Japan’s Kazuki Higa took the third-round lead at the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea today – one of a host of Asian Tour players to make the most of moving day.

The Japanese golfer, winner of this event in 2022, set the course alight on the back nine making four birdies in a row from the 14th enroute to a seven-under-par 65 and a one-shot lead at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club. He is 14-under for an event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan Tours.

Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe is solo second after also shooting 65.

Canada’s Richard T. Lee, after another 65, is a stroke further back along with Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, plus Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut and Danthai Boonma – who all fired 66s.

Higa won this event when, for the one and only time, it was played in Japan and tomorrow will attempt to become only the fifth player to claim the title more than once.

“I think today was pretty much a perfect round,” said Higa.

Scott Vincent.

“I had one bogey, but that was because my drive went left and ended up right next to a tree root—it was unplayable. Even then, I managed to give myself a par chance, so overall, it was a stress-free round.”

At 158 cm tall he is one of the shortest players, but the stocky golfer packs a mighty punch as he demonstrated over the closing stages today.

He was one of the few leaders to make a bogey today but masked that with eight birdies, including five on the homeward half.

“I’ll try not to force anything tomorrow and focus on how the others in my group are playing. Since the leaderboard is tight, a lot of players will have a shot at winning. I just want to manage my game well and avoid any mistakes that could cost me the lead,” he added.

“I think tomorrow will require a different kind of strategy, there will likely be a lot of situations where going at the pin brings risk, especially with tricky short sides.”

When he won this event three years ago he triumphed four times that season and claimed the Japan Tour Money List.

Vincent’s year continues to get better and better and he looks every bit the golfer who won The International Series Rankings in 2022 before playing on the LIV Golf League for two years.

Richard T. Lee.

He won the International Series Morocco in July for his second title on the Asian Tour and win number three is probably just around the corner.

“Awesome, just really, really awesome,” said Vincent, about his best round of the week  made up of seven birdies

“Tee to green was strong and great, and just gave myself a lot of chances. And, you know, made a few of those. Didn’t really put myself in any spots that caused too much stress.

“But yeah, all in all, it’s just it’s that challenge when you are playing well, just to keep going and not get caught up in the score and thinking, I need to hole this. And the battle of trying to play freely, so that was more the challenge for me today. And just trying to not let that get in the way, and keep swinging. And, you know, we still got lots of golf left. So just, yeah, it was great, all in all.

Lee is another former winner of the event. He triumphed in 2017 and like Vincent moved into contention making seven birdies and not dropping a shot.

On today’s low scoring, he said: “I think it was a lot softer today. I think it brought in a lot of rain yesterday, and the greens were a lot slower. But then again, I took advantage of it and stuck my shots pretty close and made my putts today.”

Lee won the Indonesian Masters last year on the Asian Tour, his third on the Asian Tour but first in seven years. That has been the catalyst for a fine season so far on the Korean PGA Tour this year. He has won once and finished runner-up twice to lie in second place on the rankings

Taichi Kho.

“I think if I just finish it off with a five or six under, I think that might do it,” he added.

Adding to an impressive leaderboard and setting the stage for a thrilling finish tomorrow is Kho.

He birdied four out of the last five to put himself on the threshold of a second victory on the Asian Tour.

Said the Hong Kong number one: “I think if I focus well tomorrow, be out there and embrace the adrenaline well, I think anything can happen. And I know my golf is good at a really high level, so I trust myself to do that and looking forward to it.”

He was second in the Mandiri Indonesia Open two weeks ago, for his second best result on the Asian Tour, after his win in the 2023 World City Championship, and is currently fifth place on the Order of Merit and climbing.

Pictures courtesy Korean PGA.

Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren took the outright lead at the halfway point of the Shinhan Donghae Open today by firing a phenomenal eight-under-par 64 at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club – a performance that bare the mark of the Golden Bear himself.

His bogey-free round placed him one ahead of Koreans Taehoon OK (65) and Sanghee Lee (66), plus Japan’s Ryutaro Nagano (67) and Taiki Yoshida (68).

Hellgren, the 34-year-old looking for his first win on the Asian Tour, made an eagle and six birdies for one of the finest rounds of his 12-year professional career.

