Bio Kim has one eye on trophy
Bio Kim has one eye on trophy in his bid to win for the first time on the Asian Tour gathered momentum today when he took the halfway lead in the US$1million Laguna Phuket Championship at Laguna Golf Phuket.
The Korean added a four-under-par 66 to his first round 62 to lead on 12 under by two shots from Thailand’s Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol, in with a 67.
Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai is a stroke further back after firing 65, one better than his compatriots Panuphol Pittayarat and Natipong Srithong, who both shot 64.
The tournament is the second and final leg of the Asian Tour Phuket Series, which has marked the resumption of the Tour after a 20-month COVID-19 enforced break.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Bio Kim of Korea pictured on Friday December 3, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Kim had a commanding three-shot lead with two to play but surprisingly hit trouble on the par-four 17th, where he made double. His tee shot went right into pine trees and from there he found woodwork twice while trying to punch out before reaching the green with his fourth. But he bounced back brilliantly on the par-four 18th, hitting a nine iron from 160 yard to 12 feet ‒ which he duly converted for a birdie.
“It was one of those day when I could have done much better but luckily today is over and I will regroup tomorrow,” said the 31 year old.
“And hopefully I do a little better than today. I will just keep my head down, be focused and be present; that’s who I am and that’s how I am playing the game of golf. And hopefully good things happen on the weekend.”
Kim was expected to be the next big superstar of Korean golf over a decade ago after winning both the Korean and Japan Amateur Championships in 2008, before finishing top of the Korean PGA Tour Order of Merit two years later and then securing his PGA Tour card aged 20.
But he lost his card after one year there, played the Web.com Tour (now called the Korn Ferry Tour) before competing mainly in Korea ‒ where he has won six times, including the LG Signature Players Championship last month.
That victory and a joint fourth placing in last week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship suggests the Korean ‒ who graduated from the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2020 ‒ is building towards a second coming, and tomorrow Bio Kim has one eye on trophy.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Chanachok Dejpriantanamongkol of Thailand pictured on Friday December 3, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I have made a lot of putts for the last few months. My putter has been co-operating, and I have been hitting the ball better than I used to for the last few years, I think that helps as well. I have just been sticking to what I have been doing,” he said.
“Maybe the big difference is my second child who was born last October. I have two daughters now, hopefully I can give them good things on the weekend.”
Chanachok’s affinity for Laguna Golf Phuket continued after he made an eagle, a birdie and for the second day did not drop a shot.
The Thai golfer won the Singha Phuket Open here in 2017, on the Asian Development Tour, in brilliant fashion finishing 27 under.
“It’s not easy but it’s just that I did not have big trouble. I have been in good spots for up and downs,” said the 27 year old.
“This week my up and down game is really good, and my iron game is also good, but the best thing for me is putting, I have not three putted yet.”
PHUKET-THAILAND- Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand pictured on Friday December 3, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Chanachok has good reason to be playing well as his wife is expecting in February.
He added: “Right now I have to focus on my game. I think after this year I might pause my game because our baby is coming next year. And I think I will also open a shop in Bangkok, a golf club fitting shop.”
He’s also in fine form thanks to losing 15 kgs over 12 months after changing to a vegan diet.
Chanachok also claimed the Singha Championship in 2017 on the All Thailand Golf Tour for his only other success as a professional.
Two-time Asian Tour winner Panuphol, better known as “Coconut”, rocketed into contention with four birdies on the trot from 10th followed by an eagle on the par-five 14th.
American Berry Henson, who competes in this week’s Laguna Phuket Championship at Laguna Golf Phuket, has been in fine form over the past two weeks with two top-four finishes and says being a part-time Uber driver is one of the keys to his success.
“This came up when I was injured in 2016,” said the Hua Hin-based golfer ‒ who finished two shots behind the winner Chan Shih-chang from Chinese-Taipei in last week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship to claim joint fourth.
