Scott Vincent is in pole position to take one of two spots on LIV Golf next season as he tops The International Series Rankings race, with just one tournament remaining – this week’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

The Zimbabwean is taking nothing for granted as he looks to secure his return to the big league, having enjoyed two seasons with Iron Heads GC after winning the first ever Rankings race in 2022.

With two LIV Golf spots on offer this season via the Rankings race, he has carved out a healthy lead thanks to his victory at International Series Morocco and narrow play-off loss to Wade Ormsby at the Jakarta International Championship.

Going into this week’s US$5 million event – the final tournament of the season on The International Series, which offers elevated Rankings points – Vincent is changing nothing, simply sticking to his tried and tested formula of concentrating on the moment.

Scott Vincent with the International Series Morocco trophy. Picture by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.

He said: “I never focus too much on leaderboards – to me it is more important to concentrate on every single shot, to make sure I give it my best. I practise this every day, and I try to stay in the moment during my practise so I can do the same out on the golf course.

“Of course there will be competition out there, but I can’t really worry too much about that – I just need to trust in my process and continue to try and improve and get better every day and every time I stand over the golf ball.”

Vincent leads the standings ahead of Japan’s Yosuke Asaji — who won the Moutai Singapore Open and finished T2 in the Philippines — and International Series Philippines champion Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines.

International Series India presented by DLF winner Ollie Schniederjans sits in fifth place, followed by Jakarta champion Ormsby in sixth and Japan’s Kazuki Higa in 10th. The remaining positions inside the top ten are held by four LIV Golf players.

Vincent, winner of the International Series England in 2022, has been paired with Asaji and Tabuena in the first two rounds.

Just when you thought the 2024 season had come to an end on the Asian Tour and The International Series, there was actually more to come. Story from 2024 Asian Tour Yearbook.

Chile’s irrepressible star Joaquin Niemann claimed the season-ending PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, and The International Series Rankings, but not nearly as easily as was expected following a memorable and completely unexpected play-off victory, filled with drama, against Cam Smith and Caleb Surratt.

Niemann made a brilliant birdie, off the back of an exquisite lob shot to a foot, on the second play-off hole to triumph at Riyadh Golf Club, after both Smith and Surrat missed theirs from close range.

All three birdied the first hole of the play-off – played on the par-four 18th – soon after Niemann and Surratt, paired in the last group, both surprisingly bogeyed the last to fall back into a tie with Smith on 21-under.

Joaquin Niemann pictured with the PIF Saudi International and The International Series Rankings trophies on Saturday last year. 

Niemann, the leader at the start of the day by one, closed with a four-under-par 67, Surratt shot a 66 while Smith, seemingly completely out of the running playing in the sixth from last group, stormed through with a 62.

“I enjoy being in that position, but there’s times sometimes that it takes a little bit longer. It was a good day. Caleb and me, we played great,” said Niemann, who plays on the LIV Golf League for Torque GC.

“Never thought we were going to be in a play-off with Cam Smith. He was early. An hour before us when he was done. I thought we were going to stay away from the 21-under, but you never know in golf.”

He got off to the perfect start with birdies on the first three holes and appeared on course for the win before dropping a shot on 14. On the 18th he found trouble off the tee and hacked his second out of some small trees and into the fairway before missing a tricky five footer for the outright win. Surrat made bogey after pushing his tee shot into the lake on the right. It was a calamitous finish in contrast to Smith who made birdie there.

He added: “Yeah, it’s a really good way to wrap up the season. I’m really excited for what’s coming next season on LIV and hopefully get into a few Majors.”

Caleb Surratt.

His success meant American Peter Uihlein and Ben Campbell from New Zealand finished second and third on The International Rankings, respectively.

It also marked his second win of the season in Saudi, as he claimed the LIV Golf Jeddah in March shortly after winning LIV Golf Mayakoba.

Said Smith: “I think it was a bonus to even get in there, to be fair, sitting down for an hour and a bit. It was fine. I did what I had to do. Obviously, a shame to miss the putt there, but it is what it is.

“I was thinking my percentage of having a top five was very slim. Yeah, it’s a weird game sometimes. It’s kind of lucky that there wasn’t any beers in the clubhouse because I would have had a few, I think. It’s a weird game sometimes, and you never really know what’s going to happen.”

