Smart Infinity Philippine Open: Statistically speaking
Unheralded Frenchman Julien Sale [main picture] produced a stunning performance to win the Smart Infinity Philippine Open, in his first ever start on Asian Tour start. He defeated Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand and Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura by a shot, despite a bogey on the 72nd hole, where Sadom and Ikenura both made birdies to keep things exciting right until they very end. Sale’s win came just a month after he’d earned his Tour card at the Qualifying School in Thailand.
The par on the Masters Course at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club was changed from 72 to 70, with Sale winning with a score of 11 under. That was eight shots less than American Micah Shin’s total when won the last time the Asian Tour visited the course in 2017. However, on both occasions their winning totals were 269.
Arguably, Sale’s most important statistic was topping the week’s birdie count with 22; Sadom made 20 and Ikemura had 17. However, he was also impressive in other categories, ranking third in Putts per Green in Regulation (GIR) with 1.649, T5 in GIR with 79.17%, 12th in Driving Distance with an average of 318.38 yards, 12th in Putts per Round on 28.5, T12 in Putts per Round with 28.5, and T26 in Fairways Hit on 69.64%.
Tomoyo Ikemura had the fewest number of bogies or worse, with just four bogies. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
If the 27-year-old can keep producing those kinds of numbers, we should see a lot more of him on the leaderboards in 2025.
Sadom who had held a three-shot lead halfway through the tournament had a great week on the greens ranking second in Putts per GIR with 1.642 and T8 in Putts per Round with 28.25. He also posted a solid GIR percentage of 73.61%, ranking 13th. The 20 birdies he made ranked tied second for the week, but unfortunately, he offset those red numbers with six bogeys and two doubles. His other stats numbers were: Driving Distance 296.38 yards (T39), Fairways Hit 66.07 (T38).
Ikemura, who was on top of the leaderboard going into the final round, led the field in Fewest Bogies or Worse with only four bogies made. His approach game was very solid for the week ranking T8 in GIR with 76.39% and he also had a good week on the greens ranking 13th in Putts per GIR with 1.709 and T8 in Putts per Round with 28.25.
Statistics Categories leaders at the Smart Infinity Philippine Open (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round – S.S.P. Chawrasia (IND): 27
- Putts per GIR – Danthai Boonma (THA): 1.62
- GIR – Kevin Yuan (AUS): 84.72%
- Fairways Hit – Sean Ramos (PHI), Jiho Yang (KOR): 80.36%
- Driving Distance – Lawry Flynn (AUS): 337.5 Yards
- Most Eagles – 19 Players: 1
- Most Birdies – Julien Sale (FRA): 22
- Fewest Bogies or Worse – Tomoyo Ikemura (JPN): 4
- Scrambling – Ian Snyman (RSA): 80%
Scott Vincent is back playing full-time on the Asian Tour this year, and its flourishing International Series, having finished in the Drop Zone on the LIV Golf League last year, but he is typically philosophical about the road ahead.
“Getting back to LIV is not the focus,” insists the Zimbabwean, ahead of this week’s inaugural International Series India presented by DLF – the second event of the year on the Asian Tour, and the opening International Series tournament.
“The focus is to take care of all the little things and like, if that puts me back on LIV, that’s amazing.”
The Zimbabwean won The International Series Rankings in 2022 to secure his place on the league. Impressively, he finished 22nd on the standings in 2023 but was 50th last season, after a testing year.
Scott Vincent. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“Yeah, it was definitely challenging,” said Vincent.
“It put me in a lot of uncomfortable situations. Just, you know, when you’re not playing great, this game can be challenging at times, and that was the year I had. But you know, those are the times that you do learn the most about yourself, and maybe like what you’re prioritising.
“So, yeah, I learned a lot from last year, the past three years, to be fair. You know, I’ve got zero complaints about LIV, it’s changed my life. And I still get to play out here so that’s a huge plus. And you never know, if you have a great year, you could be back out there.”
He started the year well in last week’s season-opening Smart Infinity Philippine Open, tying for eighth place.
He said: “Really great. I think, personally, just a lot of positives and kind of working on the things that are going to help us come November, December time. So, yeah, all in all, great. And obviously the week was great warm up for this week too, so looking forward to that.”