“I always need to rent a car when I am back in the US, and I found an option to rent an Uber vehicle, through Enterprise at the time. And I thought this would be good to kill some time and actually raise some money for charity. And I quite enjoyed it.
“And then I kind of beat the system a bit by renting the car but then driving for Uber to pay it off. So now when I go back home, I always do the same situation. I drive about 20 hours a week and it’s like having a free car. I have the time to do it. I am on the golf course and doing my training, but I can drive a few hours a day as I don’t have any responsibilities. And it gives me a little time away from golf, as opposed to sitting on the couch which I just can’t do.”
PHUKET-THAILAND-Berry Henson of the USA pictured on Wednesday December 1, 2021 during the Pro-am event ahead of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, December 2-5, 2021, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The 43 year old was in Thailand for a year after the Bandar Malaysian Open in March 2020 when the pandemic stopped play on the Asian Tour but went back to the US in March this year and picked up a Uber vehicle and drove it two weeks straight.
He adds: “I started to prepare for the Challenge Tour [Europe] but got into the main Tour, played a stretch there, returned home and did some more Uber driving for two weeks. It’s kind of meditative to me, I love to chat, they love my story, I play games with my passengers, and I get a lot of them who follow me on Tour now which is cool.”
Henson tied for third on the All Thailand Golf Tour two weeks ago and is expected to be in contention this week.
He’s been meticulously planning for the restart of the Asian Tour with a number of coaches in the US ‒ which includes a swing coach, a short-game coach and a physical trainer ‒ prior to returning to the region but says Ubering has also helped.
“We have found the right formula as far as peaking is concerned and I think the two weeks driving Uber helped. There is definitely a mental side to that,” he added.
Henson first burst onto the scene in 2011 in an impressive rookie season with two victories in the span of three weeks. He claimed his breakthrough on the Asian Tour by winning the ICTSI Philippine Open, two weeks after he dominated the Clearwater Masters on the Asian Development Tour with a seven-stroke victory.
Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang is targeting the Asian Tour Order of Merit title ‒ and is hoping to become the first player from his country to achieve the feat in 27 years ‒ following his victory in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at Blue Canyon Country Club last week.
He moved into second place on the Merit list and is looking to build on the momentum from that win at the Laguna Phuket Championship, which tees-off tomorrow at Laguna Golf Phuket ‒ in what is the second and final leg of the Asian Tour Phuket Series.
“Now that I’m second on the Order of Merit, I am going to try to win the Merit list,” said Chan, who received a cheque for US$180,000 on Sunday.
“There are still a few events to go and it’s not easy to win it but now that I have a chance, I will go for it and do my best.”
Australian Wade Ormsby, also playing this week, currently leads the Merit list with earnings of US$237,003, Chan is second on US$211,775, while 19-year-old Joohyung Kim sits third with US$194,628.
PHUKET-THAILAND-Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei pictured on Wednesday December 1, 2021 during the Pro-am event ahead of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, December 2-5, 2021, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The last player from Chan’s homeland to claim the Merit crown was Lin Keng-chi in 1995.
“I was struggling with a stiff neck on the first day I got to Phuket. I didn’t sleep well and could not quite complete my swing, actually. I felt like I could only go back three quarters and I couldn’t hit it hard too.”
Despite that, he shot a final round four-under-par 68 to finish on 18 under par at Blue Canyon and beat two rising stars in the game, Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana and Kim, by a shot.
“I felt like I was swinging with a rain jacket on. Thankfully the course last week wasn’t too long. As long as I can find the fairway, I’m okay with my second shots and short game, which are my strengths.”
It was his first win on the Asian Tour in five years. Both his previous wins came in 2016, first in the King’s Cup here in Thailand and then the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup in Japan. He is also a six-time winner on the Asian Development Tour ‒ the last of those coming in 2018.
PHUKET-THAILAND-Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei pictured on Wednesday December 1, 2021 during the Pro-am event ahead of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, December 2-5, 2021, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Both Phuket events boast prizemoney of US$1million and will be followed by two events being planned in Singapore in January that will bring to a conclusion the 2020-21 season.
