International Series Morocco: Tournament Notes
Overview
The International Series returns to Morocco for its fourth edition this week – gaining fresh momentum with Visit Morocco on board as presenting partner for the first time.
The new partnership with Visit Morocco is through the Moroccan National Tourism Office and aligns with their objective of positioning elite sport with tourism promotion and highlighting Morocco as a premier golf travel hub in the region and beyond.
The tournament has made phenomenal progress since its launch in 2022, when Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond [main picture] triumphed.
This has been made possible by the fantastic support from the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation and the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association – both chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid – reflecting a shared vision to grow the game in the North African nation.
Last year a commitment was made to continue with the event for another two years – an indication of its value and importance.
Sergio Garcia.
Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course)
Royal Golf Dar Es Salam translates to “House of Peace” in Arabic – something that is completely fitting.
Its famous Red Course is a firm favourite among players, and was voted the Asian Tour Players’ Choice Course of the Year last year.
The club is the brainchild of the late King Hassan II who wanted a world-class 36-hole golf club in the country’s capital, Rabat. It was built on a 440-acre site on a sandy, tree-lined property with rolling contours in the heart of a cork oak forest.
The club now boasts 45 holes spread over three courses: the Red, Blue and Green.
All three were designed by Robert Trent Jones and his long-time European-based associate, Cabell Robinson. The club opened in 1971.
The Red Course has been the permanent home of the Trophée Hassan II since it opened. The event, now part of the PGA Tour Champions, was won by 10-time Asian Tour winner Scott Hend last month.
Travis Smyth.
Tournament Information
- Tournament: International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco
- Date: 11 – 14 June
- Venue: Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course), Rabat
- Par/Yards: 73/7,630 yards
- Purse: US$2million
- Asian Tour leg: Ninth
- International Series Leg: Third
- Edition of tournament: Fourth
- Previous winner: Scott Vincent (ZIM)
- Previous winning score: 278 (-14)
- Total number of players: 156
- Format: Stroke play tournament over four rounds of 18 holes with a cut after 36 holes to leading 65 plus ties.
The Red Course.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: John Catlin (2024), Andy Ogletree (2023), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Anirban Lahiri (2015)
- Nationalities: 32
- Top contenders: Sergio Garcia (ESP), Charlie Lindh (SWE), Ian Snyman (RSA), Travis Smyth (AUS), Bubba Watson (USA), Scott Vincent (ZIM), Elvis Smylie (AUS), Abraham Ancer (MEX)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: Elvis Smylie (AUS) #114
- Highest ranked player on the Order of Merit: Travis Smyth (AUS) #1
- Highest ranked player on the International Series Rankings: Travis Smyth (AUS) #2
- No. of amateurs in the field: 5
- No. of Moroccan players in the field: 7
Tournament Notes
- Spain’s Sergio Garcia has been one of the best players in the world since his breakout performance in the 1999 PGA Championship when he finished second to Tiger Woods. He has 38 global victories, including the Masters Tournament in 2017 and the 2008 Players Championship. Five of his wins have come in Asian Tour events, the latest being the 2018 SMBC Singapore Open. Currently the captain of the Fireballs GC on the LIV Golf League, where he was fourth last week at the Andalucia event.
- Charlie Lindh from Sweden is coming into this week in top form, having just posted his first Asian Tour win last week at the am green IGPL Bharath Classic with a brilliant eagle on the 72nd. Two weeks before that he finished solo-second at the KOLON Korea Open. He also had a T6 at the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort in the beginning of March and sits in third place on the Order of Merit.
- South African Ian Snyman has also been in great form lately, recording his first Asian Tour win at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open last month and a T10 in the KOLON Korea Open three weeks ago. He also finished T3 at the notoriously difficult Namseoul Country Club at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open the week prior to his win in Chinese Taipei. He also posted a T5 at the season opening Philippine Golf Championship. Currently fourth on the Order of Merit
- Travis Smyth from Australia currently leads the Order of Merit after a win at the International Series Japan, a third-place finish at the Philippine Golf Championship and a solo-fifth at the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort. On the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia he earlier in the year won the ISPS HANDA Japan-Australasia Championship to wrap up the 2025/26 Order of Merit crown on that tour after that victory and two other top-fives. The Order of Merit title secured Smyth a place in The Open at Royal Birkdale in July. He has also played the last two events on the LIV Golf League and he recorded an impressive T8 at LIV Golf Korea.