Playing in the penultimate group of the day, and having started on 10, he stormed through in fading light with three birdies in-a-row from the third and an eagle on the par-five seventh.

“Well, starting off we knew the rain was coming, so we knew we had to bag a few birdies early,” said Hellgren.

“We didn’t do it yesterday, so… then kind of the rain didn’t come in as hard as we thought, so then we thought maybe we’d take advantage of that. The greens started rolling pretty good, and we just hit it where we wanted all the time. So good teamwork and, yeah, pretty strong finish, so I’m happy with it.”

Taehoon OK.

The Swede hit it close all day and capitalised on every opportunity,

“Yeah, we were lucky there, we had a few. Had a couple that were like inside three feet, so I guess good numbers from the caddie,” he added.

On his eagle on seven he explained: “Oh, it was just perfect. We knew if we hit a soft driver we’re not reaching that one trap and it was in the middle of the fairway. And then we had a new Callaway seven wood, and we knew that it’s a perfect number for the front edge, and it just pitched there and it released a little. I made, I don’t know, a seven-metre putt probably. I got pulled off as something disturbed me, so I walked off, and then I came back to it. It was getting hard to see. It was downhill, and it was just lucky.”

OK, the number one ranked player on the Korean PGA Tour, moved into contention saying mental strength has been at the heart of his return to form this year.

Three years ago he hit the registered the biggest win of his career by claiming the inaugural International Series Korea on Jeju Island.

However, he has had to wait until this year for more success to materialise. He’s won twice in Korea and had five other top-fives. On the Asian Tour he has not featured much but that looks set to change this week.

“This year, I think I’ve my mentality has been great, so that’s been my strength,” he said, following a round built on an eagle and five birdies.

“Actually, I did a great job with putter and short game today, and I had some good par saves.”

His eagle also came on the par-five seventh.

“It felt great,” he said of the eagle. “The second shot was like 230 metres away with a bit of tail wind. My second shot was perfect, and I made a great putt.”

Younghan Song.

After the sunshine on the opening day, the weather closed in today with grey skies expected to be followed by poorer weather over the weekend.

Added Ok: “I know that it’s gonna rain until 10 in the morning tomorrow, and as you know this course is very tough. I think I have to be really calm, and try to create opportunities for myself. I believe that I’m gonna make a great result.”

Korean Younghan Song is a shot further back, following a 69, along with Japan’s Kazuki Higa, in with a 67.

Song, who is a member of both the Korean and Japan Tours, has surprisingly yet to win on home soil since turning professional 12 years ago.

He’s best-known for his victory in the Singapore Open in 2016, when he defeated American Jordan Spieth, who at the time was ranked number one in the world, by one shot following a Monday finish. He is a two winner in Japan having claimed the Sansan KBC Augusta in 2023, while the Singapore Open was joint sanctioned with Japan when he won.

Despite his lack of titles in Korea he has been a regular contender as looks like being the case this week.

He said: “Actually, I’m not really happy about my performance today, but definitely I want to win this tournament. I think some of my putts were not great, but I think I finished quite well so I should be well prepared for the next round.

“You know, this course is very challenging, especially with the wind and the rain. I think the conditions will be very difficult over next few days.”

Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, the Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, returned a 67 and is next best placed in a group of players that includes Thailand’s Danthai Boonma, the joint first-round leader – who shot a 71, and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho after a 69.

Taehoon OK, the number one ranked player on the Korean PGA Tour, took a share of the clubhouse lead today at the Shinhan Donghae Open – saying mental strength has been at the heart of his return to form.

The Korean shot a second-round seven-under-par 65, the best round of the week so far, here at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon to reach eight-under-par – along with Japan’s Ryutaro Nagano and Taiki Yoshida.

Nagano shot a 67 and Yoshida a 68, to move in front halfway through day two in an event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean, and Japan Tours.

Korean Younghan Song is one behind, following a 69, while Thailand’s Danthai Boonma, the joint first-round leader, is another stroke back in a group of players after a 71.

Three years ago OK hit the bigtime with the biggest win of his career by claiming the inaugural International Series Korea on Jeju Island.

Taehoon OK.