The cream of the Asian Tour are competing in Phuket, including: Australian Scott Hend, a 10-time Asian Tour winner, reigning Order of Merit champion Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand, and Malaysian number one Gavin Green.
We have put together 10 things you need to know ahead of this week’s Laguna Phuket Championship, which marks the second event of the Asian Tour Phuket Series.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat of Thailand, 14 year old amateur, pictured on Tuesday November 30, 2021 during an official practice round ahead of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, December 2-5, 2021, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
- Laguna Golf Phuket, revamped and revitalized by architect Paul Jansen in 2014, had previously hosted the Laguna Phuket Open on the Asian Development Tour from 2017 to 2019. The 2017 edition was made special by Thailand’s Suttijet Kooratanapisan, who recorded the first ever 59 on the ADT and Asian Tour in the final round.
- A talented field of 144 players from 25 countries, including five Order of Merit champions and 40 Tour champions, are set to compete in the event.
- Reigning Order of Merit champion Jazz Janewattananond will be looking to redeem himself after uncharacteristically missing the halfway cut last week. Place seventh on the current Order of Merit, Jazz will be vying to become the first player to successfully retain the Merit crown in back-to-back seasons on Tour.
- Current Order of Merit leader Wade Ormsby of Australia, who won the season-opening Hong Kong Open for his third Asian Tour title in 2020, will be looking to end his year on a high with a good showing this week. He came in tied-23rd last week to retain his lead on the Merit rankings.
- Scott Hend, the first Australian to lift the Order of Merit crown in 2016, will be in search for his 11th title on Tour after enjoying a top-five result last week. Three of his 10 victories came in Thailand.
- Korean sensation Joohyung Kim, who won the 2019 Panasonic Open India in only his sixth start on the Asian Tour, will aim to go one better this week for his second title on Tour. The 19-year-old Kim was crowned the Order of Merit champion on his domestic Tour earlier this month and had come in runner-up last week thanks to a closing 66.
- Despite missing out on his second Asian Tour victory last week, Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand is keeping his head high as he continues to enjoy a solid run where he has yet to shoot over-par in his last 20 competitive rounds.
- Sadom claimed his fourth victory in two months when he won the Singha Classic on his domestic Tour mid-November. He has not finished outside of top-10 in his last nine professional starts. His joint runner-up finish last week saw him jump to 251st place on the OWGR and eighth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
- Thai Amateur Ratchanon Chantananuwat enjoyed a memorable debut last week where he became the third youngest player, at the age of 14 years old, to make the halfway cut on the Asian Tour. Ratchanon, who goes by the nickname TK, impressed with a solid tied-15 place finish last week, thanks to weekend rounds of 68 and 65.
- The Order of Merit race continues in Phuket as players vie to finish inside top-30 on the final Merit rankings to qualify for the lucrative US$5 million Saudi International, which will be the season-opener for the Asian Tour’s 2022 season.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Wade Ormsby of Australia pictured on Tuesday November 30, 2021 during an official practice round ahead of the Asian Tour’s Laguna Phuket Championship 2021 at Laguna Golf Phuket, December 2-5, 2021, with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Jeddah: The Asian Tour will present the strongest field in its history when the 2022 Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers takes place at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, near Jeddah, from 3-6 February 2022.
The landmark occasion will bring together household names across recent generations of the global game, as well as future stars of Asian golf, to compete for an increased prize purse of $5 million and one of the highest Official World Golf Ranking point totals in international golf.
Players confirmed so far for the 2022 Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers include:
The leading lights of the Asian Tour will also have a significant presence with the inclusion of the top 30 ranked players at the end of the 2020/21 season within the Saudi International field. The final 30 will be confirmed in January following a season-ending double-header in Singapore, with the likes of Jazz Janewattananond, Scott Hend, Gavin Green, John Catlin, Shiv Kapur, Wade Ormsby and Joohyung Kim already having participated in the Asian Tour’s returning event, the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021, won by Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei. Click here to view the current Order of Merit.