- American Bubba Watson, a two-time Masters champion, in 2012 and 2014, is currently playing on the LIV Golf League as captain of the Range Goats GC. This year has not been what he has hoped for, but he did finish ninth at last week’s Andalucia event. During the 2025 LIV Golf season he had a runner-up and three other top-10’s as his best results.
- Fellow LIV Golf player Abraham Ancer from Mexico, playing for Torque GC, is having a better season with a third-place finish last week in Andalucia, a T3 in South Africa and a T4 in Riyadh. He has one LIV Golf win on his resume, the 2024 Hong Kong event. He has one victory on the Asian Tour, the 2023 PIF Saudi International, and he also won the 2021 WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational on the PGA Tour.
- Defending champion Scott Vincent is back on the LIV Golf League this season after topping The International Series Rankings in 2025, and playing as a wild card he has been in good form. Currently 17th in the standings after three top-10’s and four other top-20’s, the best result being a fourth-place finish at the Mexico City event. This will be Vincent’s first Asian Tour appearance this year.
- Young Australian Elvis Smylie is the highest ranked player on the OWGR this week at number 114, and he got off to a flying start to his LIV Golf career when he won the Riyadh event in early February and finished T8 four weeks later in Hong Kong. Prior to joining Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC squad he had one victory on the DP World Tour, the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship.
Pictures By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
June 7: Sweden’s Charlie Lindh, second in his last outing at the Kolon Korea Open, once again showed the importance of seizing the momentum in golf when he secured his maiden title on the Asian Tour by winning the US$500,000 am green IGPL Bharath Classic in Morocco.
It was a grandstand finish for the 28-year-old, who eagled the last hole to win by four shots at 18-under par total, having started the day three behind the overnight leader, Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech. The eight-under par 64 was also the best round of the tournament.
Settee could only muster a 71 on the day when it mattered most and fell to a tie for second place at 14-under with tall American Charles Porter (66).
Porter had reached 16-under after 17 holes and was tied with Lindh playing the last, but he pushed his second shot into the beach and proceeded to make a disappointing double bogey.
Charlie Lindh of Sweden. Picture courtesy: FRMG
Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut shot a 66 and jumped to tied fourth place alongside England’s Sam Broadhurst (68). American Marcus Plunkett also shot a 66 to move to tied sixth place at 12-under where he was joined by the Thai duo of Poom Saksansin (69) and Runchanapong Youprayong (70).
The tournament was co-sanctioned by the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), and Karandeep Kochhar (68) was the organisation’s top performer at tied ninth. Ayoub Lguirati (69) was the leading Moroccan star, finishing tied 13th at nine-under.
The winning cheque of US$90,000 takes him to third place in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and will boost his motivation ahead of next week’s US$2 million International Series Morocco.
“It feels good…feels really good. Feels like I’m still focused, but when everything settles a little bit, I will realise what I have done today. I have been playing good coming into this week, and I have been very, very excited to play golf the last couple of months, because the game has been feeling better. And thankfully, I got some good results today,” said Lindh, whose win came a day after the Swedish National Day and with his childhood friend Isac Bondesson on his bag.
On the 18th, Lindh reached the edge of the green in two shots, and then putted from the fringe some 20 feet from the pin for the eagle.
Charles Porter of the USA. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
On Saturday after his round, Lindh said he wanted to be aggressive and make some early birdies.
“I was firing at every pin from the start, almost birdied the first and second, but got it on three and five. I just kept firing on pins, and I made a good long putt on hole number six,” said Lindh, who hails from a tiny village of less than 600 people near the southern Swedish city of Kristianstad.
“When I made the birdie on the sixth, I thought to myself, ‘all right, I got one shot to play with, and until I drop that shot, I can fire at everything’.”
