Bank Mandiri will title sponsor the Indonesia Open for the fourth successive year this season – the Asian Tour announced today.

The tournament, one of the region’s most enduring and prestigious National Opens, will also make a popular return to Pondok Indah Golf Course – a regular destination for the tournament over the years.

It will be played from 28-31 August and boast prizemoney of US$500,000, with the winner earning US$90,000.

Bank Mandiri and Pondok Indah Golf Course have partnered with the country’s National Open on many occasions before, with this year’s edition representing an exciting extension of the partnership.

Wisnu Trihanggodo, Senior Executive Vice President of Corporate Relation, Bank Mandiri, said: “Bank Mandiri believe in staying the course with key projects that we are associated with and our involvement with the Indonesia Open is a perfect example of this.

Steve Lewton triumphed last year. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

“It has been an honour to title sponsor the tournament since 2022 and be able to watch the tournament grow so successfully. The longevity of the event itself, the respect it has in the region as a whole and the important role it plays in helping the development of the game of golf in our country are some of the primary reasons why we see this as a preferred partnership.

“We are looking forward to another great week of golf at a famous Jakarta golf course that is rich in history, Pondok Indah Golf Course.”

The tournament, won last year by Englishman Steve Lewton – third time lucky as he was runner-up in the previous two editions – will be the ninth event of the season on the Asian Tour.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour, commented: “In its now regular slot, mid-way through the season, the Mandiri Indonesia Open will once again help ensure a strong pivot into the second half of the season.

“With an exemplary title sponsor in Bank Mandiri and perfect venue in Pondok Indah Golf Course the stage has been set for another great week of golf in keeping with the history of the Indonesia Open. We thank them and our friends at Persatuan Golf Indonesia for their cumulative efforts in ensuring everything is on track and ahead of schedule.”

Suharsono, Secretary-General, Persatuan Golf Indonesia (the Indonesia Golf Association), said: “We are truly grateful to Bank Mandiri for their loyal support of our National Open. We have enjoyed three excellent years working with them and their unprecedented four-year title sponsorship of our event is testament to their wish to help grow the game in Indonesia.

Nitithorn Thippong was triumphant at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in 2023. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

“We are also extremely excited to be heading back to one of Indonesia’s finest golf clubs that boasts a world-class golf course and has a long association with our flagship event, Pondok Indah Golf Course.”

Pondok Indah Golf Course last hosted the tournament in 2023, when Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong triumphed, having staged six successive tournaments from 2016.

In the 1970’s Robert Trent Jones Jnr designed the course, while it underwent a complete renovation in 2010. Located very close to Jakarta city centre, it famously hosted the World Cup of Golf in 1983 – won by the American team of John Cook and Rex Caldwell.

Said Erick Purwanto, Director of Pondok Indah Golf Course: “It is an honour for Pondok Indah Golf Course to be hosting the country’s National Open again. The tournament has played an important part in helping to shape our history and we will once again pull out all the stops to deliver a world class tournament.”

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar is the only player to win the tournament on three occasions, with two of those victories, in 2016 and 2022, coming at Pondok Indah Golf Course.

LIV Golf star Ben Campbell will defend his International Series Morocco title at the prestigious Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, as part of a strong field for the fourth event of The International Series season from July 3–6.

The New Zealander, who claimed a stunning play-off victory over in-form John Catlin on the Red Course last year, will be joined once again by his American rival, with the six-time Asian Tour champion looking to go one better than last season, when Campbell’s eagle-birdie finish reeled him in at the last.

2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel from South Africa, a rival on the LIV Golf League at Stinger GC, brings major credentials to the tournament while American Peter Uihlein, Campbell’s teammate at RangeGoats GC, will also pose a threat after claiming two victories on The International Series last season in England and Qatar.