Surratt, just 20-years-old, was attempting to win for the first time as a professional.

The bogey on 18 was his only dropped shot and meant yet another narrow miss on the Asian Tour, following joint third and second place finishes in International Series events in Morocco and England earlier in the year.

“Yeah, it’s a tough pill to swallow,” said the American, who plays for Legion XIII on the LIV Golf League.

“I’ve been really close a few times this year in The International Series, and I really fought hard this week because I didn’t get off to a great start.

“I did all I could do. I hit six perfect golf shots in the playoff, and I didn’t really find my way this time, and hopefully one day it does.”

Cam Smith.

Campbell claimed fourth place outright following a closing 64 to miss the play-off by one shot, and his chance of winning The International Series Rankings. Claiming the Rankings brings with it playing rights on the LIV Golf League and while he agonisingly missed that, he was later rewarded for his efforts by being asked to play for RangeGoats GC on the league in 2025.

Pictures by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

November 16: Thailand’s Ekpharit Wu (main picture) overcame local hero Hung Chien-yao on the closing stretch of the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open – winning his first title on the Asian Tour in his rookie season by two shots.

The 26-year-old Wu shot a five-under par 67 round on Sunday at the par-72 Taifong Golf Club, and benefited from a late stumble by Hung (70), who made back-to-back bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes to open the door for Ekpharit, who finished the tournament on 20-under.

The win not only helped Ekpharit jump from 73rd to 28th in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, it also secures him a spot in the US$5 million PIF Saudi International presented by SoftBank Investment Advisers in Riyadh next week.

Hung’s consolation was a leap of 53 places on the Merit list from 110 to 57, which nearly guarantees him a card for next season and keep his record of playing on the Asian Tour for 12 consecutive seasons intact.

Ekpharit Wu of Thailand. Picture by Taiwan PGA

Guatemala’s Jose Toledo shot the day’s lowest round of 65 to finish tied third at 12-under alongside Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (71).

Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig (70) looked set to join them at 12-under, but he finished with a bogey on the par-five 18th hole and dropped to solo fifth position.

The Korean duo of Heemin Chang (67) and Wooyoung Cho (70) were tied sixth where Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai (70) joined them later.

Ekpharit started the day one shot behind Hung, and finally caught up with the local star with his fourth birdie of the day on the seventh hole. But Hung made a birdie on the par-three eighth – where Ekpharit started his charge on Saturday with a hole-in-one – to move ahead once again.

The two players were neck and neck before Hung dropped a shot on the par-three 15th hole, and followed it up with another bogey by flaring his second shot right on the par-four 16th hole from behind a fairway tree.

Hung’s chances depended on how he handled the two par-five finishing holes, but he parred both. On 17 he had to lay up way back after hitting his tee shot into the difficult left fairway bunker and on the 18th his tee shot found thick rough on the left side.

Hung Chien-yao of Chinese Taipei. Pictures courtesy Taiwan PGA.

Ekpharit, who had his wife Pam on the bag this week, said: “It’s so special for me, very emotional. I only know one thing – all the hard work that I put in is for moments like these.

“I just talked to myself throughout the day. I just wanted to relax. I did not know about the future, but I knew that every shot I hit, I needed to stay within myself… just trust myself and hit the shot. Don’t think who was doing what, and who was in the lead.

“The two late bogeys by Hung were a bit of a cushion, but I knew I still had a job to do. I did not want to feel too confident at that stage.”

Ekpharit’s father is from Chinese Taipei, and the champion remembered him after the win: “Actually, he taught me how to play golf. I think he knows the best and what I am capable of doing. He will be so proud of me.”

Jose Toledo of Guatemala. Picture by Graham Uden, Asian Tour.

A disappointed Hung said: “I think I just didn’t have the luck to get it done today. I tried my best. To be honest, I don’t think I played any worse than him (Ekpharit). I can’t pinpoint any reasons, so, maybe, just my luck. Maybe, God wants me to work harder and maybe he’s planned for me an even bigger event.”

Toledo, who is still searching for his first win outside the Mexican Tour, did the bulk of his scoring on the back nine, where he returned in 31 shots after being two-under for the front nine.

“Actually, I have been hitting the ball quite well for a while but my results have not matched the way I have played. Today, I made a few putts towards the end and it got me a great round,” said Toledo, who started the week at No65 on the Order of Merit but is now 50th.