Settee seemed out of sorts in the first few holes and made three bogeys in his first eight holes. He then turned it around with four birdies in the next 10 holes.
Settee Prakongvech of Thailand. Picture by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.
“It was just a bad start and maybe some unlucky shots, but I could come back from that. I thought I did not hit my tee shots as good as yesterday, but I also missed some short putts,” said the 31-year-old from Bangkok.
“I am ok with tied second, though. I missed five cuts in a row before this tournament, so finishing second is a good week.”
It was a disappointing end for Porter, who made the cut in stunning fashion on Friday by making four birdies in his last five holes. He then shot a 65 on Saturday to move up the leaderboard. He made seven birdies, an eagle and a bogey in his first 16 holes, before the disaster on the 18th hole.
The Asian Tour moves 180 kilometers north to the capital city of Rabat for the US$2 million International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco.
June 6: Settee Prakongvech (main picture) did enough hard work in the middle of his round to overcome a dry opening and closing stretch of holes and open a three-shot lead going into the final day of the US$500,000 am green IGPL Bharath Classic.
The 31-year-old from Bangkok, who is searching for his first title on the Asian Tour since turning pro in 2014, made three birdies in a row from the fifth hole onwards, and then added one more on the 12th for a four-under par 68 that elevated him to solo lead at 13-under.
Overnight joint leader Runchanapong Youprayong (71) slipped after a late double bogey to tied second place at 10-under alongside Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (67). Both players are also looking for their maiden win on the Asian Tour.
England’s Sam Broadhurst, son of Paul Broadhurst, winner of six DP World Tour titles in over 500 appearances, matched the lowest round of the day – a seven-under 65 – to climb to tied fourth place with Thailand’s Poom Saksansin (67) at nine-under.
The tournament is co-sanctioned with the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), with Karandeep Kochhar (70) leading the charge for its members in tied 10th place. Ayoub Lguirati added a 70 to remain the top Moroccan player, tied 16th at six-under par.
Runchanapong Youprayong of Thailand. Picture courtesy: Storyline/IGPL.
Settee made just one birdie in the four par-five holes and started his birdie run on the par-three fifth with what he called one of his best shots of the day. A strong headwind was blowing but he held a four-iron against it to four feet.
The Thai star felt the fact that he birdied only one of the four par-fives on the golf course was a missed opportunity to open an even larger lead at the top.
“I missed like a five-foot putt on the third and then again on the 18th. Both are par-five holes,” said the winner of the Blue Canyon Open on the Asian Development Tour in 2022.
“Everything felt the same as yesterday. I hit my tee shots very well, and hit my approach shots good, but I missed some short putts. It’s okay…the game is still in good shape.”
On Swedish National Day, Lindh decided to celebrate early on the golf course. His plan for the round was to come out swinging and make a few birdies early, and he did just that with two in the first three holes.
Lindh, a three-time champion on the Nordic Golf League, dropped shots on the 10th and 12th holes, but seven birdies lifted him into contention.
Charlie Lindh of Sweden. Picture courtesy: Korea Golf Association.
“It was a really good start to the day. We said when we came out that we need to be ready from the first hole to make birdies. Because the wind was very calm compared to yesterday, and we were a couple under right from the start, so yeah, that was good,” said Lindh, who continued his good form from the Kolon Korea Open, where he had finished second.
“I still played good despite the dropped shots. I had a lot of chances coming in, it was just that the putts dropped on the front nine, but got a couple back on the last few holes.”
Runchanapong started with a bogey, but three birdies pulled him back to -2 for the round and in touch with Settee. However, a double on the par-5 14th ruined his card for the day.
“It was pretty slow, got off to a bogey start, but managed to make a birdie on hole three. I felt like today I didn’t hole a lot of putts and made some poor shots, I think I’m in a pretty good spot for tomorrow’s final round,” said the 26-year-old.
“I’m just going to keep playing the way I played for the past couple of weeks, and hopefully, some putts will drop tomorrow. Just trying to stay in the present.”
Sam Broadhurst of England. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
On his 65, Broadhurst said: “I played solid, hit the ball well off tee to green, and holed a couple of putts, which didn’t happen yesterday, so that was the main difference.