HyFlyers GC player Andy Ogletree from the United States, the 2019 US Amateur champion who progressed to LIV Golf after claiming the International Series Rankings title in 2023, is also in the field along with serial winner Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand, who won his seventh Asian Tour title at the inaugural edition of International Series Morocco event in 2022.

For the 33-year-old Campbell, Morocco is more than just another stop on the calendar. It’s where his rise onto the LIV Golf League truly began.

Ben Campbell pictured after winning in Morocco last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

His victory at International Series Morocco in 2024 proved pivotal, sparking a stellar season which included three top-five finishes towards the end of the campaign. That run of form caught the eye of two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and earned a draft onto the American’s RangeGoats GC team.

“Returning to Morocco is incredibly special,” said Campbell. “Last year’s win really changed the trajectory of my career. The course, the energy there, it all came together for something unforgettable. I’m excited to be back and ready to defend the title.”

Campbell, who is a two-time winner on The International Series having claimed the Hong Kong Open in 2023, finished third on the International Series Rankings last year. He was also second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit behind Catlin.

He has been enjoying a strong debut season on the LIV Golf League, most noticeably finishing third at LIV Golf Singapore. Campbell currently sits 25^th on the standings.

“Morocco has been a key destination for The International Series,” said Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series. “We have seen two incredible tournaments there, played on a world-class venue, offering genuine growth and development for the region’s top talent.

“The players love going there, and the atmosphere is starting to build as we approach the event. This year, with such a high-calibre field featuring stars from both the Asian Tour and LIV Golf, we expect another unforgettable week of golf that highlights the global appeal and prestige of The International Series.”

As the fourth of the 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour schedule, Morocco plays a vital role in the season-long race for the International Series Rankings which offer players a pathway to LIV Golf League.

The International Series Rankings champion is guaranteed a place on the roster for the 2026 LIV Golf season, while other high finishers earn a place on the LIV Golf Promotions event, which provides an alternative route onto the roster.

The International Series is also the eighth stop of the season on the Asian Tour. Three International Series events have been played so far, in India, Macau and Japan.

The Asian Development Tour (ADT) will follow in the footsteps of the Asian Tour by staging groundbreaking events in North Africa this year.

Two events in successive weeks, called the Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech tournaments, will be played in Morocco’s vibrant and colourful city of Marrakech in June – marking the first time the Asian Tour’s popular secondary circuit has visited the African continent.

Marrakech Samanah Golf Club will host the first Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech event from 19-22 June, while Marrakech Al Maaden Golf Resort will welcome the second one the following week, from 26-29 June.

Both events will offer lucrative purses of US$125,000 and will be jointly sanctioned with the Arab Golf Federation (AGF), as part of a three-year commitment.

They will be part of a pioneering African adventure as they will lead into the International Series Morocco – being played on the Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, in the nation’s capital Rabat, from 3-6 July.

Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour: “Over the past few years the Asian Tour has regularly visited Morocco, and now the time is right for the Asian Development Tour to make its first visit.

“This is a signature moment and the result of collaborative efforts with key partners, the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association, the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation and the Arab Golf Federation. We share their vision of building the profile of the game in the region in order to help nurture the next generation of professional golfers.

“We’d also like to thank Marrakech Samanah Golf Club and Marrakech Al Maaden Golf Resort. They will be two new wonderful venues for our membership to enjoy in one of the world’s most inspiring cities.

“The Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech events mark the start of an exciting new chapter for the Asian Development Tour that will open the door for some incredible new opportunities.”

Competitors in the two new ADT events will also have the opportunity to play in the International Series Morocco. Invitations will be extended to the two leading players (not otherwise exempt), from an aggregate money list over the two tournaments.

Mustapha Zine, Vice President of the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation, said: “Hosting the Asian Development Tour for the first time marks a new milestone for professional golf in Morocco. Through the Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech events, we are not only providing an international competitive platform but also creating a genuine opportunity for our talents to grow and progress.