However, more success did not materialise, until this year. He’s won twice in Korea and had five other top-fives. On the Asian Tour he has not featured much but that looks set to change this week.

“This year, I think my mentality has been great, so that’s been my strength,” he said, following a round built on an eagle and five birdies.

“Actually, I did a great job with my putter and short game today, and I had some good par saves.”

His eagle came on the par-five seventh.

“It felt great,” he said of the eagle. “The second shot was like 230 metres away with a bit of tail wind. My second shot was perfect, and I made a great putt.”

After the sunshine on the opening day, the weather closed in today with grey skies expected to be followed by poorer weather over the weekend.

Added Ok: “I know that it’s gonna rain until 10 in the morning tomorrow, and as you know this course is very tough. I think I have to be really calm, and try to create opportunities for myself. I believe that I’m gonna make a great result.”

Younghan Song.

Song, who is a member of both the Korean and Japan Tours, has surprisingly yet to win on home soil since turning professional 12 years ago.

He’s best-known for his victory in the Singapore Open in 2016, when he defeated American Jordan Spieth, who at the time was ranked number one in the world, by one shot following a Monday finish. He is a two winner in Japan having claimed the Sansan KBC Augusta in 2023, while the Singapore Open was joint sanctioned with Japan when he won.

Despite his lack of titles in Korea he has been a regular contender as looks like being the case this week.

He said: “Actually, I’m not really happy about my performance today, but definitely I want to win this tournament. I think some of my putts were not great, but I think I finished quite well so I should be well prepared for the next round.

“You know, this course is very challenging, especially with the wind and the rain. I think the conditions will be very difficult over the next few days.”

Thailand’s Danthai Boonma [main picture] clearly likes the Shinhan Donghae Open. He has played in the prestigious Korean event four times and comfortably made it through to the weekend on each occasion. In 2022 he even had a run at the title before tying for 14^th.

Today, in his fifth appearance, the affinity showed once more as he took a share of the first-round lead, shooting a five-under-par 67.

The fact that it’s a different venue this year – the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon – had little effect. Two birdies in his last three holes as the day drew to a close saw him share top spot with Korean Jiho Yang.

Canadian Richard T. Lee, winner of this event eight years ago, is tied third with a who’s who of Korean golf: Minkyu Kim, Younghan Song, Jeunghun Wang, Kyongjun Moon, Sukwoan Ko, and Hyungjoon Lee. Japan’s Tomoharu Otsuki and Taiki Yoshida also carded the same score – in an event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean, and Japan Tours.

Danthai began the day on hole 10 and stumbled with bogeys on two and three – missing short putts.

Jiho Yang.

“But then I talked with my caddie,” he said. “It was like, I have to figure out about my putting. After that, I found something and I made two birdies in a row, so I found some momentum.”

The 29-year-old’s game has been trending. He was runner-up in the International Series Morocco in July and the following month claimed the Singha Championship on the All Thailand Golf Tour.

He explained: “Right now I think everything is like 80%, if you know what I mean? I think the most important improvement for me is short game. Before it was like under 50%, right now more like 60-70%, so everything is good.”

He is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour but the most recent was the 2019 Bangladesh Open.

Yang shares pole position despite a run of poor form recently.

“I started changing my swing two, three weeks ago. I’m getting into it, being more comfortable now,” said the Korean, who has won twice before on the local tour.

“Currently I’m trying to work on my swing and change it up a bit, so I didn’t really have high expectations. But my long game was actually a lot better than I had thought, so that’s why my second shots were really solid.”

He was bogey free today – with four birdies on the back nine, having started on 10.

On his best hole today, he said: “The first hole definitely, we get the jitters if you’re nervous. But then the first tee shot was really good, and then after that it was kind of smooth sailing.”

Richard T. Lee.

Lee’s fine round is yet another for a player enjoying a purple patch that just never seems to end.

He has made 22 successive cuts on the Asian Tour; the last one he missed was at the International Series Singapore in October of 2023.

Since play resumed on the Tour at the end of 2021, after the near two-break caused by the pandemic, he has been one of the in-form players. He won the BNI Indonesian Masters last year, has been runner-up on three occasions, finished third three times, and had seven other top-10s. He has also featured on the leaderboard during rounds one, two and three countless times.