“I am pretty happy in the end because this is my best finish of the season. I was thinking about what to do next year, this and that, but I was also aware that I had three opportunities to get the job done and I am very proud that I have possibly secured my Asian Tour card for next season.”

Lindh could not make the charge after an early double bogey on the fourth hole and said: “Got a double early and that took me back and I did not have a chance to win. The way those two guys played, I wanted to be just behind them. It’s been a good week overall. My best finish on the Asian Tour so far, so I am happy with that.”

The Taiwan Glass Taifong Open was the 18th leg of the Asian Tour’s 2025 season. The Tour next moves to Riyadh for the PIF Saudi International presented by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

November 15: Local hero Hung Chien-yao (main picture) stayed out in front at the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open after Saturday’s third round today – but his lead was cut by a fast-charging Ekpharit Wu, who made a hole-in-one and an eagle.

At the par-72 Taifong Golf Club, Chinese-Taipei’s Hung shot a two-under-par 70 to move to 16-under for the tournament, leading by a slender margin of one shot over Ekpharit.

The Thai golfer carded a 65 that included a hole-in-one on the par-three eighth hole, while he nearly made an albatross on the par-five 17th before securing the three. He had started the day six shots behind Hung.

Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (67) is in solo third place at 11-under, while Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit (69) holds fourth at nine under.

All four players are looking for their first win on the Asian Tour.

Ekpharit Wu of Thailand. Pictures courtesy Taiwan PGA.

Three players are tied fifth on eight-under, including two from Chinese Taipei – Chi Huang (68) and Liu Yen-hung (68) – plus Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig (70).

The 33-year-old Hung has never lost his Asian Tour membership in 12 years but is in danger of doing so this year after dropping to No110 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit. He has been playing with his back against the wall and is hopeful of getting the job done tomorrow.

After a round in which he was even-par after 12 holes before making three birdies in his last six holes, Hung said: “I hung in there today. Still glad I managed to finish on 70 today and stay in the lead. I wasn’t as comfortable as I was the last two days. But I told myself to just play, it’s just me against the course. I can’t really control how other people play.

“This is the first time I’ve played with Ekpharit, and he is a strong competitor! He made a hole-in-one and almost had an albatross! It was so good to watch. But who knows? It might be my turn to make an ace tomorrow.  I don’t think I’m nervous, but I’m definitely excited about what tomorrow holds.

“I just needed to focus on myself and my own game. I told my caddy to scold me and wake me up tomorrow if I were to drown myself in negative thoughts. You need some luck to win. Hopefully, I will be lucky tomorrow.”

Ekpharit was even-par through the first six holes and did all his scoring in the last 12.

His second ace in a competition, and the fourth of his life, was courtesy of a perfect nine-iron tee shot from 170 yards, and the eagle on the penultimate hole was set up by a laser-guided four-iron from 220 yards, which flirted with the hole and stopped one foot away for a tap-in eagle. If the ball had gone in, it would have been his third career albatross.

Charlie Lindh of Sweden. Pictures courtesy Taiwan PGA.

“Today, I felt a bit nervous at the start, but then I thought everything just came together. I felt like I could do everything that I wanted to do, like hit every shot the way I chose to hit. I don’t know how to say it, but whatever I wanted to do, I could do it,” said Ekpharit, whose father is from Chinese Taipei.

“Even when I made the two bogies today, I just forgot about it. I never let it affect me.  Just go to the next shot.

“I am in a good position for the tournament and tomorrow, I just want to have fun.”

The 28-year-old Lindh has been a consistent performer on the Asian Tour and has two top-10s in International Series events this year.

“It was a good day and I played solid. Most of the holes on the back nine, I didn’t play as good as I did on the front nine. I hit the greens in the wrong spot and it’s not easy to make putts from the wrong spots on these greens. You need to be in the right positions,” said Lindh.

“I had a good start to the season, but I’ve been struggling a little bit in the middle. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been able to shoot low scores, but have not got it together for four rounds.”

The Taiwan Glass Taifong Open is the 18th leg of the Asian Tour’s 2025 season. There are three more events left on the schedule.

November 14: Leader by two shots after the opening round, local hero Hung Chien-yao’s (main picture) immense course knowledge was evident in Friday’s second round as he shot a second successive seven-under par 65 and increased his cushion at the top to five shots in the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open at the halfway stage.