“The inclusion of two of our courses on the Tour’s official calendar is a strong endorsement of the quality of our infrastructure and our thriving golf ecosystem.

“This initiative is fully aligned with the High Directives of our President, His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, who envisions Morocco as a global golf hub – capable of hosting major professional tournaments while fostering the rise of a new generation of Moroccan golfers.”

Each tournament will feature 132 players, with 70 from the ADT, 40 players nominated by the AGF, and several invitees.

The Kolon Korea Open produced a thrilling final round on the Dune Course at La Vie Est Belle – a layout that was used for the first time in the championship. It was a very challenging track for most players as the average score for the week was 73.873 on the par 71 layout, nearly three shots over par. Even the par fives averaged over par.

The narrow fairways proved particularly difficult to hit, and only two players, Swede Bjorn Hellgren and Jed Morgan from Australia, reached the 50% Fairways Hit mark.

Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana [main picture] came out on top at the end of a tightly fought contest with compatriot and close-friend Poom Saksansin, and both players produced an amazing display on and around the difficult greens.

Sadom excelled on the greens to win his third Asian Tour title, ranking second in Putts Per Greens in Regulation (GIR) with 1.755 and T2 in Putts per Round with 28.25. The rest of his short game was also outstanding, especially on Sunday when he shot a one-under-par 70 while only hitting seven greens in regulation. He got up and down eight out of 11 times.

Poom Saksansin. 

His Scrambling percentage for the week was 73.91%, ranking sixth in this category. Thanks to this he was able to keep bogeys to a minimum and tie for first in the Fewest Bogeys or Worse category with eight, together with Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent and Songgyu Yoo from Korea.

Sadom’s driving and iron play was also in good form, placing T6 in the GIR category with 68.06% and fifth in Fairways Hit with 44.64% while averaging 278.75 yards off the tee.

Runner-up Poom’s putting was exquisite for the first three days, and after 54 holes he was T1 on Putts per Round and second in Putts per GIR. After a two-over-par 73 on Sunday his stats on the greens fell away slightly, dropping to fifth in Putts per GIR with 1.784 and T8 in Putts per Round with 29. Thanks to his fine putting Poom made 16 birdies for the week, only one behind category leader Dongmin Kim of Korea but one more than the winner.

Just like Sadom, Poom also performed very nicely with his approach game and driving, ranking third in GIR with 70.83% and T3 in Fairways Hit with 48.21%. His GIR stat is particularly impressive considering he was the shortest player off the tee of the players making the cut, averaging only 256.17 yards compared to Sadom’s 278.75. Category leader David Boriboonsub, also from Thailand, averaged 312.5.

Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho produced a stunning bogey free final round of 64, the lowest round of the week, to catapult himself from T38 to T4 on the final leaderboard – his third best finish on the Asian Tour.

Statistics Categories leaders at the Kolon Korea Open (of players making the cut):

• Putts per Round – Bio Kim (KOR): 27.5
• Putts per GIR – Doyeob Mun (KOR): 1.727
• GIR – Kevin Yuan (AUS): 75%
• Fairways Hitm – Jed Morgan (AUS), Bjorn Hellgren (SWE): 50%
• Driving Distance – David Boriboonsub (THA): 312.5 yards
• Most Eagles – Doyeob Mun (KOR), Sangyeop Lee (KOR), Teayang Jung (KOR), Jaewon Lee (KOR), Baekjun Kim (KOR): 1
• Most Birdies –  Dongmin Kim (KOR): 17
• Fewest Bogies or Worse – Songgyu Yoo (KOR), Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA), Scott Vincent (ZIM): 8
• Scrambling – Scott Vincent (ZIM): 78.95%
• Bounce back – Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA): 50%

Pictures courtesy of the Korea Golf Association.

Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana [main picture] put an end to a three-year wait for another victory on the Asian Tour today after winning the Kolon Korea Open – here on the unforgiving Dunes Course La Vie Est Belle golf club.