Scott Vincent pictured during today’s Pro-Am. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I mean right now it’s the Asian Tour that I have status on, and you know, I’m very happy to be out here and compete. And all these new elevated International Series events attract a lot of outside stars, so that’s great.
“And you know, you want to be playing against some of the best players in the world, and Asian Tour is offering that right now. So, yeah, everything’s great, we’re going to play out here and see where that puts us.”
He is no stranger to this week’s venue, DLF Golf and Country Club, a regular venue for Asian Tour events in the past.
“You know, it’s definitely one of the toughest courses I think I’ve played in my life, and every time I play it, like you’re always left with this feeling of I can’t wait to get back there and try again, because of how challenging and demanding it is,” he explained.
“I haven’t played it in the past four years or so but obviously remember a lot of the holes out there. You know, again, it’s great to play a course that tough early on in the season, it just kind of puts things in perspective from a game standpoint, and the things you need to work on.”
The 32-year-old from Harare played for Irons Head GC on LIV Golf while his younger brother Kieran was on the Legion XIII team, who claimed four team titles last year led by Spaniard John Rahm. Kieran also finished in the Drop Zone, so faces a full season on the Asian Tour. The Vincents are back 24/7 on the Tour where they first made their name, and all eyes will be on them to see what they can do next.
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma is under no illusion about the stern test that awaits him at International Series India presented by DLF, which starts Thursday at DLF Golf and Country Club.
The headlines may be about LIV Golf superstars such as reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau from the United States and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, The International Series Rankings winner last year, but Sharma is confident the local challenge will be strong thanks to the growth of the Asian Tour and The International Series.
Sharma, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour who has plied his trade more recently on the DP World Tour, said: “I can say this very proudly, but Indian golf has done so well in the last 10, 11 years since I have been a professional.
“A lot of the Indian players have applied their craft on the Asian Tour, and this is where I started as well – I won the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2018 and that’s where things really started for me, that was my first big trophy and the Asian Tour has always been my home.”
Shubhankar Sharma after winning the 2018 Maybank Championship – the year he claimed the Asian Tour Order of Merit title. Picture by Arep Kulal/Asian Tour.
He is joined this week by an impressive line-up of Indian players, that includes Anirban Lahiri, who plays with DeChambeau and England’s Paul Casey for Crushers GC, and Gaganjeet Bhullar, an 11-time winner on the Asian Tour, the most by an Indian.
“I have always said that [about the Asian Tour]. It’s where I learned to compete with the best and where I got a proper introduction into international golf and it is very heartening to see what the Asian Tour has got with The International Series,” added the 28-year-old.
“I couldn’t be happier for the Asian players and it’s great to see where the game is going and not only for India but for all the other countries that are doing so well. The fields are getting so much better, there’s more depth and the competition is so much more.
“I think The International Series events just shows that, I played in Riyadh at the end of last season (the season-ending PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers) and I saw what the competition level was, it was low scoring but for me it’s amazing.
“For me it’s a homecoming – not only playing in India but playing on the Asian Tour. It’s much more relaxed and I know everyone so it’s a great atmosphere.”
This week’s US$2million event is the second event of the season on the Asian Tour and the first of the year on The International Series.
January 26: Julien Sale (main picture) made history today on the Asian Tour by becoming the first member ever to win on his debut. On Sunday, the Frenchman delivered a spectacular five-under-par 65 in the final round to claim victory at the US$500,000 Smart Infinity Philippine Open, also marking his first professional win.
The 27-year-old Parisian – born on the tiny Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, some 680 kilometres east of Madagascar – started the final round two shots behind overnight leader Tomoyo Ikemura and finished on 11-under 269 total despite making a bogey on the par-five 18th hole of the Masters Course at Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club.
With Japan’s Ikemura (68) and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana (67) both chasing him, Sale reached the 18th tee with a cushion of three shots after he had made seven birdies and a bogey before that. Both Ikemura and Sadom birdied the last hole and finished tied second at 10-under.
“It feels great. It hasn’t sunk in yet, but it feels so good to have my first professional win and my first win on the Asian Tour as well,” said the history-maker after getting his hands on the impressive trophy.