Hung shot the lowest round of the day for a second straight day at Taifong Golf Club and reached 14-under par total after 36 holes. Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai (68) was his closest challenger at -9, with another Thai star Ekpharit Wu (66) one shot behind at -8.

Five players – Indonesia’s Jonathan Wijono (68), Australia’s Todd Sinnott (69), Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (69), Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig (70) and Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit (69) – were tied for fourth place at six-under total.

India’s S Chikarangappa, who recently became a father for the first time, moved up to -5 with a round of 70 and was tied alongside Thai duo of Charng-Tai Sudsom (66) and Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (71)

Poosit Supupramai of Thailand. Picture by Taiwan PGA

Hung’s bogey-free round was special, and it was a result of a great start of three birdies in the first three holes, and then keeping up the momentum. He was so solid, his playing partners Soomin Lee and Shinichi Mizuno paid him the ultimate compliment that even Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods won’t be able to beat him on the golf course.

“This is not my personal best 36-hole score. I’ve shot lower, and my best round here is a 62. I made a long, curving, downhill 60-footer birdie putt on the 11th hole and both Soomin and Mizuno were joking that even if Rory or Tiger come and play here, they wouldn’t be able to beat me!” said the 33-year-old.

“I thought I did not play as well as I did yesterday. I wasn’t able to execute the shots the way I wanted to. I got off to a great start with three birdies in a row, but I didn’t eat much for lunch and felt a little weak towards the end. I thought I was about to get cramps towards the end. I quickly ate a banana and drank more water and felt better after that.

“Thankfully, I know this course very well. If you don’t get the chance to attack here, you need to play safe and try to play smarter on this course. I did that and kind of rode on the momentum from yesterday.

“The confidence I have on this course has always been there – since i last won here (in 2022 when the event was part of the Asian Development Tour schedule). But you need a bit of luck to win. I will just try to play my best and see what happens.”

Ekpharit Wu of Thailand. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.

Poosit started from the 10th tee and did most of his scoring on his first nine, including three birdies in four holes from the par-three 15th. The Thai player has not had a top 10 finish this season, and is ranked 107th on the Order of Merit, but he sensed something turning around in his game at last week’s Moutai Singapore Open, where he finished tied 37th.

“I hit my irons really well in Singapore, but could not make many putts. I have taken that confidence into this week, and even though my putting is still not at its best, I have continued to hit my irons well and given myself chances,” said the 32-year-old, who rated his birdie on the 18th, where he had to lay up to 80 yards and then made the up-and-down.

“It was not windy today in the morning, and when we played last afternoon, it was calm as well. So, I think we have been lucky with the draw so far.”

Ekpharit, whose father is from Chinese Taipei, also started from the 10th tee, was two-under at the turn, and did the bulk of his scoring between the par-five third and the seventh hole, where he made four birdies in a stretch of five holes.

The promising 26-year-old is currently ranked 73rd in the Order of Merit with two tied 14th finishes in the Link Hong Kong Open and the International Series Morocco being his best results.

“It was a very comfortable round today because my putter was working well. I made a few good ones to make birdies and a few good ones to save par from the 10-15 feet range,” said Ekpharit.

“I have a goal of finishing inside the top-five at least so that I have a chance to keep my card on the Asian Tour. This is my first full year on the Asian Tour and I really want to retain my card.”

The Taiwan Glass Taifong Open is the 18th leg of the Asian Tour’s 2025 season. There are three more events left on the schedule.

November 14: Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai (main picture) took the clubhouse lead midway through the second round of the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open on Friday,

Starting from the 10th tee of the par-72 Taifong Golf Club, Poosit did most of his scoring on his first nine, including three birdies in four holes from the par-three 15th, and picked up another shot on the back nine for a four-under par 68. That took his two-round tally to nine-under 135.

Another Thai player, Ekpharit Wu, shot the best round of the morning, a 66, and moved to 8-under total, two ahead of Australia’s Todd Sinnott (69), Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (69) and Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig (70). India’s S Chikarangappa, who recently became a father for the first time, moved up to -5 with a round of 70.

Spain’s Carlos Pigem (68), Chinese Taipei’s Liu Yen-hung (69), Korea’s Wooyoung Cho (72) were all at four-under on a day when the wind stayed calm but the golf course still proved to be a formidable opponent.

