still gave it my best shot as good as I could.”

The 28 year old struggled with his form last year playing in Europe.

“[My game was] very disappointing. I was obviously very hard on myself. As a golfer, it was hard to accept it, that it was that bad. But then again, I’ve had good people around me – my parents, my friends, my coach, we’ve always talked about it. It’s part of the game. You just kind of learn to live with it, learn from it and when it happens again, which it will at some point, just bounce back quicker, don’t dwell on it so much. And I feel like this break was huge. I just feel so much happier now playing golf again.”

Green is also competing in next week’s SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club ‒ the final event of the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 season.

Korean teenager Joohyung Kim, one of the most exciting young players in world golf, is facing two of the most important weeks of his fledgling career as he bids to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit title.

The 19-year-old star in the making competes in The Singapore International, which starts Thursday at Tanah Merah Country Club, and next week’s 2020-21 season-ending SMBC Singapore Open sitting in third place on the Merit list but with every chance of reaching the summit first.

Australian Wade Ormsby leads the Merit list, while Phachara Khwongwatmai from Thailand is second, but Kim is just over US$30,000 behind Ormsby.

“It’s a great chance [to win the Order of Merit]. Two big events, two last big events so hopefully I’ll get a chance this week and play well enough to give me a chance next week as well,” said Kim.

The Korean is the highest ranked player on the Official World Golf Ranking in the field in 132nd place and finished joint second and equal seventh in the two Asian Tour events played in Phuket at the end of last year that preceded this Singapore swing.

“I guess I have just been keeping the competitive fire. I’ve played a lot of events last year and I just kept on playing and I worked hard on my game, and I knew my game really well, so hopefully I can do that second and top 10 again these two weeks,” he added.

Joohyung Kim hit the headlines in 2019 when after earning a battlefield promotion from the Asian Development Tour by claiming three events, the teen titan made an instant impact by winning in just his third start on the Asian Tour at the Panasonic Open in India.

“Actually, I took some time off right after Phuket,” said the Korean, who is known as Tom ‒ a result of loving to watch Thomas the Tank Engine when growing up.

“I stayed a week in Thailand with the family and got back to Korea. Got back to Korea, got out of quarantine. It’s actually pretty cold so it’s really nice to be out in Singapore with a shirt on and some nice heat. My game’s kind of rusty but I’m just trying to get it dialled in before Thursday.”

This week marks the first time the Tampines Course has hosted a major international tournament since its revamp in 2018 and the course has received rave reviews by players.

Joohyung Kim added: “I first took a look yesterday for nine holes and the course with the wind and the layout in general. I feel like it’s going to be tough for all the players this week.
You really have to take advantage when you can and really stick to the game plan for all 18 holes. There’s not really much escape on this course, so you need to get dialled in and I’m looking forward to it.”

Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, coming off the back of an inspired second half of 2021, is approaching The Singapore International and the season-ending SMBC Singapore Open, in his typically modest manner but there is no doubting it disguises a confident and fiercely competitive appetite for success.

“I just want to make the cut first,” smiled Sadom.

“I will just focus on enjoying the game and not think about the result. If I can make it, I will do my best in the last two days and I hope to finish in the top 10 – that would be great.”

This from a rising star of the game who won five titles on Thailand’s domestic circuits last year ‒ including the Thailand Open.

And at the Asian Tour Phuket Series in November and December, which marked the restart of the Asian Tour after a 20-month gap caused by COVID-19, he was joint second in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship and equal fifth in the Laguna Phuket Championship.

He is now in seventh position on the Order of Merit and could take top spot with two good weeks.

He said: “During the pandemic I had time to think over what are my weaknesses and what I will have to improve. So, I had more time to practise my short game and it has been improved a lot. I just changed my setup a little bit and tried to learn new techniques. Also, I have been trying to make my body stronger and change my mindset. So, I feel more confident to play.”

PHUKET-THAILAND- Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand pictured 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.

Sadom Kaewkanjana is already a winner on the Asian Tour, winning the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in 2019 ‒ having made it through Qualifying School that year to become the fastest graduate to win on Tour.

“This year I aim to play mainly on Thailand’s tours and the Asian Tour. I hope to finish in a better position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. I will also look to qualify for Japan and Europe – I will have to see their schedule first. However, I will have to be in a good place on the Asian Tour too.”

When he claimed the Thailand Open in November he became only the sixth player from Thailand to lift the famous trophy. No doubt another event where the talented golfer was just trying to make the cut.