Hong Kong, March 2: The Hong Kong Golf Club, host venue of the popular Hong Kong Open has been nominated for the “World’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility” by the World Golf Awards.

An industry awards platform that celebrates and rewards excellence in golf, the Hong Kong Golf Club will be up against a host of other renowned golf clubs in the world.

They include the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, Pinehurst in the United States, The Gleneagles in Scotland and Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore which was voted the Asian Tour’s Players’ choice Golf Course of the Year in 2019.

Winners are determined by an online public vote which runs until September, 2019.

And they will announced at the World Golf Awards gala event in Dubai in October.

To cast your votes, click here.

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Queenstown, New Zealand, March 1: Australia’s Brad Kennedy returned to the winner’s circle again when he signed for a stunning eight-under-par 63 to win the 101^st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport on Sunday.

Kennedy had won New Zealand’s prestigious National Open in 2011 and held aloft its prized trophy for the second time after overcoming a two-shot deficit to pip compatriot Lucas Herbert to the title with his winning total of 21-under-par 264 at the Millbrook Resort.

Herbert, who won the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour in January, was seemingly in control of winning his second title in two months.

However, a costly double-bogey on 13 pegged him back momentarily before he battled back gallantly with three straight birdies from the 15^th hole.

Standing on the 18^th tee, Herbert still had a chance to at least force a play-off with Kennedy but hit his shot into the water which effectively cost him the title.

Herbert’s closing bogey meant he would end the week in second place, two shots ahead of fellow countryman Nick Flanagan, who finished in third place.

Korean teenager Joohyung Kim could not find his putting touch on the day that matters most and had to settle for outright fourth place after signing off with a 70.

Having started so promisingly and leading for three rounds, the 17-year-old marked his card with five birdies and four bogeys.

Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert meanwhile enjoyed his best result in three outings to the New Zealand Open after a closing 69 saw him finish in 11^th place.

Pavit had previously finished in tied-29^th place on both occasions at the 2018 and 2019 editions.

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Queenstown, New Zealand, February 29: Korean teenager Joohyung Kim had a crucial birdie to thank as he closed with a four-under-par 67 to head into the final round with a share of the lead with Australia’s Lucas Herbert at the 101^st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport on Saturday. 

Kim looked in danger of relinquishing his lead for the first time this week but calmly sank his putt from 10 feet on the par-three 18^th to sign for a three-day total of 15-under-par 199 at the Millbrook Resort.

Herbert made one of the biggest moves of the day, having trailed Kim by two shots when he stepped up to the opening tee.

The 24-year-old, who won the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour last month, stormed to the top of the leaderboard with three birdies in his final five holes.

2011 New Zealand Open champion Brad Kennedy of Australia closed strongly with back-to-back birdies to trail the pair by two shots in outright third place while American Chan Kim, a former member of the Asian Tour who topped the class at the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2013, is tied for fourth with Australia’s Nick Flanagan on 202 total.

Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert signed for a 70 to stay five shots back of the leaders in tied-ninth place with Australia’s Ben Eccles and Kieran Muir.

Like his second Asian Tour win in Sabah last year, the 30-year-old Thai is ready to mount a late fight back, having been in similar situations before where he knows that all is not lost yet.

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Joohyung  Kim (KOR) Third round

I played really well today. I was playing well off the tee and approach to the greens, but I did leave a lot of shots out there on the greens to be honest. But you can’t have all days when it goes your way, I’m still in the hunt as I gave myself a really good chance for tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to be fun to be honest, playing with Lucas is going to be really enjoyable. Obviously he’s a European Tour winner, so it’s going to be wherever it goes, whether I win or lose tomorrow, I’m just going to really enjoy myself.

Lucas Herbert (AUS) Third round 65 (-6) Total 199 (-15)

I was pretty happy with it. I started off quite nicely and got that little three-birdie run through the middle and got myself in a nice position but then straight after that I felt like I really battled my golf swing for a few holes and hit some errant ones. To fight back like I did and make some really good swings sort of 15, 16, 17 and even 18 there to hit it in the middle of the green, I was really proud of that because I think we’ve got a bit of work to do on the range to get ready for tomorrow.

Chan Kim (USA) Third round 65 (-6) Total 202 (-12)

I knew that the conditions were going to be very calm today, with not so much wind, so I knew I had to post something low to get close. I played about as good as I could play and left a few out there, but you just can’t complain, it’s six-under and up at the top of the leaderboard, it’s a pretty good feeling. I’ve been playing pretty well and I had a good offseason with my coach. I’m definitely really looking forward to tomorrow and seeing what I can do. Fortunately I played in the morning yesterday when the wind wasn’t as bad, but the first day when we had a lot of wind and some rain, it played really tough and some of those pins you just couldn’t get at. A day like today, it made it easier to fire at pins and give yourself birdie chances. From the looks of it I’m going to have to go pretty low tomorrow, especially if the weather stays like this, so I will be playing fairly aggressive. I just hope that the putts drop and we’ll see how it goes.

Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) Third round 70 (-1) Total 204 (-10)

I didn’t drive the ball very well today, I couldn’t find the fairways and it was difficult for me to hit from the rough. Especially with the pin positions, playing in the afternoon with firm greens. Overall, I’m very happy with the good start on the front nine, three-under-par, so I can still go low tomorrow. I had a good chance after the front nine today, my putting is still very good, but on the back nine I’m disappointed that I can’t find the fairways. So it puts me in a very difficult spot for tomorrow, but who knows.

Kuala Lumpur, February 28: Four talented juniors today received a tremendous boost to their budding golfing career as they received the coveted playing slots at the US$1 Million Bandar Malaysia Open 2020 next week.

The quartet of Nateshvar A. Ganesh, Rizq Adam Rohizam, Nor Harith Nor Hadi, and Hariz Hezri will be among the 40 Malaysians teeing up at the championship at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club from March 5-8. For all of them, it will be their first time playing in a world-class, professional event.

Fresh from winning the amateur title at the Zurich PGAM Junior Invitational held at Kota Permai yesterday after an opening round of six-under-par 66, Nateshvar would carry that warm feeling to the course next week.

“I didn’t expect to qualify for the Bandar Malaysia Open. It surely feels great to have the chance to play at our National Open,” said the 15-year-old Melaka lad. “I will keep training hard this few days, especially on my short game to prepare for the championship. I will try to make the weekend cut.”

For another young prospect, Rizq Adam, who only last week won the Faldo Series at Impian Golf & Country Club, he would be playing on a familiar ground having been a member of Kota Permai for the past four years, although he did not think that would be of any advantage.

“I’ve not played here that often, I’m kind of familiar with the course. It’s quite long and I don’t hit that far but I think it should be ok as my putting suits these slick greens,” said the 15-year-old who is a Tiger Woods fan. “I’m honoured to play in the Bandar Malaysia Open and it would be an interesting week, hopefully I will make the cut.”

For Johorean Nor Harith Nor Hadi, 17, it was a dream come true to qualify for the Bandar Malaysia Open. For his maiden outing playing in a professional field, he hoped to do well but will not put any target.

Fifteen-year-old Hariz Hezri, who hails from Kedah, was simply grateful for the opportunity to play his first professional championship. He felt that the course suit his game but conceded that he had to put in a lot more practice on his putting these few days to play well.

“We are delighted to be able to offer playing opportunities to these talented juniors. They are the future of the game in our country, with hopefully a long and fruitful golfing career ahead, not only as amateurs but eventually as professionals,” said Arep Kulal, Chief Executive Officer of Winning Matters, the event promoter.

“We believe the experience that they will gain from being in the field, teeing up against top players from the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), will put them in good stead for their future career development,” he added.

Photo caption: (From left) Hariz Hezri, Rizq Adam Rohizam, Arep Kulal, CEO of Winning Matters, Nor Harith Nor Hadi, and Nateshvar A. Ganesh.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AxOkHOP3M8[/embedyt]

Queenstown, New Zealand, February 28: Korean teenage prodigy Joohyung Kim remains the boy to catch as he signed for a four-under-par 68 to take the second round lead at the 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport on Friday.

Playing at The Hills, the 17-year-old showed why he is fast becoming one of the rising stars from the Asian Tour by continuing to feature prominently on the leaderboard with his two-day total of 11-under-par 132.

Qualifying School graduate Ben Eccles of Australia resumed his whirlwind adventure on the Asian Tour by firing a 68 to trail Kim by one shot in second place while Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert posted the day’s lowest round with a 64 at The Hills to share third place with Australia’s Lucas Herbert.

Eccles secured his Asian Tour card at Qualifying School in Hua Hin, Thailand last week before receiving a late call up for the tournament, having been on the reserve list.

The Australian opened with a 65 at the Millbrook Resort before his second round 68 put him well on track for his first victory as a professional, having claimed a debut victory in the 2015 NSW Open as an amateur.

Pavit’s game also caught fire as he signed for a bogey-free 64. Having gone five-over in his opening five holes in the first round, the Thai knows his mental strength will be key as he eyes a weekend charge.

The weekend cut was set at even-par.

Simultaneous to the tournament, a Pro-Am competition has also been played with a two-ball-best-ball format this week.

Apart from the 77 professionals who will progress to the weekend rounds at Millbrook Resort, the top 40 pro-am teams will also continue to compete in round three of the New Zealand Open Pro-Am Championship at Millbrook Resort.

A second cut will then be made in the New Zealand Open Pro-Am Championship after the third round with only the top-10 pro-am teams making it into the fourth round.

Ends.