Julien Sale of France. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
Coincidentally, the only member before Sale to win in his first start after graduating from the Qualifying School was Sadom, at the 2019 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open (his sixth Asian Tour start, but first as a professional). Sale also became the first French winner on the Tour in over 15 years, when Gregory Bourdy won the 2009 UBS Hong Kong Open.
Tiger Woods also won in his first start on the Asian Tour, at the 1997 Asian Honda Classic in Thailand, but he wasn’t a member.
Australian Kevin Yuan (68) birdied the last to finish sole fourth at 282, while the highest-ranked Filipino star in the field, Miguel Tabuena (66), surged to tied fifth at 273. Thai Poom Saksansin (67) and South Africa’s Ian Snyman (68) later joined him at that score.
The sliced tee shot on the 18th hole was Sale’s biggest mistake of the day as the wind picked up and tested the players once again.
The champion said patience was the key for him.
“A lot was going through my mind when I started, but I played the front nine really solid,” said the man who lost his Challenge Tour card last year, missing 15 cuts in 23 starts last year.
“Today was a bit tricky; it was much windier from the start, while on every other day, the wind picked up in the afternoon. I missed a couple of putts for birdie on the eighth and ninth, but I stayed patient. That was the key word today: to stay patient.”
Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
Sale credited his friend Stefano Mazzoli for the decision to come to Asia. The Italian enjoyed a successful rookie year with three top-10 finishes in the International Series eventsand was crowned the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year.
“The key moment for me last year was the second stage of DP World Tour Q-School when I felt I started to play much better. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the third stage, and decided to come for the Asian Tour Q-school, and from then on, I’ve been playing really great,” added Sale who finished 24th at this year’s Asian Tour Qualifying Schoooli.
“I’ve been carrying the momentum from then. All the failures I had last year, I kind of learned from it, all the mistakes I made, I tried to improve myself. And it kind of worked really well today.”
Sadom, who heads to India for next week’s International Series India presented by DLF, led after the first two rounds. Although he missed out on what would have been his third Asian Tour title, he was happy with his result.
“I think everything was good. I missed only one shot on the sixth hole, my second shot. I hit it pretty bad and made a double,” said the 26-year-old. “So, I was just trying to get back into the tournament after that. I am happy I could score under par today.”
Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
Tabuena, a two-time winner of the event, birdied his last two holes and said: “I felt I played really solid. Considering my four-over start on the first day, I believe that my game is there and I just ran out of holes. I’m still proud of the way I fought back after the first day, but I’m exhausted.”
The Asian Tour heads to the International Series India presented by DLF next week. The US$2 million event is being played at DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram at the outskirts of the capital New Delhi.
January 25: Tomoyo Ikemura (main picture) moved to within 18 holes of winning his maiden title on the Asian Tour with a last-hole birdie in a round of three-under-par 67 to capture sole possession of the lead after the third round of the US$500,000 Smart Infinity Philippine Open.
In the season-opening event of the 2025 Asian Tour schedule, being played at the Masters Course of Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club, the 29-year-old Japanese golfer from Kagoshima, who is eight-under, finished one ahead of Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana.
Sadom (72), the leader at the halfway stage, overcame a mid-round wobble and finished strong with birdies on his last two holes to stay one ahead of a group of five players. That included Thailand’s Danthai Boonma, who set a new course record with a brilliant bogey-free round of 62.
Other players in tied third place are Swede Bjorn Hellgren (66), Frenchman Julian Sale (67), Bowen Xiao (67) of China and Australian Kevin Yuan (68).
Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
Ikemura, a two-time champion on the Japan Golf Tour whose best finish on the Asian Tour are a couple of tied second places at the 2018 Leopalace21 Myanmar Open and the 2023 New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport, was cruising at five-under when he made a double bogey on the par-four 12th hole, followed by a bogey on the 15th. However, the five birdies in seven holes from the eighth to 14th, and another on the par-five 18th, ensured he moved to the top of the leaderboard.
“My hitting was really good, but there were a few unlucky shots as well. I hit it in the trees on the 12th hole and got an unplayable lie, but other than that it was a good day,” said the diminutive Ikemura, who played nine events on the Asian Tour last year and finished 53rd in the Order of Merit.