“They pushed a couple of the par-three tees up, which made it a lot easier, and the wind was a lot calmer compared to the last couple of days.”
American Charles Porter (65) matched the lowest round of the day and moved to tied sixth place at eight-under alongside compatriot MJ Maguire (69), England’s Steve Lewton (68) and South Africa’s Ian Snyman (69), who is looking for his second win on the Tour in his last three starts.
The tournament, which forms part of the Asian Tour’s three-week visit to Morocco, is co-sanctioned by IGPL. After back-to-back tournaments at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, built on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, the Asian Tour will move to Rabat next week for the US$2 million International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco.
June 5: Settee Prakongvech (main picture) and Runchanapong Youprayong opened up a three-shot lead in the US$500,000 am green IGPL Bharath Classic as they made it an all-Thailand affair at the top of the leaderboard after Friday’s second round.
Settee, playing in the morning session, handled the tricky windy conditions at the oceanside Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort course brilliantly in making a bogey-free seven-under par 65. That took him to nine-under par total at the halfway stage, where he was joined by overnight leader Runchanapong, who survived a double bogey-bogey stretch in his round of 70.
Another Thai player, Ekpharit Wu, winner of the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open last year, showed his love for windy golf courses once again, shooting a 67 to move into a tie for third place at six-under par alongside Austrian Niklas Regner (72).
Karandeep Kochhar (73) was the best-placed player from the tournament’s co-sanctioning partners Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), tied for fifth place at five-under. He was joined there by Indian teenager Kartik Singh (69), Philippines’ Lloyd Jefferson Go (71), American MJ Maguire (70), Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (70), South African Ian Snyman (72) and New Zealand’s Nick Voke (72).
Runchanapong Youprayong of Thailand. Picture courtesy: Storyline/IGPL.
Ayoub Lguirati was the top Moroccan player after a solid round of 67 lifted him to tied 12th place at four-under par.
Settee came into the tournament having missed cuts in each of his last five starts. But on a difficult scoring day that tested the Asian Tour field, he found his touch.
While some of the players spoke about the two-to-three club wind as the day progressed, the 31-year-old seemed to be playing in a bubble of his own. He made four birdies on the front nine, and as the wind picked up further, he added three more on the back nine. That included a birdie on the long par-4 fourth hole that Settee said “felt like an eagle”.
“I think that I am a better player in the wind because I hit it low. So, it’s not affecting my ball flight too much,” said the 31-year-old, who is yet to win on the Asian Tour.
“I just started to play better. Everything came together. I hit a lot of fairways and hit some good approach shots. And, I was lucky to have made some putts. They weren’t easy putts, but I just tried my best and made them.”
Ekpharit Wu of Thailand. Picture courtesy: Storyline/IGPL.
Runchanapong started his round from the 10th tee with a birdie when he slotted home a 20-footer birdie putt. That lifted his mood immediately and he kept playing solid golf to make four more birdies. However, his score was impacted by a double bogey on the par-4 fourth hole (his 13th).
“My front nine was good. The birdie on the 10th hole kind of got things going. It was blowing out there for sure. But on the back nine, we had to wait a little bit on the fourth and that kind of tightened my back a little bit. Just made a bad swing there. But overall, I was very solid and I am happy how I handled myself throughout the adversity out there,” said the 26-year-old, looking for his first Asian Tour win.
“I hit it left off the tee and made a double. It happened to me last week as well (playing an ADT event at the same course where he finished third). I made a seven back then. Luckily, I made a six today, so that was good.”
Ekpharit started from the 10th tee and made just one bogey – on the par-four sixth hole late in his round. But he more than made up for that with a birdie on his closing hole, the ninth.
“Today was very good. I can handle these conditions, so I’m happy for that,” said Ekpharit. “I felt like I had more power, more energy, today. I think it’s because I take a lot of rest.
“I have this one thing… like I trust the wind to be a friend before going out to play on courses like this. That is very helpful.
“That birdie on the ninth was probably my best of the day. I made a long putt, about 20 feet, and I’m very happy about that one.”