The name of the club means ‘life is beautiful’ and Sadom will certainly feel that today after prevailing following a gripping, see-saw battle with his countryman Poom Saksansin.

He closed with a combative one-under-par 70, on the long and demanding Dunes Course, to beat Poom by two shots in Korea’s flagship event.

Sadom finished the tournament on seven under, while third-round leader Poom closing with a 73.

The victory also means he has secured a place in The Open at Royal Portrush in July, as this week’s event is part of the Open Qualifying Series. And he has also moved to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, overtaking Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz and American Ollie Schniederjans.

Korean Songgyu Yoo claimed third place, another two shots back, after shooting 72.

Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho finished strongly, carding the lowest round of the week, a 64, to end in share of fourth with a group of seven players that includes

Sadom Kaewkanjana.

Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent and 19-year-old Korean amateur star Minsu Kim – the reigning Korea Amateur and Taiwan Amateur champion.

This is Sadom’s first success since his memorable win in another of the region’s National Opens, the Singapore Open, in 2022.

He said: “Yeah, honestly, I’m very excited, of course. I tried to concentrate more than last three rounds, so I could do it. I’m very happy.

“It is a big honour to win this event – it’s one of the biggest in the region.”

It was a thrilling final round with the two front runners constantly exchanging the lead. Sadom started the day one behind Poom and was two back after a bogey on the first. However, Poom then doubled the next to square things up.

Sadom took the lead for the first time with a birdie on three but gave it back with a dropped shot on five. He went ahead again with a birdie on seven before Poom caught him after a birdie on eight. By the turn, Poom was one ahead after his playing partner dropped a shot on nine.

They were back to all square once more when Sadom made birdie on 12. Crucially, Poom then dropped a shot on 14 to hand the initiative back to Sadom. Another dropped shot by Poom on the ensuing hole gave Sadom a two-shot cushion with three to play and from there he held his composure to hang on for a much-needed victory.

“I’m happy when I play with my Thai friends, it helps, and Poom is a great player. His putter and the short game is fantastic. So, yeah, very happy to play with him today,” he said.

Poom Saksansin.

“I have changed my swing a little bit, I was trying to find a way to get better. So now I think I have, and I can rely on it.”

It’s an important result for Sadom. When he won the Singapore Open it was his second Asian Tour victory after his success in the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in 2019 and more titles were expected to follow for one of the region’s finest young players. However, he had to wait until today before his third victory after coming close on many occasions. Since that win in Singapore he’d finished runner-up on three occasions, including in this year’s season-opening Smart Infinity Singapore Open and recorded five other top fives.

He becomes the third Thai to win this event. Thongchai Jaidee was the first in 2000 while Jazz Janewattananond triumphed in 2019.

His qualification for The Open also has special significance as he played in the tournament once before, back in 2022. On that occasion, when it was played at St. Andrews, he tied for 11^th – the best performance by a player from his country in the game’s oldest Major. It’s the only time he has played in a Major.

Poom will be disappointed to have just missed out, but he put in an incredible performance on a course that in theory should not suit him as he was one of the shortest hitters in the field.

However, with the fairways looking like narrow landing strips and the greens hard and fast he was able to capitalise on his strong trademark iron play and magical short game. He also scrambled brilliantly and putted like a surgeon. He may have missed a few of the tight fairways but he didn’t miss much else.

Sadly, after he finished his round, he was told his grandma had passed away – putting things very much into perspective.

He said: “It was a tough day, not too bad actually to finish in second place and keep my card. But I got some bad news from my house, so the result is not important now.”

The Asian Tour’s next stop is the International Series Morocco. The US$2million event will be played at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam from 3-6 July.

Pictures courtesy Korea Golf Association.

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, one of the shortest hitters in the field playing one of the longest and toughest courses of the season, proved that distance isn’t everything today by taking the third-round lead in the Kolon Korea Open – on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club.