“I’ve been in contention a few times, but I couldn’t win last year in Japan or in Asia. So, my goal this year is to win in Asia. I’ve worked hard over the off-season. I am working towards a new goal this year, to qualify for LIV Golf. A win would be a good start to the year.”
The 26-year-old Sadom, who has been a picture of consistency the first two days and made his first bogey after 28 holes, made two bogeys and a double in successive holes after starting with four pars in a row. The two birdies towards the end put the smile back on his face.
Danthai Boonma of Thailand. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
“I felt a bit nervous at the start, but everything was good until I hit my shot into the greenside bunker on the fifth hole and made a bogey,” said the two-time winner on the Asian Tour.
“I guess I lost confidence a little bit after that, but I tried hard on the back nine and I am happy I could do well on the back nine.
“A win would mean a lot, because I really worked hard for the past couple of years, and I now have a chance. Tomorrow, my gameplan will depend on the wind. I think today the wind changed, which was the reason I lost confidence with my tee shots. If it’s a similar direction wind like the first two rounds, maybe, I can play the same way as I did the first two days.”
Boonma, who was only one of two players bogey-free on the challenging opening day, made four birdies on either sides of the golf course and was again without a bogey.
“Nothing to complain about today… bogey-free 62 is as good as it gets,” said the Thai star. “I think I controlled myself really well today. I just felt more comfortable than yesterday because I think I had no expectations today.
“The key was that I started really well. I started on hole 10, and I made birdies on 11, 12, and 13, so it made me more confident.”
The Asian Tour heads to the International Series India presented by DLF next week. The US$2 million event is being played at DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram at the outskirts of the capital New Delhi.
January 24: Sadom Kaewkanjana birdied two of his last three holes to extend his lead to three shots at the halfway stage of the US$500,000 Smart Infinity Philippine Open, the season-opening event of the 2025 Asian Tour schedule.
The 26-year-old from Thailand took his battle against the demanding Masters Course of Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club to 28 holes without making a bogey before dropping two shots on the 11th and 15th holes. However, birdies on the 16th and 18th gave him a four-under-par 66 card and he tallied nine-under 131 for the 36 holes.
That gave him a three-shot advantage over Korean-American Micah Shin (65), who is making a return to competitive golf following a hip injury that kept him away for the whole year after withdrawing from the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund in December 2023.
Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura (66) and Australian Aaron Wilkin (69) were tied for third place at five-under 135, one ahead of a group of five players that included Australians Travis Smyth (66) and Kevin Yuan (66), Ian Snyman (68) of South Africa, Jaewoong Eom (68) of Korea and Thai Charng-Tai Sudsom (67).
Micah Shin of the United States. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
Local hero Justin Quiban shot a bogey-free 64 – the lowest round of the tournament so far – to make up for his disappointment in the opening round. At three-under 137, he was in tied 10th position and the best placed among the home players.
Playing the golf course for the first time, Sadom powered ahead with four birdies in his front nine and made his first bogey of the tournament on the 11th hole when his second shot from the rough caught a flier and flew the green.
“Today, I played solid, just like yesterday,” said the two-time Asian Tour champion. “I had a good start on the front nine, but I struggled on the back nine.
“I’m happy to come back with two birdies on the last three holes. Everything was working well and I’m very happy with my result today.
“The course is playing tough, especially on the holes that used to be par fives but changed to par fours for the tournament. Those two holes are tough. It’s just about hitting the fairway and then hitting on the green. And that’s what I hope to do tomorrow.”
Justin Quiban of the Philippines. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
The 28-year-old Shin showed his love for the Philippines once again by getting into contention. Born in the USA, he spent his growing years in Davao City in the south of the Philippines and won his first and only Asian Tour title when he triumphed at the 2017 Resort World Manila Masters at this week’s venue.
Although he moved to Korea during the COVID years, Shin showed once again how comfortable he is in the Philippines. On Friday, he started from the first hole with a birdie before dropping a shot on the par-three fifth hole. Once he birdied the eighth, he did all his scoring over the last 10 holes.