Regner, winner of an ADT event in the African continent last year, made four birdies, but lost that advantage with four bogeys.
“It wasn’t as good as yesterday. I would say even the wind was not picking up as much as yesterday in the first few holes, but it was quite strong in the last few holes. The pins were also a little bit more tucked on the greens, so yeah, overall, I’m happy with minus six after two rounds,” he added.
Karandeep Kochhar of India. Picture courtesy: Storyline/IGPL.
Kochhar, who also won an ADT event in Egypt last year to regain his card on the Asian Tour, was disappointed with two late birdies on the fourth and ninth holes.
“I got a little unlucky on the last. Just had a small putt of four-odd feet. I thought I hit a good putt, but it just went the other way. Definitely, don’t want to finish with a three-putt on the last, but I still think I played really well today. May be, missed two small putts coming in,” said Kochhar, who sank a long 30-footer putt for birdie on the 17th hole.
“Would have loved to have those two short putts back, but other than that, I’m not too concerned. The putting actually has been very good because I’ve worked on it a lot over the weekend.”
The tournament, which forms part of the Asian Tour’s three-week visit to Morocco, is co-sanctioned by IGPL. After back-to-back tournaments at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, built on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, the Asian Tour will move to Rabat next week for the US$2 million International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco.
June 5: Settee Prakongvech (main picture) came to the US$500,000 am green IGPL Bharath Classic having missed cuts in each of his last five starts. But on a windy day that tested the Asian Tour field at the oceanside Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, the Thai player found himself on top of the leaderboard following a sublime seven-under-par 65 round on Friday.
Settee shot the best round of the morning tee times, and added to his 70 in the opening round Thursday, he moved to nine-under total at the halfway stage.
Compatriot Ekpharit Wu, winner of the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open last year, showed his love for windy golf courses once again, shooting a 67 and tying for second place in the clubhouse alongside Austrian Niklas Regner (72) at six-under.
Indian teenager Kartik Singh (69) moved up to five-under total alongside Karandeep Kochhar (73), who was the best-placed player from the co-sanctioning partners Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), Philippines’ Lloyd Jefferson Go (71) and American MJ Maguire (70).
Ekpharit Wu of Thailand. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Overnight leader Runchanapong Youprayong was among the players playing in the afternoon session.
While some of the players spoke about the two-to-three club wind as the day progressed, Settee seemed to be playing in a bubble of his own. He made four birdies on the front nine, and as the wind picked up further, he added three more on the back nine. That included a birdie on the long par-4 fourth hole that Settee said “felt like an eagle”.
“I think that I am a better player in the wind because I hit it low. So, it’s not affecting my ball flight too much,” said the 31-year-old, who is yet to win on the Asian Tour.
“I just started to play better. Everything came together. I hit a lot of fairways and hit some good approach shots. And, I was lucky to have made some putts. They weren’t easy putts, but I just tried my best and made them.”
Ekpharit started from the 10th tee and made just one bogey – on the par-four sixth hole late in his round. But he more than made up for that with a birdie on his closing hole, the ninth.
“Today overall was very good for me, because I can handle these conditions, so I’m happy for that,” said Ekpharit. “I felt like I had more power, more energy, today. I think it’s because I take a lot of rest.
“I have this one thing… like I trust the wind to be a friend before going out to play on courses like this. That is very helpful.
“And yes, that birdie on the ninth was probably my best of the day. I made a long putt, about 20 feet, and I’m very happy about that one.”
Karandeep Kochhar of India. Picture by Chris Symes/Photosport.
Regner, winner of an ADT event in the African continent last year, made four birdies, but lost that advantage with four bogeys.
“It wasn’t as good as yesterday. I would say even the wind was not picking up as much as yesterday in the first few holes, but it was quite strong in the last few holes. The pins were also a little bit more tucked on the greens, so yeah, overall, I’m happy with minus six after two rounds,” he added.
Kochhar, who also won an ADT event in Egypt last year to regain his card on the Asian Tour, was disappointed with two late birdies on the fourth and ninth holes.