On the Korean PGA Tour, he has been equally impressive – particularly this year, winning once this season and second twice. He is currently in second place on the Korean tour’s money list, called the Genesis Points Ranking list.

He said today: “I’ve been really working on my putting with my coach this year, and I think it was really key. I was missing a few putts from the short-range distance, and making those putts, I think, is making me play well this year.”

The 34-year-old was another to start on 10 today, made three birdies going out, and two more on the second half but dropped one shot, on eight.

“Pretty good today,” he added. “I had a little hiccup on the seventh hole, par five, had a little duffed chip, into the grain shot. It was pretty simple shot, but made par instead of birdie. On my 17 (8th hole), I made bogey and backed it up with a birdie on nine.

“On 17 I just didn’t have the right club in my hand, just in between clubs, and kind of tugged it a little bit into the long rough and had not a good lie and chipped up and two putted.”

The Canadian has history at this week’s event, having won it back in 2017 – adding to his other Asian Tour title, the 2014 Solaire Open.

“Yeah, gotta hold of this week’s trophy soon again,” said Lee, who was also third in the event two years ago.”

Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho fired a 69 and is in group of players tied for 12^th, along with Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai – winner of the Mandiri Indonesia Open two weeks ago.

Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe carded a 71.

Picture courtesy Korean PGA.

It’s the norm for players from Thailand to arrive at Asian Tour events in the ascendancy, which is very much the case at the Shinhan Donghae Open – the prestigious Korean event that starts Thursday at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, Incheon.

This week it is the turn of Sadom Kaewkanjana, winner of the Kolon Korea Open in June, when the Tour last visited the Land of Morning Calm, and Suteepat Prateeptienchai, the Tour’s most recent champion having claimed the Mandiri Indonesia Open two weeks ago.

Both players have been enjoying success of late, but Suteepat leads the way with four wins in the space of two years.

Sadom has not been as prolific as Suteepat as his victory at the Kolon Korea Open was his first since raising the Singapore Open trophy at the beginning of 2022.

However, his win in Korea on one of the tough courses of the year in a tournament notoriously difficult for overseas players to win is worth the price of two.

Suteepat Prateeptienchai. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

“I’ve been having a pretty good year so far and I’m feeling good about my game,” said Sadom.

“However, I don’t want to focus too much about the results. I just want to have fun on the course, play my own game, and hopefully it works out in my favour.”

Sadom’s success in Singapore, three-and-a-half years ago, followed on from a remarkable run of form in the final three months of 2021, winning five times in Thailand on the local tour, including the Thailand Open.

The fact that titles dried up after that surprised many but typically, for arguably the calmest and most patient player on Tour, he was unperturbed.

He explained: “I haven’t changed much in terms of my swing. I feel like I had a pretty good year in 2023 and 2024 as well. I had some solid weeks and put myself in contentions several times. This year I had good starts with a T2 in Philippines and Thailand so that just keeps the momentum going.”

He beat compatriot Poom Saksansin after a captivating see-saw battle at Korea’s National Open on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle Golf Club – which was set up like a US Open.

“Korea Open this year was held at different golf course,” he said.

Phachara Khongwatmai. Picture by Vachira Kalong/Asian Tour.

“I’d never played there so I didn’t have any expectations coming into the week. I think the key for that golf course was to stay patient and focus on the game plan.”

Suteepat missed the cut in the event – one of five missed cuts in nine starts this year. It is a surprising statistic for a player who is starting to win regularly.

His victory in Indonesia was his fourth on the Asian Tour but first outside of Taiwan – where he won in 2023 and twice last year.

“To win in another country was a big step for me,” said Suteepat.

“It is big for my confidence. I always felt I could win elsewhere but you have to do it first. It was a big step for me. This week will be another challenge, but I will try my best. I am playing well.”

Both players have been paired in high profile groups. Sadom goes out with Japan great Ryo Ishikawa and Taehoon OK – the Korean who leads the Korean PGA rankings, with two wins this year.

Suteepat has been paired with Japan’s Taiga Nagano, a winner last week in Japan, and Korean Doyeob Mun – who claimed this year’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open.

