Olympic heroes to renew rivalry at 2020 SMBC Singapore Open
Sentosa, Singapore, September 24: The 2020 SMBC Singapore Open is set to be one of the most memorable in its history as organizers confirmed today the participation of England’s Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson from Sweden and American Matt Kuchar – the gold, silver and bronze medalists respectively at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Boasting an epic field, fittingly at the beginning of a year that will see the summer Olympics staged in Tokyo, the US$1 million tournament will be played on the award-winning Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club from January 16 to 19.
For the fifth successive season the event will be jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organization.
“The SMBC Singapore Open has attracted many world class players over the years but it is fair to say the 2020 edition will be an extra special tournament with the calibre of players competing and their list of achievements,” said Ross Tan, President, Singapore Golf Association.
“We look forward to welcoming them to Singapore for what is one of the biggest and most important golf tournaments in Asia. It is also the perfect way to start a year when the Olympics returns to Asia.”
Rose and Stenson have played in Singapore’s national Open before – Rose tied for ninth in 2011 and Stenson missed the cut the same year – while this will mark the first time Kuchar has competed in the Lion City.
The Englishman became golf’s first Olympic champion since 1904 when he won the gold medal in Rio. He also made history when he recorded the first hole-in-one in Olympic golf.
Rose was tied with playing partner Stenson going into the final hole at the Olympic Golf Course in Rio, but secured victory by making birdie. Stenson three putted for a bogey to finish two off the lead while Kuchar finished a stroke further back.
“The SMBC Singapore Open is one of the first tournaments of the year in world golf and what an exciting line-up of players we can look forward to watching next year. And there can be no better venue to stage such an eye catching event than Sentosa Golf Club and the holiday island of Sentosa,” said Andrew Johnston, General Manager and Director of Agronomy, Sentosa Golf Club.
“Sentosa has staged Singapore’s national Open since 2005 and we are proud the tournament has grown to become one of the region’s showpiece events that draws the finest players in the game.”
Rose enjoyed his most successful season to date last year by winning the FedEx Cup and claiming the number one spot on the Official World Golf Ranking – both for the first time.
Winner of the 2013 US Open he has claimed 11 titles on the European Tour and 10 on the PGA Tour. The 39-year-old is currently ranked fourth in the world.
Stenson, world ranked 34, also has one Major to his name, the Open championship in 2016 – the year he claimed the European Tour’s Race to Dubai. In 2013, he made history by winning both the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai titles – becoming the first player to win both, and to do so in the same season.
The Swede famously partnered Rose in the Ryder Cup in 2018 winning both their foursomes matches. Stenson also triumphed in his singles game to go undefeated and help Europe reclaim the Cup.
Kuchar is a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour and won the Money List in the States in 2010.
The 41-year-old American has triumphed in some of the biggest tournaments in the game including the Players Championship in 2012 and the 2013 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. He has also finished in the top-10 at Majors on 12 occasions.
He is currently ranked 21st in the world and like Rose and Stenson he has been a regular in the Ryder Cup matches over the past decade.
“Golf fans in Singapore are in for special treat next year with Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar set to grace the fairways of Sentosa Golf Club,” said Patrick Feizal Joyce, Senior Vice President, Golf – Asia, Lagardère Sports.
“This is certainly an exceptional line-up of star players particularly as they were the medalists at the last Olympics. All three have won nearly every accolade in golf and are known for being true ambassadors of the game, so it will be an outstanding start to the year for everyone involved!”
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond was victorious at the SMBC Singapore Open at the start of this year. He held off challenges from world stars Paul Casey and Matthew Fitzpatrick, both from England, and is expected to be back to defend what will be the 54th staging of Singapore’s national Open in 2020.
Ends.
Sentosa, Singapore, September 23: Pressure does not care about form and can be very cruel.
Zimbabwean Scott Vincent had the chance to seal his maiden win on the Asian Tour after going into the final round of The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open with a two-shot cushion.
It may seem advantageous but the margin for error has also shrunk with the possibility of drama that lies ahead when the first tee shot is hit.
And it did for Vincent, who bogeyed his first hole before a mixture of two more bogeys and three birdies denied his day of glory on a Sunday again.
“It was just tough, not a lot went my way and I didn’t play very well. You know, I left a few shots out there as well but when you look at the overall picture, I would have had to at least shoot four under today to match that score which is going to be tough any day out here,” said Vincent.
A victory would mean the world to Vincent but having seen victory slipped by his grasp on numerous occasions, the Zimbabwean knows he will make peace with pressure and win one day.
“I still haven’t finished outside of the top-three, so still not bad. I learned a lot and got a lot to work on but heading in the right direction. I put myself in contention to win a tournament, that’s important for me.