“I had a problem with my hip… it’s called a hip impingement or something like that. The bone grew and I had to get surgery done on that,” said Shin.
“I am not 100 per cent fit still. So, I’m actually happy that I finished my round like this. But who knows what will happen.”
On returning to Manila Southwoods, he said: “It feels nice to be back, but it feels really different too. They have changed some holes.
“I wasn’t really hitting it too good yesterday, so I was actually kind of worried about my round today. I was trying to figure out my swing with my caddy. I was just focusing on my tempo and rhythm and stuff and I started hitting a little better.”
Quiban, a regular at Manila Southwoods, started from the 10th tee and finished strong with a birdie on the seventh hole before his eagle on the eighth.
“I was pretty much flawless from tee to green,” said Quiban, looking for his first win on the Asian Tour.
“Yesterday, I wasn’t really hitting my drives properly, I wasn’t really getting into the right positions. I just worked on the driver after my round and that carried on today. I just missed one fairway and had perfect looks to the pins, and I was actually draining my putts too.”
The cut was applied at two-over 142, with 67 players making it to the weekend.
January 24: Micah Shin (main picture) showed his love for the Philippines once again when he grabbed the clubhouse lead at the halfway stage on day two of the US$500,000 Smart Infinity Philippine Open, the season-opening event of the 2025 Asian Tour schedule.
The 28-year-old Korean-American is making a return to competitive golf following a hip injury that kept him away for the whole year after withdrawing from the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund in December 2023.
On Friday, Shin made seven birdies in a round of five-under-par 65 to move to six-under-par 134 total after 36 holes, one ahead of Australian Aaron Wilkin (69).
Local hero Justin Quiban shot a bogey-free 64 – the lowest round of the tournament so far – to make up for his disappointment in the opening round. It helped him get to three-under 137 and in tied seventh place before the afternoon players took on the challenging Masters Course of Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club.
Another player making a significant move was Australian Travis Smyth (66), who climbed up to tied fourth place at four-under alongside compatriot Kevin Yuan (66) and South Africa’s Ian Snyman (68). Both Yuan and Snyman did not drop a shot during the round.
Justin Quiban of the Philippines. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
Shin was born in the USA but spent his growing years in Davao City in the south of the Philippines. He won his first and only Asian Tour title when he triumphed at the 2017 Resort World Manila Masters in the bustling capital of the country.
Although he moved to Korea during the COVID years, Shin showed once again how comfortable he is in the Philippines. On Friday, he started from the first hole with a birdie before dropping a shot on the par-three fifth hole. Once he birdied the eighth, he did all his scoring over the last 10 holes.
“I had a problem with my hip… it’s called a hip impingement or something like that. The bone grew and I had to get surgery done on that,” said Shin.
“I am not 100 per cent fit still. So, I’m actually happy that I finished my round like this. But, who knows what will happen.”
Shin’s last win also came at Manila Southwoods, and he added: “It feels nice to be back, but it feels really different too. They have changed some holes.
“I wasn’t really hitting it too good yesterday, so I was actually kind of worried about my round today. I was trying to figure out my swing with my caddy. I was just focusing on my tempo and rhythm and stuff and I started hitting a little better.
“I got a new putter this week and that’s been helping a lot as well.”
Aaron Wilkin of Australia. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
Quiban, a regular at Manila Southwoods, started from the 10th tee and finished strong with a birdie on the seventh hole before his eagle on the eighth.
“I was pretty much flawless from tee to green,” said Quiban, looking for his first win on the Asian Tour. “Yesterday, I wasn’t really hitting my drives properly, I wasn’t really getting into the right positions. I just worked on the driver after my round and that carried on today. I just missed one fairway and had perfect looks to the pins, and I was actually draining my putts too.”
Wilkin, who made three monster putts for birdie from outside 50 feet yesterday, was having trouble with his putter and three-putted twice. But he knuckled down to make six birdies to get over a deflating double bogey on his seventh hole.
“Pretty happy with that, considering I had a few mishaps for the middle of the round,” said the 31-year-old, who lost in a sudden-death play-off in the Mandiri Indonesia Open last year.