No Thai player has won the Shinhan Donghae Open; they will be looking to etch their names into the history books of an event that was first played in 1981.

Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai has come closest – losing in a play-off two years ago against Korean Koh Gun-taek.

And of course, they will also be aiming to put their names alongside Bryson DeChambeau – the American star whose name is in the clubhouse for winning  LIV Golf Korea here at the impressive Jack Nicklaus venue, earlier in the year.

The Shinhan Donghae Open tees off at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon on Thursday – with one of its strongest ever fields. The event is tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean, and Japan tours and the number one player on each is here this week: Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, Korean Taehoon Ok, and Tatsunori Shogenji from Japan, respectively.

Organisers have increased the purse by US$100,000, and it is the first time the event has been played at the highly-regarded Jack Nicklaus course since 2014. It’s an outstanding venue, that successfully hosted The Presidents Cup, Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in the past and recently LIV Golf Korea earlier this year – won by Bryson DeChambeau from the United States.

The Shinhan Donghae Open also marks the start of an exciting run in until to the end of the season for the Asian Tour. Ten more events remain after this week offering over US$20 million in prize money.

This week marks the 41st staging of the Shinhan Donghae Open.

Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Scott Vincent. Picture by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.

Tournament Information

• Tournament: The 41st Shinhan Donghae Open
• Date: 11th – 14th September, 2025
• Venue: Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, Incheon, Korea
• Par/Yards: 72 / 7,470 yards
• Purse: KRW1,500,000,000 (approx. US$1.08 million, winner approx. US$194,500)
• Defending champion: Kensei Hirata (JPN)
• Asian Tour leg: Tenth
• Edition of tournament: 41st
• Total number of players: 138
• Format: Stroke play over four rounds with cut after 36 holes for leading 65 pros plus ties.
• The tournament is tri-sanctioned with the Korean PGA Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation.
• Social media hashtags: #TimeToRise #ShinhanDonghaeOpen

Japan Tour number one Tatsunori Shogenji. Picture by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images.

Field Breakdown

• Order of Merit winners: Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Scott Hend (2016)
• Nationalities: 14
• Top contenders: Scott Vincent (ZIM), Taichi Kho (HKG), Seonghyeon Kim (KOR), Richard T. Lee (CAN), Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA), Kazuki Higa (JPN), Tatsunori Shogenji (JPN), Taehoon Ok (KOR), Kazuki Higa (JPN), Tatsunori Shogenji (JPN), Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA), Taiga Nagano (JPN), Doyeob Mun (KOR)
• Highest ranked player on OWGR: Seonghyeon Kim #145
• Highest ranked player on 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Scott Vincent (ZIM) #1
• Number of amateurs: 2
• Number of Korean players in the field: 56