Golf Saudi is a staunch supporter of men’s and women’s professional golf and continues to view the participation of the world’s best players in Saudi-based events as a key driver of interest amongst residents and growth of the sport’s popularity throughout the country.
Majed Al-Sorour, CEO and Deputy Chairman of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, said: “The 2022 edition of The International is the strongest yet, but we are still only in the formative years of our vision for golf in the Kingdom.
“We are seeing great progress in participation with boys and girls through our national grass roots and schools’ programs, and are enjoying a significant uptick in demand from men and women throughout The Kingdom. We are also enjoying a rich vein of form with our national amateur teams.
“Whilst this is a product of many factors, there is no denying the massive impact the best players in the world can have on creating multi-generational interest in the sport. This is why we place such importance on securing the strongest field possible, each and every year.”
The recently announced partnership with the Asian Tour, which included a 10-year sanction of the Saudi International from 2022, has created widespread interest but also great benefit within the sport. After an 18-month suspended season, it will contribute to the Asian Tour’s reemergence and generate new opportunities for players across the global golf landscape.
Al-Sorour added: “While we do not allow ourselves to be distracted from our long-term objectives by any external voices, we have been encouraged by strengthening discussions around the importance of fresh competition and innovation in the professional game.
“We are strong advocates for this, as we see it as the only way to achieve golf’s true global potential and realize the game’s considerable untapped value. All we will say is it is better for the sport if the competition remains healthy and respectful, as opposed to hostile, as all parties look at new ways to benefit this great game.”
The Saudi International field will include a broad spectrum of exemption categories that will see new competitors visit Saudi Arabia for the first time. This means new opportunities for many of the Asian Tour’s best performers to try their luck over the Royal Greens course.
Teenager, Joohyung Kim, currently 3rd on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, said: “The Saudi International will give us a new opportunity to compete against the world’s best, something many Asian Tour players have never been afforded. Given the way events and ranking points are weighted on different tours, it was historically more challenging for players rising through the Asian Tour to find their way into the biggest events.
“But the Asian Tour’s talent pool runs deep and, as we see every week, players from a diverse cross section of nationalities are more than capable of competing at the highest level. More big events will help to create a more prosperous Asian Tour and, without doubt, create new talent that can compete on the biggest stage, giving the sport in Asia and around the world a very welcome shot in the arm.”
PHUKET-THAILAND- Joohyun Kim of Korea pictured on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 during the Pro-am event ahead 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.
CEO of the Asian Tour, Cho Minn Thant said: “With a new showpiece event and a field of such outstanding caliber lined-up for the Saudi International in 2022, there can only be positives for the game as a whole. We are extremely optimistic about how these new opportunities will encourage emerging talent, expose a broader base of players to elevated competition and attract a deeper and more engaged fan base.
“History will reflect upon how developments like the Saudi International and Golf Saudi’s partnership with the Asian Tour helped see in a new era in the professional game. With the right guidance, it’ll be the sport that benefits most, with more top athletes from across a wider geographical spectrum present at the very top level and more interest from a more diverse and committed group of stakeholders.”
For more information about the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, visit
Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang put himself into position to win on the Asian Tour for the first time in five years after taking the third-round lead in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship today along with American Sihwan Kim, who is looking for his first victory.
They both carded four-under-par 68s on the Canyon Course at Blue Canyon Country Club to move to 14 under par for the US$1million event, that marks the resumption of the Asian Tour following a 20-month break caused by Covid.
Overnight leader Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand shot 72 to lie in third place two behind, while a further shot back are Australian Scott Hend (65), Joohyung Kim from Korea (69) and American John Catlin (72).
“Happy to put myself in a good position for Sunday. I haven’t played in the final group since 2016,” said Chan.