“A couple three-putts and out of position a few times. I was struggling through the middle there. I was hitting decent golf shots but leaving myself in the wrong side of the hole, which made it harder. So, birdieing two out of the last three to get me on the path of the day…I will take it.”
January 23: Sadom Kaewkanjana shot one of only two bogey-free rounds on day one to grab sole possession of the lead in the US$500,000 Smart Infinity Philippine Open – the season-opening event of the 2025 Asian Tour schedule.
At the Masters course of Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club, the 26-year-old Thai star made five birdies to finish one shot ahead of compatriots Danthai Boonma and Pavit Tangkamolprasert, and Australia’s Aaron Wilkin.
Danthai, playing alongside leading Filipina amateur star Rianne Malixi, the reigning US Girls and US Women’s Amateur Champion, celebrated his 29th birthday on Thursday in style and made four successive birdies around the turn from the eighth hole.
Indian Ajeetesh Sandhu, Yosuke Asaji from Japan, Swede Bjorn Hellgren and Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech, all teeing off in the morning groups, were tied fifth at 67.
Playing on a special invitation, the 17-year-old Malixi started with a 75. The top Filipino golfers were Aidric Chan and Sean Ramos, who both came in with cards of 68 and were in tied ninth place.
Danthai Boonma of Thailand. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
Sadom, who is looking for his first win in almost three years after his 2022 SMBC Singapore Open triumph, put on a ball-striking masterclass as the wind picked up and made it difficult for the players to stop their balls on the firm greens.
Starting from the 10th hole, Sadom felt it was his second shot to the par-four 11th green that set up a short birdie putt, which told him it could be his day. He then picked up shots on the 14th, 17th, first and seventh holes.
“It was a solid day,” said the two-time champion on the Asian Tour. “I hit the ball really good and missed only one fairway and one green. It always feels great to start the season with a bogey-free round
“It was a very short off-season for us. I went to Korea for a holiday with my family and my girlfriend. Did not play much golf. So, I was not feeling very confident this week, but it all worked out well.”
Like Sadom, Danthai is also a two-time champion on the Asian Tour, and is looking for his first win since the 2022 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open.
Aaron Wilkin of Australia. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
A consistent performer, he has focused on getting physically stronger during the off-season, and the move paid dividends.
“The wind picked up on our back nine and the conditions became difficult. I played well and everything was very solid today. I think all parts of my game were working well. It felt good to make the four successive birdies,” said Danthai.
On playing with Malixi, Danthai said: “She is an incredible player. I mean, the golf course is very long for a girl her age, but she hit some great shots.”
Wilkin, who narrowly lost out and finished tied second at the Mandiri Indonesia Open last year, wielded a hot putter and made a 60-foot monster putt to start his day on the 10th hole, and then made two more of similar length.
“Hit a few close and did not make any of those putts, but made some long ones. That helps,” said the 31-year-old, who has a new caddie on his bag for the season.
Pavit, who had the only other bogey-free round of the day, was delighted with his own effort.
“The wind was up and the greens are difficult to hold from the rough,” said Pavit, a two-time champion on the Asian Tour and a seven-time winner on Asian Development Tour.
“I’m very happy with my game today. I realised after I submitted my card that I only missed one fairway. It was a surprise. That’s really the key that made it easy for me today.”
On a day when there were plenty of magical shots, two holes-in-one and an eagle two were recorded on the opening competitive round of the season.
Korea’s Hyunho Rho aced the 13th hole with a six iron from 199 yards, while Philippines’ Alvin Engino struck a perfect seven iron from 173 yards on the 17th for his ace.
Sandhu, who carried on his form from the end of last season, when he won a tournament on the domestic PGTI Tour and then secured his playing rights on the Asian Tour through the final stage of the Qualifying School, made an eagle on the par-four ninth hole, where he holed out his nine-iron second shot from 135 yards.
Sadom Kaewkanjana shot the only bogey-free round among the morning wave of players in a five-under-par 65 to open a one-shot lead at the halfway stage on day one of the US$500,000 Smart Infinity Philippines Open, the season-opening event of the 2025 Asian Tour schedule.
At the Masters course of Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club, the 26-year-old Thai star made five birdies to finish one ahead of compatriot and birthday boy Danthai Boonma (66), who made four successive birdies around the turn from the eighth hole in his round of 66. Danthai turned 29 on Thursday.