Poom, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour, returned a two-under-par 69, helped by a brilliant day on the greens, to lead by one, on seven under, and put himself on the road to an unlikely victory.

His compatriot Sadom Kaewkanjana, paired in the same final group today, is in second place after also shooting 69. The third member of their group, Songgyu Yoo, the leader at the start of the day, is next best placed two shots back. The Korean led for much of the day, but triple bogeyed the 16^th – if not for that he would have been the joint leader.

The statistics show that Poom was the shortest off the tee for the first two rounds, out of the players who made the cut. He averaged 250.67 yards, which is very short by today’s standards. However, he has let his touch, and indeed his calm temperament, doing the talking on a golf course that mirrors the set-up of a Major, and is not taking any prisoners.

Sadom Kaewkanjana.

He made three birdies and dropped only one shot, draining putt after important putt, like the 12-footer for par on the 15^th, and another from the same length for par on the next. On the last it looked like he might drop a shot after finding a green bunker, that left him with a difficult shot from 46 yards. Undeterred he splashed out to a foot and tapped in for par.

“Good up and downs, really good,” said Poom, who last win was the Yeangder TPC in 2023.

“I putted better than I expected, but my shots were not as good as I expected too. Maybe I got a little bit chicken, I think, because I was in a good position, so my swing wasn’t as consistent.”

Victory tomorrow also brings with it a place in The Open, as this week’s event is part of the Open Qualifying Series.

It’s an incredible additional prize but that’s not on his mind too much.

He added: “No, to win this would be big enough, winning is big enough.”

Sadom has not tasted victory since winning the SMBC Singapore Open five years ago. He was joint second in the season opening Smart Infinity Philippine Open and will have another great chance tomorrow to finally get his hands on some more silverware.

“I played with Poom today and will tomorrow. He played so well, and his short game is fantastic. The putting was so good, so just fun to play with him.

“Tomorrow is going to be fun and a big incentive to try and make it into The Open.”

Songgyu Yoo.

The Thai finished joint 11^th in the only time he played in The Open, in 2022.

Yoo, the tournament’s surprise package with only a handful of top-10s on the Korean PGA over the past decade, was left to rue the costly par-five 16^th, where he second found trouble.

He explained: “I hit the ball into the penalty area (hazard), so that was unfortunate. My shot went right, it was just a miss. The ball went where it shouldn’t have gone. I was going for the green.”

Korean Yunseok Kang is in fourth spot, four off the lead, following a 68, ahead of compatriot Giwhan Kim, a stroke behind after a 72.

Zimbabwean Scott Vincent fired a 72 and is in a group of six players six behind Poom.

Picture courtesy Korea Golf Association.

Korean Songgyu Yoo [main picture] enjoyed one of the proudest days of his golfing career today by taking the halfway lead in the tournament that means the most to him, the Kolon Korea Open.

He shot a second-round four-under-par 67 for a two-stroke lead, on seven-under, from Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, who fired a 68. Poom’s countryman Sadom Kaewkanjana is one shot back after a 69.

It meant for the second successive day a relative unknown leads the way in the nation’s flagship event, after Korean Yujun Jung, a pre-qualifier, was the surprise leader yesterday. He shot a 76 today, not a bad result after being eight over after eight, and is six behind.

The Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club, which is hosting this event for the first time, is proving to be a brutal test of golf. Built into a steep sided valley, each hole is virtually on its own plateau. It’s also been configured like a Major: the fairways are narrow landing strips, greens racy and pin placements stringent.

Yoo, however, is comfortably winning the war of attrition. He made five birdies and dropped one shot looking like a proven winner, even though he has yet to win a professional event. Past experience here is proving invaluable.

Poom Saksansin.

“I’ve played Monday qualifying here two or three times before,” he said.

“Every time I’ve come, it’s always felt like a good fit. The other course here [the Old Course] is difficult, but this one feels comfortable.”