Chan has two Asian Tour titles to his name, which both came in 2016 first in the King’s Cup, here in Thailand, and then the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup in Japan. He is also a six-time winner on the Asian Development Tour ‒ the last of those coming in 2018.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Sihwan Kim of the USA pictured on Saturday, November 27, 2021 during round three of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He held the outright lead for much of the back nine but made a bogey on 16 ‒ which was his first dropped shot in 51 holes.
“Feels like how it was back then when I won the King’s Cup in 2016. That was also in Thailand. Thailand is my lucky country. But I won’t think so much for tomorrow. Just keep doing what I have been doing.”
Kim has been playing in Europe this year and is enjoying the warmer conditions this week.
“It feels kind of weird playing in this weather, being so humid and hot, but yeah I was looking forward to this,” he said.
“Tomorrow I just need to keep it in the fairway and make some putts. Being in the fairway is key on this golf course. If I can do that, my irons are pretty good right now, it will be good.”
Sadom has now not shot over par in 19 consecutive rounds ‒ he has won four times on the All Thailand Golf Tour over the past two months ‒ but he came close to breaking his streak today.
He made the turn in three over and looked to be falling away but bounced back with three birdies in the last five holes.
PHUKET-THAILAND- L-R -Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand and Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei shake hands on the 18th green on Saturday, November 27, 2021 during round three 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.
Said Sadom: “I didn’t hit my driver good on the front nine today, but it got better on the back. But the turning point came on 13. I gave myself a chance for birdie on that hole and I made it. I felt confident again from there. Nice to go on and birdie 15 and 16. Felt great to fight back to even-par. I still have a chance tomorrow.”
Ratchanon Chantananuwat, Thailand’s 14-year-old golf phenom, continued to impress by returning a 68 to move up into a tie for 33rd. Yesterday he became the third youngest player to make the cut on the Asian Tour.
Saudi Arabia’s Othman Almulla, part of a strong contingent of players from the Middle East making their debut on the Asian Tour this week in Phuket, has more than just playing golf on his mind.
“I have been playing for Saudi all around the world and representing the flag and trying to help grow the game,” said the 34 year old at Blue Canyon Country Club today, where he has been competing in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship ‒ the Tour’s first event back following a 20-month break caused by the pandemic.
“It’s just an unbelievably good feeling to be here and competing. This is not just about playing golf.”
Almulla is Saudi Arabia’s only professional golfer and has been joined this week by three of his nation’s leading amateurs Abdulrahman Al Mansour, Saud Al Sharif and Faisal Al Salhab. All four are representing Golf Saudi and playing on the Asian Tour for the first time.
Also competing are four players from the MENA Tour: Jordanian Shergo Al Kurdia, David Langley and Curtis Knipes from England, and Scotland’s Ryan Lumsdan.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Abdulrahman Al Mansour of Saudi Arabia, amateur, hits the first ball for the restart of the Asian Tour after a 20 month Covid pandemic suspension, pictured on Thursday, November 25, 2021, during round one 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.
Al Kurdia is also the first player from Jordan to play on the Tour.
Almulla shot rounds of 76 and 72 to miss the cut but relished the opportunity to compete again.
“It feels great to be competing and we have been welcomed by the Asian Tour, we love that. It’s just great to have somewhere to play. It’s been so hard since I turned professional in 2019. I had one full year and then it’s been super difficult to find places to play,” added Almulla, whose home club is Rolling Hills Golf Club in Saudi Arabia.
“And this week has been so well run. It’s 20 months since the Asian Tour was played. I played in the Asian Tour Qualifying School about 10 years ago and it’s great to see how big it’s grown and see such big names in the field.”
First tee shot on Tour in 20 months 😃⛳👏🏻#BCPC2021 #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/7iTIAOqJzU
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) November 25, 2021
Al Mansour actually had the honour of hitting the first tee shot on Thursday morning to mark the Tour’s resumption and also signify the Tour’s strengthening of ties with the Middle East.
Adds Almulla: “To see our amateurs come out and hit a lot of good shots, make some birdies, and lose the rustiness has been great. And we get to go again in a couple of days. And I am looking forward to seeing what they can do.”