Tournament Notes

• Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit much thanks to a win at the International Series Morocco in July, but he has also posted strong finishes such as a T4 in the Kolon Korea Open, a T8 at the Smart Infinity Philippine Open and a T10 at the International Series India presented by DLF this season. Vincent has finished second in this tournament twice before, in 2016 and 2018, although those close calls came at a different venue. In addition to his good results on the Asian Tour this season he has also posted three top-fives on the Japan Golf Tour – the most recent at the Sansan KBC Augusta Golf Tournament two weeks ago.
• Canadian Richard T. Lee won this tournament in 2017, and he also had a runner up in 2020 during Covid when the event was only sanctioned by the Korean PGA Tour. Lee had a fantastic season in 2024 finishing third on the Order of Merit, after a win at the BNI Indonesian Masters and five other top-fives. So far this season he has a fifth at the International Series Macau and a T10 at the International Series India presented by DLF as his best Asian Tour results. His impressive current cut streak on the Asian Tour now stands at 22, going all the way back to the International Series Singapore in October of 2023. On the 2025 Korean PGA Tour Lee has posted a win at the Woori Financial Group Championship, runners-up at the Dong-A Membership Exchange Group Open and SK Telecom Open, and a fourth at the Hana Bank Invitational as his best results. He is currently in second place on that tour’s Genesis Points Ranking list.
• Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho finished second in the Mandiri Indonesia Open two weeks ago and has had a strong 2025 season, currently sitting in fifth place on the Order of Merit. In addition to his runner up in Jakarta he has also posted a T4 at the Kolon Korean Open, a T6 at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and a T10 at the International Series Morocco. The winner of the 2023 World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club looks poised to record his second Asian Tour victory soon.
• Korean Seonghyeon Kim, who played on the PGA Tour in 2023 and 2024, is currently sixth on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List after a win at the AdventHealth Championship, a runner-up at The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island, a T2 at the Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro and two other top 10s on that tour. Although he has three missed cuts in his last four events on the Korn Ferry Tour, he should still be considered a strong contender for the title this week.
• Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand won the Kolon Korea Open in late May for his third Asian Tour title and helped by a T2 at the season opening Smart Infinity Philippine Open he now sits in third place on the Order of Merit. Playing on the Korean PGA Tour two weeks ago he finished T9 and he is currently leading the KPGA’s Rookie of the Year Points list.
• Korean Taehoon Ok leads the Korean Tour’s Genesis Points Ranking after two wins and five other top-fives, the latest of his wins coming at the KPGA Gunsan CC Open in late June. He is also a one-time winner on the Asian Tour, having won the 2022 International Series Korea on Jeju island.
• Japan’s Kazuki Higa started his 2025 Asian Tour campaign strong, going T8, T5 and T2 in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open, International Series India Presented by DLF and New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sports respectively, to rank ninth on the Order of Merit going into this week. Higa won this tournament in 2022 when it was played in Japan, the only time the event has ventured outside of Korea. On the Japan Tour he has recorded five top 10’s this season, including a win at the ISPS HANDA Explosion in the Summer in mid-August.
• Fellow Japanese Tatsunori Shogenji leads the Japan Tour rankings after victories at the Japan Players Championship and the Token Homemate Cup. He has also impressively recorded six other top 10’s on his home tour during the season so far. In his six Asian Tour events this year, he has a T16 at the Smart Infinity Philippine Open as his best result.
• Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai is Asian Tour’s most recent winner, having triumphed convincingly at the Mandiri Indonesia Open two weeks ago for his fourth Asian Tour title. Having gone through a rough patch to start the season with four straight missed cuts, the two-time winner in the second half of 2024 looked fully in control of his game in Jakarta, and will be looking to finish the season in the same fashion as last year.
• Doyeob Mun from Korea, who had won the GS Caltex Maekyung Open back in early May, just won the KPGA Founders Cup on the Korean Tour last week for his second title of the year. He also finished fifth the previous week on the same tour.
• Japan’s Taiga Nagano won the LOPIA Fujisankei Classic on the Japan Tour last week for his first professional title, his previous best finish had been a runner-up at the 2023 Japan Players Championship. He’s also had four other top 10’s on his home circuit in the 2025 season.
• Korean Sangmoon Bae is the only player in the field that has won this tournament on two occasions, in 2013 and 2014, and both times the event was held at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea. Of players not actively playing, his countryman Sangho Choi has posted three victories, in 1985, 1993 and 1995, when Hansung Country Club was the host venue.

After a series of discussions with the promoter and sponsor, the Asian Tour agreed it is not appropriate to stage the International Series Cambodia this year given the political situation in the country.

The organisers issued the following joint statement today.

Joint statement: Cancellation of International Series Cambodia

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series:

“In light of recent developments in the region, and in consultation with our partners at the Royal Group, the International Series Cambodia presented by Royal Group tournament will not take place as planned.

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Royal Group, Chhun On Golf Club, and the people of Cambodia for their support throughout the planning of this event. Our thoughts are with those affected during this complex time and we remain confident that Cambodia will provide a wonderful stage for world-class golf in the future. We look forward to the opportunity to return when circumstances allow.”

Neak Oknha Kith Meng, Chairman of Royal Group:

“We recognise the importance of compassion in these times. The Royal Group remains committed to supporting Cambodia and its people. We look forward to the time for this sporting event to take place and serve as a platform for national pride and unity.”

Kensei Hirata arrived at the Shinhan Donghae Open enjoying a rich vein of form and lived up to the billing as the one to watch by winning the 40th edition of the revered Korean event. Story from the 2024 Asian Tour Yearbook.