Few of his peers would agree with that, so he will be one of the few heading into the weekend with confidence.

“I thought I would play with the same mentality as the first round. The fairways are narrow, but I hit seven of them. When I missed the fairway, I focused on getting it on the green rather than going for the flagstick. I just had to be prepared for long putts.”

He said he also has his eye firmly set on the prize that comes with winning this week: a place in The Open at Royal Portrush in July.

Poom made seven birdies, five on the back nine, offset by four bogeys.

“Better than I expected, because I haven’t played well for long time, about a year and a half,” he said.

Jed Morgan.

“So, it’s a good chance to have a good result this week. I’ve kept trying a new swing, I think, almost every day, and I got some good feeling on the driving range this week.”

When asked why the course is so challenging, he responded: “Pin positions, I think, and some holes are long, and the pins are really tough. But I was lucky, I got into good positions, easy to get it up and down. Sometimes it was difficult to get it up and down, but I made a long putt to save it.”

He added he feels he needs to fade the ball over the weekend to have a chance.

Australian Jed Morgan is next best placed after a 72. He is four off the pace, tied with Korean Giwhan Kim, in with 70.

Morgan just kept his card last year, finishing 64^th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit – the leading 65 retain their playing privileges – and is making the most of it this season.

“Yeah, it’s been consistent, this season for sure,” said Morgan, who is presently 21^st on the Merit list, having made five out of six cuts.

Scott Vincent. 

“I’m proud of the way I responded, just kept my card obviously last year and I’m happy the way I’ve started this year. So hopefully some fireworks are to come.”

Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent is another shot back in a group of players and has a chance to achieve the rare feat of qualifying for two Majors in the space of a week. He successfully negotiated a US Open Final Stage Qualifier in Japan on Monday and would dearly like to also book his ticket to Portrush on Sunday.

He too was delighted to come off the course better than par: “Amazing day, amazing round. Only hit two fairways. More than happy with that.”

Korean Doyeob Mun, who won the GS Caltex Maekyung Open at the beginning of the month, chose to by-pass putting all together in order to get into contention. He aced the par-three eighth and on the 18^th he chose to chip on the green to overcome the undulations and promptly holed out for a birdie. It meant he had the best round of the day, a 66, and moved to even par in a tie for 16th.

Richard T. Lee is further back on three over but that return meant he made his 22^nd successive cut after shooting a 71. The cut was made at plus four. He last missed a cut on the Asian Tour at the International Series Singapore in October of 2023. The impressive run reflects the form of one of the inform players over the past few seasons. That also includes on the Korean PGA Tour this year, where he has triumphed once in a play-off, and finished second – also after a play-off loss, just last week.

Picture courtesy of the Korean Golf Association.

Japan has been good to Zimbabwe’s star golfer Scott Vincent. Three victories on the main tour there – two in 2021 and another the following year – helped launched his career after a string of runner-up results since turning professional in 2017.

Earlier this week, on Monday, the Land of the Rising Sun delivered once again. He successfully negotiated a US Open Final Stage qualifier at Tarao Country Club, Shiga Prefecture. Three places were up for grabs, and he tied first with the country’s rising star Yuta Sugiura.

It means that in just three weeks he will make his debut in the US Open – which is being played at Oakmont Country Club, the second week of June. It will also be only the second time he has played in a Major, and the 33-year-old is thrilled to be adding another feather to his cap.

“It’s always been a goal, of course, you know, you want to play with the best in the world,” said Vincent, after moving into contention at the Kolon Korea Open today following a second round four-under-par 67.

“You want to play the US Open, you know, they say it’s the hardest tournament in golf – they tend to set up just that way. What a challenge it’s going to be. Really looking forward to just trying to figure it out, you know, put those puzzle pieces together, and, hopefully it comes right, but regardless, you know, what an amazing opportunity.”

Vincent pictured winning the Mizuno Open in 2022, which earned him a place in The Open, his first Major. Picture by Toru Hanai/R&A via Getty Images.