“I got a little unlucky on the last. Just had a small putt of four-odd feet. I thought I hit a good putt, but it just went the other way. Definitely, don’t want to finish with a three-putt on the last, but I still think I played really well today. May be, missed two small putts coming in,” said Kochhar, who sank a long 30-footer putt for birdie on the 17th hole.
“Would have loved to have those two short putts back, but other than that, I’m not too concerned. The putting actually has been very good because I’ve worked on it a lot over the weekend on it.”
The tournament, which forms part of the Asian Tour’s three-week visit to Morocco, is co-sanctioned by IGPL. After back-to-back tournaments at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, built on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, the Asian Tour will move to Rabat next week for the US$2 million International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco.
June 4: Runchanapong Youprayong, who finished third in last week’s Asian Development Tour (ADT) event here at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, took advantage of his familiarity with the golf course to open a one-shot lead in the US$500,000 am green IGPL Bharath Classic at the same venue.
The Thai star needed to finish inside the top-two to guarantee himself a spot in this week’s Asian Tour event but played his last 10 holes to one-over par. Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman birdied the last hole to finish runner-up and clinched the spot. Runchanapong then had a bit of an anxious wait before getting his entry confirmed.
The 26-year-old from Bangkok made the most of the situation by shooting eight birdies in a superb round of seven-under par 65, jumping to the top of the leaderboard and raising hopes of his maiden win on the Asian Tour.
Karandeep Kochhar, another player who learned a lot from his outing here last week – albeit through a missed cut – shot a 66 and was tied for second place alongside Australia’s Will Florimo and Austria’s Nicklas Regner.
Karandeep Kochhar of India. Picture courtesy: IGPL.
The tournament, which forms part of the Asian Tour’s three-week visit to Morocco, is co-sanctioned by the Indian Premier Golf League (IGPL), and Kochhar was the best-placed IGPL player.
Two of the hottest players on the Tour – South Africa’s Ian Snyman and New Zealand’s Nick Voke and Aussie Jed Morgan were in tied fifth place with rounds of 67.
The 26-year-old Runchanapong started from the first tee, birdied two of the first three holes before making his only bogey of the day on the par-4 fourth. He was six-under par for his last 11 holes.
“I felt like I hit in good positions quite a lot, and I planned my way around the golf course pretty well,” said Runchanapong, who also has three top-three finishes on the All Thailand Golf Tour (ATGT) this year. “That was the key takeaway that I learned from last week – where I want to leave the golf shot.
“I made a lot of birdies, but my favourite one was the chip-in on the ninth hole. It was playing downwind and I hit it long, over the green. I didn’t calculate that well. It was like a 15-yard shot from the rough and I holed it.
“The course is a bit different from what we played last week, because for the first two rounds, they shortened most tees. Today, they tipped it out every hole and the wind felt much stronger, which makes it a little bit more difficult.”
Kochhar, from the northern Indian city of Chandigarh, missed the cut last week with two rounds of 73. After making seven birdies and a solitary bogey on Thursday, he said he spent a lot of time working on his game, especially his putting.
“I think I played really well, really consistent all day. I thought I hit the ball really well last week as well, but my putting was just not there. The pace on the greens wasn’t there. I put in a lot of work over the weekend and the first three days here from Monday to Wednesday, and all that work was really helpful today,” said Kochhar, winner of an ADT event in Egypt last year.
“The conditions weren’t easy. I think today was definitely a little windier than last week. The tees were also pushed back compared to last week. It made a lot of difference because on a couple of holes, what lines you take off the tee changes. I hit a hybrid on one par-three and a couple for my second shots on par-fours. The course was definitely playing longer.”
Will Florimo of Australia. Picture courtesy: IGPL
Regner, who also won an ADT event in Egypt last year, said he made some swing changes with his coach in Austria and was delighted to see results so quickly.
“I made some swing changes last week with my coach (Dominic Angkawidjaja) in Austria. While it’s not any major changes, it’s pretty much going back to where I’ve been when I played my best. It was just a two-and-a-half-hour session and I kind of felt that’s where my swing should be,” said Regner.
“I gained a little bit of confidence as well in the driving range and played quite decently in that practice round yesterday and on Tuesday. So yeah, it was pretty cool that first round went that good.”