PHUKET-THAILAND- Shergo Al Kurdi of Jordan pictured on Thursday, November 25, 2021, during round one 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.
Plans are also being put in place for the Tour’s feeder circuit, the Asian Development Tour, to work closely with the MENA Tour ‒ which will lead to more opportunities for developing players.
Next week the Tour heads to the Laguna Phuket Championship at Laguna Golf Phuket ‒ where all the representatives from the Middle East will once again compete.
Thailand’s in-form young star Sadom Kaewkanjana equaled Australian Greg Norman’s course record on the Canyon Course at Blue Canyon Country Club today with an imperious eight-under-par 64, and although it could not be counted as an official record because preferred lies were played he still stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the US$1million Blue Canyon Phuket Championship.
Eight brilliant birdies ‒ three on the front, five on the back ‒ saw him move into the lead on 12 under par by a stroke from American John Catlin, the first-round leader, who shot 68.
Korean Sihwan Kim and Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang are a stroke further behind after rounds of 66 and 68 respectively ‒ in an event that marks the resumption of the Asian Tour’s 2020-21 season, following a 20-month hiatus caused by the pandemic.
“My game today is pretty good,” said 23-year-old Sadom, whose round also matched South African Anton Haig’s 64 from the 2007 Johnnie Walker Classic.
“Especially iron play and putting. I hit close to the pin and made many birdies. And I have only missed one fairway this week.”
Sadom has claimed four titles on the All Thailand Golf Tour in the past two months including the Thailand Open and looks like being the man to beat this week, along with Catlin.
He added: “Initially this week I was just focusing on making the cut, but I am changing my game plan for tomorrow and looking to go further.”
PHUKET-THAILAND- John Catlin of the USA pictured on Friday, November 26, 2021 during round two of the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship 2021 at the Blue Canyon Country Club, (Canyon Course), with a prize fund of US$ 1 Million. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Catlin carded a sublime 65 to take the first-round lead yesterday and stayed in the hunt today thanks to six birdies and just two dropped shots.
“I played well today but need to go to the range and work on a few things,” said Catlin.
“It was a very early start today. I was up at 4.30am and we didn’t get back until late last night, so I basically went straight to bed. But it’s great to be in this position and have a chance at the weekend.”
Joohyung Kim, the 19-year-old Korean star, came in with a 67 and is four off the lead.
Australian Wade Ormsby, the current leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, shot a 69 and is six off the pace, while Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond ‒ the reigning Merit list champion ‒ returned a 72 to surprisingly miss the cut, made at one under, by four.
Thailand’s 14-year-old golf prodigy Ratchanon Chantananuwat signed for a 72 to become the third youngest player to make the cut on the Asian Tour. He’s on one under par and as the only amateur to survive the halfway cut has secured the low amateur award.
PHUKET-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananwat of Thailand, amateur, pictured on Friday, November 26, 2021 during round two 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.
“I am capable of playing better but I scrambled well. It’s my first Asian Tour event and I have basically loved being here since Monday,” said the youngster.
In 2010 Jazz became the youngest player, at age 14 years 71 days, to make the cut in an Asian Tour event at the Asian Tour International in Bangkok, as an amateur.
This week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship will be followed by the Laguna Phuket Championship next week at Laguna Golf Phuket.
Both Phuket events boast prizemoney of US$1million and will be followed by two events being planned in Singapore in January that will bring to a conclusion the 2020-21 season.
Jazz Janewattananond is finally back home in Thailand, properly ‒ to compete in the Asian Tour Phuket Series ‒ having been away for nearly two years, with the exception of two quick pitstops when he was mainly in quarantine, and nothing could make him happier.
“It’s really good to be back in Thailand!” said Jazz, at Blue Canyon Country Club today ‒ where he is competing in this week’s US$1million Blue Canyon Phuket Championship.
“I haven’t been back here to spend proper time in a while. This has been a real nice change. I am just very grateful to be back on home soil, speaking the language.”