He first played in a Major three years ago at The Open. He booked his ticket for that thanks to winning the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open in Japan, at the end of May, the week before claiming the International Series England, his sole win to date on the Asian Tour.

The fact that this week’s course, La Vie Est Belle, has been set up like a US Open venue – it’s long, has very narrow fairways and fast greens – could be timely.

He said: “Playing this course definitely helps. Yeah, I think I just got to go and see it [Oakmont]. That’s the plan. I’m trying to get there the week before and take a look at it, then go back and prepare and then come on back.”

He shot back-to-back 67s on Monday to qualify on 10 under – a perfect early birthday present as he turned 33 the following day.

The fine result comes off the back of a strong start to the season. Surprisingly, he missed the cut in the International Series Japan presented by Moutai at the start of this month, but he has impressed with top-10s in the Philippines and India. He was also in the hunt in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, also here in Korea, three weeks ago before finishing in a tie for 12^th.

A week after winning the Mizuno Open in Japan he claimed the International Series England.

He explains: “It [form] just comes and goes. But I think overall, you know, the picture is feeling more positive. It feels like we’re heading in the right direction, always making little tweaks here and there, and just trying to figure out what’s going to work well. And I like where it’s heading. You know, it doesn’t always perform, but I like the direction, and so I’m just going to stick with it.”

Vincent’s qualification for the US’s National Open is particularly significant as he has lived in the States for 12 years and his wife Kelsey is American. He also played college golf at Virgina Tech, between 2011 and 2014. He currently lives between places in Florida, for golf, and Colorado, for family – he explains.

He’s very well positioned heading into the weekend here at Korea’s flagship event, just five behind the leader Songgyu Yoo from Korea.

A victory here would complete a unique double in the space of a week for Vincent as first place brings with it a place in The Open in July – as the tournament is part of Open Qualifying Series. The Korea Open, the US Open and The Open hat-trick is on!

Qualifier Yujun Jung from Korea is the surprise first-round leader at the Kolon Korea Open, after he carded a six-under-par 65 on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club – north-east of the capital Seoul.

Jung made it through a 36-hole pre-qualifier, at the same venue, earlier in the month and drew on that experience to set the pace today, shooting the only spotless bogey-free round of the day. It was an impressive result considering the penal set-up. At 7,423 yards it is long and, as is the norm at this tournament, it has been configured like a US Open course with exceptionally narrow fairways and fast greens.

He made six birdies and leads by two from Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and Australian Jed Morgan, both in with 67s – in what is the 67^th staging of Korea’s flagship event and the seventh stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

Jung, aged 22, only debuted on the Korean PGA Tour two years ago but showed little sign of his inexperience at this level today.

“The course was harder than in qualifying,” he said. “The pin placements are tricky, and the greens are fast. Plus, the teeing area has been moved back and the rough is longer.”

Phachara Khongwatmai. Picture courtesy Korea Golf Association.

He started on the back nine, making birdie on his opening hole, the 10^th. Birdies on 13, 17, one, five and six followed.

“Overall, I was happy with all my play. My tee shots have been shaky lately, but today both my tee shots and putting were good. The birdie putts dropped,” he added.

“The fairways are very narrow, but I was able to overcome that because I had good tee shots. I didn’t have a good flow in the beginning of the round, but it got better and better. I think I’m improving little by little.”

He said he’s also been working on hitting the ball further – a big advantage on this week’s layout.

He explained: “My distance has increased since last year. I am hitting it long now and can hit up to 300 metres. Round one is now over. There are still three days left. I’ll try to play with the same mindset as in the first round.”

Phachara, still looking for his second win on the Asian Tour despite a plethora of second-place finishes – 10 to be exact – was delighted with his strong start.

“Surprised to shoot four under today, on a difficult course. I didn’t have any expectations. Just wanted to relax, play freely and not be serious.