Florimo, winner of the Heritage Classic on the PGA Tour of Australasia earlier this season, made three birdies on either side of the golf course in his 66.
“I had a week off, which was nice. I did not touch any clubs. It was really nice from tee-to-green today and I hit it really well. But I only holed one 16-footer, and I did not touch the hole from outside five feet any other time,” said the Brisbane resident.
After back-to-back tournaments at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, built on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, the Asian Tour will move to Rabat next week for the US$2 million International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco.
June 3: Ian Snyman [main picture] is trying to keep his expectations in check but is hoping to continue with his red-hot form in the US$500,000 am green IGPL Bharath Classic this week.
The mild-mannered South African has not finished outside the top-10 in his last three starts, a run that included his maiden Asian Tour title in the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open last month.
The 30-year-old comes to the stunning Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort as the highest-ranked player in the field. However, he is fully aware that a week like the one he had in Taiwan will be difficult to replicate. At Taifong Golf Club, Snyman made just three bogeys in the four rounds and said the flawless win had “very little amount of luck involved”.
“I haven’t had many weeks on Tour where I tend to make no mistakes, so it’s extremely difficult to replicate what I did in Taiwan,” said Snyman, now ranked 296th in the world.
“I think what I’ve been telling myself over the last few years is to have no expectation. So, I’m not trying to replicate it. I’m not trying to play unbelievable. I’m just sticking to the process. We’re only trying to hit fairways, and hit greens, and make some putts.
“We are just gonna go play golf and see what happens. I’m not trying to replicate Taiwan…maybe, I can play better, maybe I play worse. I don’t know and we will find out on Sunday.”
Tanapat Pichaikool of Thailand. Picture courtesy of IGPL.
Straight after finishing tied 10th in the KOLON Korea Open, Snyman flew to Japan and took part in the 36-hole US Open qualifier, where he missed punching a ticket to Shinnecock Hills by two shots.
“I didn’t practice too hard the last few days because I’m tired. It’s been a lot of golf. My body needed it, so I haven’t been doing a lot until playing 18 holes here on Monday. At the moment, I feel like I know what I’m doing with the swing. I am not having full sessions where I’m working on something specific. It’s just more maintenance, and I thought resting was the most important thing for me now.
“But we all know this game is weird. You think you’re in control, and then you’re not in control.”
One person who would be fully aware of the golf course and the challenges it poses is Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool, who shot rounds of 70, 67, 64 and 70 to win the am green IGPL Morocco Rising Stars 2026 on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) at the same course last week.
The deeper Asian Tour field would require a step-up from the 26-year-old from Bangkok, who grew up idolising Adam Scott, but Tanapat is feeling confident.
“The fact that I won here brings some good energy and good memories. I thought my tee shots were my main strength during the ADT week. I have a good idea of the golf course, but to be able to perform like last week, I will need to focus on what I can control,” said Tanapat, who has been working on his swing and equipment for the past few months.
“I think the 18th is going to be a critical hole. It is short par 5, which is very gettable. However, it can also punish you if your tee shot ends up in a bad spot.”
Sachin Baisoya of India. Picture courtesy of IGPL.
The tournament is co-sanctioned with the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL). The talented Sachin Baisoya is the current IGPL Order of Merit leader, ahead of Gaganjeet Bhullar, the most successful Indian player in the history of the Asian Tour.
Baisoya is hoping to conquer the windy conditions and fast-track his way to the Asian Tour.
“This is a very good partnership between the IGPL and the Asian Tour. Four of our top players at the end of the season get into the final stage of the Qualifying School, and we have an opportunity like this week, when the winner gets a card straightaway. So, this is a very crucial tournament,” said the 30-year-old, whose best finish on the Asian Tour is tied 15th at the 2018 Panasonic Open India.
“I am feeling good about my game. I am hitting it well and will probably need a good putting week. This golf course should be an interesting challenge because it is very windy.”
After back-to-back tournaments at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, built on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, the Asian Tour will move to Rabat next week for the US$2 million International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco.