Following rounds of 71, 67, and a stunning 62, the 23-year-old from Osaka closed with a six-under-par 66 and finished on a spectacular 22-under total at the Ocean Course at Club72 in Incheon, close to the international airport.

However, it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for the Japanese star, who had won the Fujisankei Classic on the Japan Golf Tour the week before. It was one of four titles he secured during the 2024 season, and one of three he won in the space of four weeks.

The challenge for Hirata [main picture] in the tri-sanctioned tournament, with Japan and Korea, came in the form of Australia’s Travis Smyth, who finished with a brilliant 64, but in the end, it could only secure him a runner-up spot one shot behind the champion.

The popular man-bunned Sydneysider started the day three shots behind Hirata but caught up with the leader by the turn with a dream run of eight birdies in his opening nine. However, even as Smyth was mounting the charge, Hirata managed to make three birdies and an eagle, on the par-five fifth, and did not let his rival go past him.

Kensei Hirata’s victory last year was one of three in the space of four weeks.

Both players were at 21-under as they started the back nine, but birdies dried up for Smyth, while Hirata picked up shots on the 11th, 13th and 15th to give himself enough breathing space to have the luxury of making two bogies coming in.

Japan’s Kosuke Suzuki, who started the day sharing the lead with Hirata, ended in sole third place, four shots behind the champion. Korean Minkyu Kim (68), who won the Kolon Korea Open presented by ELORD earlier in the season, finished in fourth place, one behind Suzuki.

It’s always difficult to follow a super-low round with another. Hirata must have kept his eyes on Smyth’s charge but said after collecting the trophy that he was trying to focus on his own game.

“Early on in the round, I did not think I would win, so this is a surprise and an honour,” said Hirata, who became the fourth player from Japan to win the prestigious title.

“I tried to play my own game. Even if I had looked at the leaderboard and seen Travis playing well, I would have focused on what I was doing. I shot 62 yesterday and it’s hard to follow that up, but to be honest, I did not think about that round.

Travis Smyth mounted a challenge on Sunday making a staggering eight birdies on the front nine.

“This title gives me a huge chance to play on the global stage with cards now in Japan, Korea and Asia. I have only played in Japan.”

As good as Hirata’s Sunday round was, the foundation of the victory was laid the day before when he shot a 10-under round in the baking heat that engulfed the region after a few wet days. It would have counted as a new course record but did not, as preferred lies were being used during the week.

The Japanese star started the day with five birdies in his first five holes and caught up with Suzuki, who had started the third round three ahead of him. He then picked up another shot on the seventh hole and then made four more birdies in his last six holes.

“I started off really well and so wanted to see how far I could go,” said Hirata on his bogey-free 62. “I was just trying to take it easy and not put pressure on myself. That helped me play well until the end.”

Smyth’s front nine of eight-under on Sunday would have counted as an Asian Tour record if not for the preferred lies. But he was undone by nine straight pars on his back nine.

“Bittersweet, after shooting eight-under, but not winning,” said the 29-year-old.

“Never had seven birdies in a row, that’s another PB of mine. Seven-under yesterday and then eight-under today; amazing weekend. To fall one short sucks a bit, but my game is in a good spot; I think I am pretty close. I am just proud of the way I played.

“The front nine, I honestly don’t know. Obviously, everything went my way. I do have the ability to hit good shots but to hit so many good shots in the space of nine holes is pretty amazing. The front nine is gettable if you drive it in play. It was amazing, it was good shot after good shot.”

Hong Kong’s Isaac Lam and Leon D’Souza have made it through to this year’s Link Hong Kong Open after successfully negotiating the local qualifier today on the New Course at Hong Kong Golf Club.

With local hero Taichi Kho carrying his bag, Lam carded a final-round, three-under-par 67, coming from two shots back overnight to seal a one-stroke victory on six-under 134 (67-67) on Friday.

Lam said he was “feeling over the moon” to have reached his second Hong Kong Open, having previously played as an amateur in 2020.

“It is a great honour to play this year’s Link Hong Kong Open,” Lam said. “I know my game is up there to compete and I know I belong on the Asian Tour, despite not being on the Asian Tour yet. I have a goal in mind, and I will be working towards that later in the year with my coach.”