Jed Morgan.

“I have not been playing much as I have been spending time with family, nursing a few minor injuries. I have been resting a lot but now my game is starting to gradually come. It’s on the up.”

He made five birdies and dropped just one shot.

He added: “The course is difficult. If you hit your driver well, you can make a good score. But also, if you miss your driver on the correct side, you can still score well.”

His compatriot Denwit Boriboonsub, and Korea’s Minsu Kim, an amateur, Jeunghun Wang, Songgyu Yoo and Junhung Jang are tied for fourth following 68s.

A shot back are Giwhan Kim, Jinho Choi and Doyeon Hwang from Korea, plus Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, Poom Saksansin and Suteepat Prateeptienchai

Defending champion Minkyu Kim had a disappointing day. The Korean, who also won in 2022, fired an 81.

La Vie Est Belle is hosting the tournament for the first time. The past 21 editions have been held at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, but the venue is undergoing course renovations necessitating a change in venue.

Australian Ryan Peake says he fully intends to ‘capitalise’ on his victory at the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport in March and is working hard to ‘get over’ that emotional week.

After shooting an even-par 71 in the first round of the Kolon Korea Open today, being played on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club, the burly lefthander said: “I’m still getting congratulated most places I go. But you know, as far as myself, I think I can move on from that. It’s a little while ago now, and you know, it was great. But I don’t want to just get excited about one week. I want to use that one week and then capitalise on the opportunities it’s given me.”

Travelling to play events overseas on the Asian Tour for the first time is part of the process. This week is just his second event outside of Australia on the Asian Tour; he missed the cut by two strokes three weeks ago in his first: the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, also in Korea.

“Obviously, after winning in New Zealand I just had so much on my plate. There was so much to sort out and things like that. So, yeah, I wasn’t kind of in the best head space as such. You know, I’m still trying to get over that, at the moment,” he explained.

“But look, I’m trying to just come out and take the thinking away from it a little bit and try and just enjoy it a little bit more – instead of trying to, maybe, put so much pressure on myself to keep it rolling. If I just have fun and just do my natural stuff, then it will just come.”

Ryan Peake pictured with the winner’s trophy at the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport. Picture by Steve McArthur/Photosport.

His win New Zealand completed a remarkable Hollywood-style comeback story. He dramatically holed a 10-foot par putt on the par-three 18^th at Millbrook Resort, in Queenstown, to triumph by one in his first ever Asian Tour event.

Ten years earlier, at the age of 21, he was jailed for five years for assault. He was a member of the Rebels bike gang, having earlier been a promising amateur golfer in Western Australia.

Renowned golf coach Ritchie Smith – who works with Minjee Lee, her brother Min Woo and Hannah Green – was able to re-ignite his interest in the game and get him back on track.

“You know, it was coming,” says the 32-year-old of his win. “It was just trying to basically commit to what I was continuing to do and just wait for it to switch. It was a matter of time, when it was going to happen. And, you know, luckily for me, it honestly happened on the right week.”

Like this week’s event, the New Zealand Open is part of the Open Qualifying Series, so Peake’s brilliant performance earned him a place in this summer’s Open championship at Royal Portrush.

He says: “The Open is coming up. Look it hasn’t really sunk in yet. Yes, I’ve still got a couple events before I get there as well. I’m sure it will sink in probably the week before or the week of. But, you know, every day it’s getting closer.”

Peake is six shots behind clubhouse leader Yujun Jung from Korea, who carded a 65, after the morning session today. Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai is next best placed after a 67.

Ryan Peake is congratulated by former Open winner Ian Baker-Finch after booking his Open berth in New Zealand. Picture by Andrew Cornaga/Photosport.

The Australian felt he could have easily been two or three under but said he needs to work out how to find the tight fairways to avoid the rough and having to deal with ‘flyers’.

All probably first world problems for the rising star who has turned his game and life around.