Indian Ajeetesh Sandhu, Yosuke Asaji from Japan, Swede Bjorn Hellgren and Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech were tied third in the clubhouse at 67.
Danthai played alongside leading Filipina amateur star Rianne Malixi, the reigning US Girls and US Women’s Amateur Champion. The 17-year-old, playing on a special invitation, started with a 75.
Danthai Boonma. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
Sadom, who is looking for his first win in almost three years after his 2022 SMBC Singapore Open triumph, put on a ball-striking masterclass as the wind picked up and made it difficult for the players to stop their balls on the firm greens.
Starting from the 10th hole, Sadom felt it was his second shot to the par-four 11th green that set up a short birdie putt, which told him it could be his day. He then picked up shots on the 14th, 17th, first and seventh holes.
“It was a solid day,” said the two-time champion on the Asian Tour. “I hit the ball really good and missed only one fairway and one green. It always feels great to start the season with a bogey-free round
“It was a very short off-season for us. I went to Korea for a holiday with my family and my girlfriend. Did not play much golf. So, I was not feeling very confident this week, but it all worked out well.”
Like Sadom, Danthai is also a two-time champion on the Asian Tour, and is looking for his first win since the 2022 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open.
A consistent performer, he has focused on getting physically stronger during the off-season, and the move paid dividends.
“The wind picked up on our back nine and the conditions became difficult. I played well and everything was very solid today. I think all parts of my game were working well. It felt good to make the four successive birdies,” said Danthai.
Ajeetesh Sandhu. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
On playing with Malixi, Danthai said: “She is an incredible player. I mean, the golf course is very long for a girl her age, but she hit some great shots.”
Sandhu carried on his form from the end of last season, when he won a tournament on the domestic PGTI Tour and then secured his playing rights on the Asian Tour through the final stage of the Qualifying School. His 67 included an eagle two on the par-four ninth hole, where he holed out his nine-iron second shot from 135 yards.
Steve Lewton has described his 2024 season as ‘bittersweet’ after the experience of winning his first title on the Asian Tour in a decade was offset by a disappointing closing stretch.
The Englishman won the Mandiri Indonesia Open in August but then didn’t push on as expected. He missed four out of eight cuts, with a best finish of joint 22nd.
“Yes, it was kind of bittersweet,” said Lewton, ahead of the Smart Infinity Philippine Open – which starts tomorrow at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club and is the season-opening event on the Asian Tour.
“Really nice to win again but I didn’t quite get to my goals. I will have to work a bit harder to achieve them this year.”
Steve Lewton shares a joke with Chase Koepka during a practice round at Manila Southwoods. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
He beat Australian Aaron Wilkin and China’s Sampson Zheng on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off in Indonesia. It was his second success on the Asian Tour after his victory in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2014.
The win was the culmination of a lot of hard work and justice after many near misses, including at the Indonesia Open, where he was second in the previous two editions.
It might have slipped under the radar for some but the 41-year-old has also won elsewhere in Asia, at the very event being played this week.
He claimed the Philippine Open in 2017 when it was played on the local tour, after prevailing in extra time against American Johannes Veerman, at a different venue from this week.
He said: “It was great to win back in 2017 because the Philippine Open is such a prestigious and old event. It’s great it’s back on Asian Tour this year. It is a privilege to be here.”
Steve Lewton. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.
Lewton is one of five former champions in the field along with Filipino Clyde Mondilla (2019), Miguel Tabuena (2015 and 2018), Angelo Que (2008) and Gerald Rosales (2000).
“Game’s rusty but had a lot of time off which has been nice. I played a few times at home, but we’ll see how this week goes. I have done a bit of swing work so we will see if it’s paid work,” he said.
“I had an amazing off season. Didn’t touch a club for a long time and then had a holiday in Barbados, which was awesome to get some downtime, with my fiancée, and kind of played a few times last week.”
After his big win last year much is expected of Lewton again this season, although he is not giving much away.
He explained: “I have set myself a few goals this year. I achieved one last year obviously and I will keep the goals to myself for now. I have set a few new goals so let’s see if we can achieve them.”
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