Ekpharit Wu of Thailand. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.

Overnight leader Hung Chien-yao, who led by two shots after a 65 on Thursday, was among the afternoon starters.

Poosit has not had a top 10 finish this season, and is ranked 107th on the Order of Merit, but he sensed something turning around in his game at last week’s Moutai Singapore Open, where he finished tied 37th.

“I hit my irons really well in Singapore, but could not make many putts. I have taken that confidence into this week, and even though my putting is still not at its best, I have continued to hit my irons well and given myself chances,” said the 32-year-old, who rated his birdie on the 18th, where he had to lay up to 80 yards and then made the up-and-down.

“It was not windy today in the morning, and when we played last afternoon, it was calm as well. So, I think we have been lucky with the draw so far.”

Ahmad Baig of Pakistan. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.

Ekpharit, whose father is from Chinese Taipei, also started from the 10th tee, was two-under at the turn, and did the bulk of his scoring between the par-five third and the seventh hole, where he made four birdies in a stretch of five holes.

The promising 26-year-old is currently ranked 73rd in the Order of Merit with two tied 14th finishes in the Link Hong Kong Open and the International Series Morocco being his best results.

“It was a very comfortable round today because my putter was working well. I made a few good ones to make birdies and a few good ones to save par from the 10-15 feet range,” said Ekpharit.

“I have a goal of finishing inside the top-five at least so that I have a chance to keep my card on the Asian Tour. This is my first full year on the Asian Tour and I really want to retain my card.”

The Taiwan Glass Taifong Open is the 18th leg of the Asian Tour’s 2025 season. There are three more events left on the schedule.

November 13: With his Asian Tour card for 2026 on the line, local star Hung Chien-yao (main picture) made a spirited start in the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open on Thursday.

Hung has never won on the Asian Tour but has kept his membership for 12 successive years.

He has been struggling this year, missing seven cuts in 11 starts and falling to No110 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

With his back to the wall, the Chinese Taipei star shot a seven-under-par 65 at the par-72 Taifong Golf Club, a venue where he won the 2022 edition of the tournament when it was part of the Asian Development Tour schedule.

Hung is two ahead of Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai (67), when first-round play was suspended at 5:22 pm, with two groups yet to finish. The second round will commence on Friday as per the schedule after the remaining players finish their first round starting 6:50 am.

Poosit Supupramai of Thailand. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.

Malaysia’s Ervin Chang, Thailand’s Chanat Sakulpolphaisan, Korea’s Wooyoung Cho and Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig finished on 68 each.

India’s Viraj Madappa made three birdies in his last five holes to shoot a 69 and rise to tied seventh in the clubhouse alongside his compatriot S Chikkarangappa, Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit, Sweden’s Charlie Lindh and Australia’s Todd Sinnott.

Hung’s best finish on the Asian Tour is a third place in the 2018 Yeangder TPC and the 2017 Queen’s Cup. He will need a big finish to the season to keep his proud record of 12 consecutive years on the Tour intact, and the 65 was a great start.

The 33-year-old said he had been having issues with the putter, but a switch to a long putter helped. It showed last week in Singapore, where he played well but could not finish better than tied 37th after getting sick and faltering in the final round.

“I already knew it would be difficult to keep my card this year. I thought I had a chance in Singapore, but I didn’t finish well. A win this week will make all the difference, but I think I will need a bit of luck to win, so I have not been thinking too much about it,” said Hung.

Ervin Chang of Malaysia. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.

“There is no pressure of losing the card…I just want to play my best. I switched to a long putter about a month ago as I had been struggling with my putting all season long.

“I was down with the flu and cough since Sunday in Singapore, but my friend, who has been on my bag for this tournament for three years in a row, took me to see the doctor earlier in the week. I am feeling better now.

“My iron play was good today and the putting was pretty solid. I made everything between 9-15 feet range.”

Poosit was another player who did not put much pressure on his putting, hitting most of his approach shots close.

“Thankfully, we were lucky in the afternoon as it was not that windy. I hit a lot of fairways and some very good putts. I chipped-in on the par-three 12th hole, which was a good one, and the only long putt for birdie was a 15-footer on the sixth hole,” said the 32-year-old, who is still looking for his first win on the Asian Tour.