Overview
For the second year in succession, the Asian Tour embarks on an exciting North African adventure with three events being sanctioned in Morocco.
This week’s am green IGPL Bharath Classic follows on from the am green IGPL Morocco Rising Stars 2026 – won by Tanapat Pichaikool from Thailand last weekend on the Asian Development Tour – before next week’s International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco in Rabat.
The Asian Tour’s evolving partnership with the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) is an important part of this stretch with this week’s and last week’s tournaments joint sanctioned.
The events represent another important step forward in terms of the relationship with the IGPL – which is playing such an important role in promoting the game of golf in the world’ most populous country.
These tournaments also enable the Asian Tour to continue to forge ties with the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation and the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association.
His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, the President of both organisations, has been a driving force behind the push for more tournaments in his country and the creation of more playing opportunities for players in the region.
Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, this week’s venue, is a spectacular golfing property located on the Atlantic coast of Morocco and boasts an 18-hole course designed by nine-time major champion Gary Player from South Africa.
The resort hosted last week’s IGPL Morocco Rising Stars 2026 on the Asian Development Tour.
Ian Snyman.
Tournament Information
- Tournament: am green IGPL Bharath Classic
- Date: 4th – 7th June 2026
- Venue: Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, Morocco
- Par / Yards: 72 / 7,448 yards
- Purse: US$500,000
- Asian Tour leg: Eighth
- Edition of tournament: Second
- Previous winner: Poosit Supupramai (THA)
- Total number of players: 144
- Format: Stroke play tournament over 4 rounds of 18 holes with a cut after 36 holes to leading 65 plus ties.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: Jazz Janewattananond (2019)
- Top contenders: Ian Snyman (RSA), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Charlie Lindh (SWE), Austen Truslow (USA)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: Ian Snyman (RSA) #296
- Highest ranked player on the Order of Merit: Ian Snyman (RSA) #3
- No. of amateurs in the field: 11
- No. of Moroccan players in the field: 12
Tanapat Pichaikool.
Tournament Notes
- South African Ian Snyman is coming into the week in great form following his first Asian Tour win at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open last month and a T10 in the KOLON Korea Open two weeks ago. He also finished T3 at the notoriously difficult Namseoul Country Club at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open the week prior to his win in Chinese Taipei. He had early in the season also posted a T5 at the season opening Philippine Golf Championship. Currently third on the Order of Merit.
- Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, currently in fourth place on the Order of Merit, started 2026 with great results including a runner-up at the season opening Philippine Golf Championship and a T2 in the International Series Japan. He also had an early season T2 on the All Thailand Tour after a playoff loss to compatriot Danthai Boonma. Slightly off his early season form in his last few tournaments while still making the cuts.
- Charlie Lindh from Sweden recorded his best Asian Tour result to date two weeks ago when he finished solo-second at the KOLON Korea Open. He also had a T6 at the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort in the beginning of March.
Charlie Lindh.
- American Austen Truslow is having a good season on the Asian Tour with a T4 at International Series Japan, a T9 at the Philippine Golf Championship and a T13 at the KOLON Korea Open. He also won his first professional event earlier in the season, the The Quinovic New Zealand PGA Championship, on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
- The 2019 Order of Merit winner Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand posted his last tournament win in Morocco, at the 2022 International Series Morocco. This season his best results has been a T3 at the Singapore Open in April, as well as a runner-up result on the Asian Development Tour in late March. He is currently tied for ninth in all-time Asian Tour wins with seven.
- Poosit Supupramai will attempt to defend his title. Last year he recorded his maiden victory on the Asian Tour in the inaugural Bharath Classic, played near Ahmedabad, in India. A brilliant birdie on the last, where he a hit nine-iron to 10 feet, saw him win by one from Korean Wooyoung Cho. It was a Tour card saving performance as he was in 81st position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit in what was the penultimate event of the season. The result moved him into 29th place on the Merit list while the win has handed him a one-year exemption on the Tour.
- Tanapat Pichaikool from Thailand won last week’s am green IGPL Morocco Rising Stars 2026 at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort and is competing this week.
- The event was staged at Kensville Golf Resort in India last year.
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