Kho is making a habit of guiding his fellow Hongkongers to the Open, having caddied for Terrance Ng, when he won the 2024 qualifier.

“I had my girlfriend for the first round, and she was great keeping me calm,” Lam said. “But Taichi definitely helped me today. Credit to him.”

D’Souza, the overnight leader, shot a l70 to hold on to second place at five under, just denying Shane Kuiti, who fired a tournament-best 63 to finish on three under.

The Asian Tour player said it was “nice to have” Asian Games teammate Terrence Ng, who has qualified for the Open through the HKPGA Order of Merit, on his bag and was happy to “get the job done”.

D’Souza admitted there was a lot at stake this year. Aside from joining defending champion Patrick Reed, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose on the honours board, the 2025 Link Hong Kong Open winner will earn a place at two of the game’s biggest tournaments, the 2026 Masters Tournament and 154^th Open Championship.

“We want to do so well, because it’s the home tournament, it’s a big tournament and now with the Masters and The Open obviously it can get a little crazy with the expectations,” D’Souza added. “I just want to focus on what I can control with my game, keep building from here, keep working on things.”

“Many congratulations to both Isaac and Leon on making it through to our historic championship. I wish them all the very best and hope they relish the opportunity to play alongside some of the world’s best,” said Andy Kwok, captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Local hero Kho is among those stars to have already signed up for this year’s Link Hong Kong Open – to be staged at the Hong Kong Golf Club from October 30 to November 2.

Picture courtesy of Wun Suen/ iD8 Works.

In-form 2025 tournament winners Dean Burmester [main picture] and Marc Leishman headline the latest wave of LIV Golf stars confirmed for the International Series Philippines – one of the region’s most anticipated events.

South African Burmester brings the momentum of a breakthrough victory at LIV Golf Miami, where he defeated heavyweights Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann in a dramatic play-off. His stellar 2025 season also included a runner-up finish at LIV Golf Hong Kong and two additional top three results, helping him secure fifth place in the season standings and lift Stinger GC to third overall.

Leishman, a member of the all-Australian Ripper GC, arrives in the Philippines on the back of a superb season that included both an individual and team win in Miami, plus five further top-15 finishes.

Adding further star power to the line-up is veteran Richard Bland of Cleeks GC. The two-time Senior Major champion and top 10 finisher at International Series England last year recorded six top 15 finishes this season on LIV Golf League, including an impressive fifth place in Adelaide.

Iron Heads GC standout Jinichiro Kozuma is also in the field. The Japanese player, who originally earned his spot through the LIV Golf Promotions event in 2023, has shown real promise this season with three top 10 finishes, including a runner-up result in Dallas.

Marc Leishman. Picture by Christian Petersen/Getty Images.

Kozuma’s former teammate, Scott Vincent, will also join the line-up in the Philippines, arriving in excellent form following a commanding victory at the International Series Morocco. On top of that, the Zimbabwean also secured three additional top 10 finishes on the Asian Tour this season, putting him in strong contention and marking him as one of the players to watch.

Asian Tour rising star Danthai Boonma will also be in action at Sta. Elena Golf Club this October. The Thai talent has enjoyed a standout season, currently ranked fifth on The International Series Rankings and eighth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, bolstered by a runner-up finish at International Series Morocco.

Last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit champion John Catlin will also be in the mix for what promises to be a thrilling week in the Philippines. The American enjoyed a standout season in 2024 with back-to-back wins at International Series Macau presented by Wynn and Saudi Open presented by PIF, as well as two narrow play-off losses. The trio will be chasing vital rankings points available to all in the field that could ultimately earn them a place on the LIV Golf League next season.

Four major champions playing on LIV Golf League have already been confirmed: Range Goats GC captain Bubba Watson, 4Aces GC’s Patrick Reed, and the Stinger GC duo of Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, along with home hero Miguel Tabuena.

The International Series Philippines is the seventh of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour schedule that form a pathway onto LIV Golf for players from around the world via the season-long Rankings race.

The tournament will take place at Sta. Elena Golf Club from 23–26 October, bringing a dynamic entertainment experience with headline concerts, exclusive hospitality, live music, gourmet dining, and immersive fan activities throughout tournament week.