Chanat Sakulpolphaisan of Thailand. Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant/Asian Tour

Chang, recipient of the Asian Tour’s inaugural Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Award, made two birdies on the two par fives that form the closing stretch of Taifong Golf Club, in his 68.

The 26-year-old is 75th in the Order of Merit this year and also needs a high finish. He has been trending in the right direction lately with a top 10 in Macao and a tied 14th place at the Link Hong Kong Open.

“It was pretty good. I expected the winds to be a bit stronger, according to the forecast, but surprisingly, it wasn’t too bad. Out there, I was just trying to manage my own expectations. I am having a pretty good stretch, even though I missed the cut in Singapore, and I am trying to just keep doing what I’m doing,” said Chang.

“I had two birdies coming in on the 17th and 18th, and that definitely helps a lot. I know this golf course is really easy to make mistakes on, so I just tried to be patient.”

Chanat started with a birdie on the 10th hole and then made three in a row on his back nine. The Thai is another player who needs to make a move this week, ranked 193rd in the Order of Merit at the moment.

“A birdie start is always good. And I managed to keep it going after that. I have changed my swing a bit some time ago and it is feeling more comfortable,” said Chanat.

The Taiwan Glass Taifong Open is the 18th leg of the Asian Tour’s 2025 season. There are three more events left on the schedule.

November 13: Playing with his back against the wall and his Asian Tour card on the line, Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao (main picture) made just the start that was needed at the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open.

Hung, who has never won on the Asian Tour but kept his membership for 12 successive years, shot a seven-under par 65 on Thursday at the par-72 Taifong Golf Club to take the clubhouse lead midway through the opening round of the tournament.

Malaysia’s Ervin Chang and Thailand’s Chanat Sakulpolphaisan finished on 68 each, while India’s Viraj Madappa made three birdies in his last five holes to shoot a 69 and rise to tied fourth in the clubhouse alongside Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit.

Hung’s best finish on the Asian Tour is a third place in the 2018 Yeangder TPC and the 2017 Queen’s Cup. He has been struggling this year though, missing seven cuts in 11 starts and falling to No110 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit. He will need a big finish to the season to keep his proud record intact and the 65 was a great start to that end.

The 33-year-old, who won the tournament in 2022 when it was part of the Asian Development Tour schedule, said he had been having issues with the putter, but a switch to a long putter helped. It showed last week in Singapore, where he played well but could not finish better than tied 37th after getting sick and faltering in the final round.

Ervin Chang of Malaysia. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.

“I already knew I wouldn’t be keeping my card this year. I thought I had a chance in Singapore, but didn’t finish well. A win this week will make all the difference, but I think I will need a bit of luck to win, so I have not been thinking too much about it,” said Hung.

“There is no pressure of losing the card…I just want to play my best. I switched to a long putter about a month ago as I have been struggling with my putting all season long.

“I was down with the ‘flu and cough since Sunday in Singapore, but my friend, who has been on my bag for this tournament for three years in a row, took me to see the doctor earlier in the week and I am feeling better now.

“My iron play was good today and putting was pretty solid. I made everything between 9-15 feet range.”

Chang, recipient of the Asian Tour’s inaugural Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Award, made two birdies on the two par-fives that form the closing stretch of Taifong Golf Club, in his 68.

Chanat Sakulpolphaisan of Thailand. Picture by Thananuwat Srirasant/Asian Tour

The 26-year-old is 75th in the Order of Merit this year and needs a high finish this week. He has been trending in the right direction lately with a top 10 in Macao and a tied 14th place at the Hong Kong Open.

“It was pretty good. I expected the winds to be a bit stronger according to forecast, but surprisingly, it wasn’t too bad. Out there, I was just trying to manage my own expectations. I am having a pretty good stretch, even though I missed the cut in Singapore, and I am trying to just keep doing what I’m doing,” said Chang.

“I had two birdies coming in on the 17th and 18th, and that definitely helps a lot. I know this golf course is really easy to make mistakes on, so I just tried to be patient.”

Chanat started with a birdie on the 10th hole, and then made three in a row in his back nine. The Thai is another player who needs to make a move this week, ranked 193rd in the Order of Merit at the moment.

“A birdie start is always good. And I managed to keep it going after that. I have changed my swing a bit some time ago and it is feeling more comfortable,” said Chanat.