Jazz flew in from Dubai where he tied for fourth in the AVIV Dubai Championship on the DP World Tour and is hoping to become the first player to successfully defend the Asian Tour Order of Merit crown, having claimed the Merit title in 2019. This week’s event is one of four tournaments that will bring to a conclusion the 2020-21 season.
“I did a couple of quarantines but didn’t spend much time here, just doing some things like pick up my passport. I finished quarantine and left straight away. I was in the hotel then left basically. It’s not like I stayed at home or anything,” added Jazz, who is currently fifth on the Order of Merit.
Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The last occasion he spent time in Thailand was before the Dubai Desert Classic last year.
He added: “It’s been a long road. It’s been a tiring two years. I am going to use this time to take a break and fresh. Since I got back to Thailand it’s been about spending time with family, eating food, enjoying the culture again, enjoying the people.”
He has been grouped with Scott Hend from Australia ‒ a 10-time winner on the Asian Tour ‒ and Malaysian number one Gavin Green for the first two days. They will tee-off tomorrow on the 10th tee at 7.15am.
Jazz, who celebrates his 26th birthday on Friday, is a six-time winner on the Asian Tour ‒ four of which came in 2019.
The Asian Tour Phuket Series events starts with this week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship and is followed by next week’s Laguna Phuket Championship, from December 2-5.
Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Thailand’s latest golf prodigy, 14-year-old Ratchanon Chantananuwat, will make his debut on the Asian Tour this week at the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship ‒ being played on the Canyon Course at Blue Canyon Country Club ‒ with his “full attention” on golf while carefully balancing a busy schedule of online classes.
“I did some online physics and English classes on Tuesday morning as I played 18 on Monday and had to miss a double English session,” said the amateur star, who is doing his IGCEs at Shrewsbury International School in Bangkok.
“Obviously it should be 50/50 for the most part but at certain times I have to focus on one thing or another depending what is more important at the time. For example, right now I have to pretty much put my full attention on these two events, therefore I am prioritising golf and practice way more than school.”
He is also playing in next week’s Laguna Phuket Championship at Laguna Golf Phuket ‒ both Asian Tour Phuket Series events mark the resumption of the Tour’s 2020-21 season, after a 20-month hiatus caused by the pandemic.
“TK”, as he is nicknamed, has taken the All Thailand Golf Tour (ATGT) by storm this year, particularly when the Tour visited the same two Phuket venues a few months ago.
PHUKET-THAILAND – Ratchanon Chantananuwat of Thailand pictured with his father / caddy Tara, during an official practice round on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, ahead 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.
He was second in the Singha Laguna Phuket Open, at Laguna Golf Phuket, and joint fifth in the Singha All Thailand Championship here on the Canyon Course.
The talented youngster was also the leading amateur in the Thailand Open last month, after finishing in a tie for 16th; he’s actually finished as the top amateur in six successive ATGT events.
He is also the youngest player to make the cut on the ATGT at 13 years, four months and 18 days.
However, despite all the success and attention he has stayed grounded and remained focused on his school work.
“I know if I spend a bit of time revising and talking to my teachers I can catch up. Depending on my tee times this week, if early or late, I can slot in a period to study,” he added.
PHUKET-THAILAND – Ratchanon Chantananuwat of Thailand pictured during an official practice round on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, ahead 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.
“My game is ok. I just want to make sure I am dialled in because if I want to do well then the driver’s got to be on point, hitting has to be on point, I have to make the putts, put my irons close, everything has to be as good as possible.”
Of note, he was the third-round leader at the Singha All Thailand Championship so he knows all about the Canyon Course.
“Obviously, this is my first Asian Tour event, I am aware that the players are really good, there’s a lot of top players here, so I am just mainly focusing on myself. I have played well at these clubs at the recent ATGT events,” said Ratchanon, whose father Tara will caddie for him.
“It feels really good to finish as best amateur six times in a row, I am just trying to go for the big one now.”
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