“You know this has been a big tournament for me in my career, where it’s kind of boosted the rest of the year, so I’m hoping that this is going to do the same and carry me forward in these next few events,” said the Zimbabwean.
With his third place finish, Vincent moved up to sixth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, while South Africa’s Jbe Kruger, who won again for the first time since 2012, made a huge leap up to ninth place from the previous week’s 95th position on the money list.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattanond continues to hold prime spot atop the Order of Merit despite ending his week in Korea in tied-32nd place while Australia’s Scott Hend, who did not feature at The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open, remains in second place.
The Asian Tour heads to Japan for the Panasonic Open Golf Championship which will take place at the Higashi Hirono Golf Club from September 26-29.
Ends.
Top-20 players on the Habitat for Humanity Standings
Pos Player Order of Merit (US$)
1 Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) $769,297.49
2 Scott HEND (AUS) $528,160.94
3 Yosuke ASAJI (JPN) $296,523.73
4 Taehee LEE (KOR) $284,661.95
5 Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) $260,100.96
6 Scott VINCENT (ZIM) $234,723.16
7 Zach MURRAY (AUS) $221,011.92
8 Jbe KRUGER (RSA) $210,624.31
9 Micah Lauren SHIN (USA) $187,218.98
10 Johannes VEERMAN (USA) $177,288.30
11 Yikeun CHANG (KOR) $170,703.36
12 Sanghyun PARK (KOR) $140,473.49
13 David LIPSKY (USA) $137,309.79
14 Prom MEESAWAT (THA) $123,386.86
15 Sadom KAEWKANJANA (THA) $118,336.53
16 Janne KASKE (FIN) $114,708.67
17 Berry HENSON (USA) $106,792.21
18 Dongkyu JANG (KOR) $104,405.57
19 Richard T. LEE (CAN) $98,972.88
20 Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) $98,850.98
Incheon, Korea, September 22: South Africa’s Jbe Kruger ended his seven-year title drought on the Asian Tour by signing off with a six-under-par 65 to win The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open by two shots on Sunday.
Kruger has not won another Asian Tour title since his lone win in India in 2012. However, he showed he was ready to make his comeback to the winner’s circle with a commanding performance where he did not drop a single shot in his last 37 holes at the Bear’s Best Cheongna Golf Club.
Trailing overnight leader Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe by two shots, the South African made his move quickly with a birdie on the second hole, followed by another pair of birdies on holes seven and eight.
After making another birdie on 11, Kruger knew he would have a chance of winning and charged ahead with three straight pars before pulling ahead with another set of birdies on 15 and 16 to eventually close with a winning total of 15-under-par 269.
Korean-American Chan Kim matched Kruger’s final round efforts with another 65 of his own to finish in outright second place while Vincent could not hold on to his overnight lead, slipping to third place after posting a 71 at The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open which is being tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Korean PGA and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).
Ends.
Did you know?
- With this win Jbe Kruger secures a two-year exemption on the Asian Tour after being ranked 95th on the Order of Merit the previous week.
- The South African did not make a bogey in his last 37 holes of the tournament, going back to the 17th hole on Friday.
- He had a Driving Distance average of 286 yards, Driving accuracy of 67.86%, Greens in Regulation (GIR) of 76.39 and Putts per GIR of 1.69.
- Kruger last won on the Asian Tour in the 2012 Avantha Masters in India, a tournament that was co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
- Hailing from Northern Cape province in South Africa, he has also recorded four career wins on the Sunshine Tour. The latest title coming at the Sun Carnival City Challenge in 2017.
- The 33-year-old got his nickname Jbe from the initials in his full name, James Barry Kruger.
- He currently holds the record for most Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) tournaments played in a 12 month period: 41.
- Chan Kim is a former member of the Asian Tour. He topped the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2013.
- He finished third on the JGTO money list in 2017, thanks to three wins.
- Kim came in second at the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour in July where he earned his spot to The Open.
- He is currently leading the driving distance stats category (320.34) on the JGTO.
- Scott Vincent, the only Zimbabwean member on Tour, has never finished outside the top-three in his last four outings at the Shinhan Donghae Open.
- He finished tied-second in 2016, tied-third in 2017, second last year and third this week.
- Vincent claimed his first international win at the Landic Challenge 7 held on the Japan Challenge Tour in June.
- He has not missed a single cut in eight starts so far this season.
- Vincent was crowned the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year in 2016 after ending his season in 28th place on the Order of Merit.
Jbe Kruger (Rsa) Fourth round 65 (-6) Total 269 (-15)
It all changed on the seventh hole when I made my second birdie and I could feel the momentum then. It was in the Lord’s plan whether I would win again today. But as for me, I started to feel good and after the 11th hole, I had a good feeling it was my time again. I would say what went right today was probably my putting. I obviously didn’t hit it as well as I could have but my chipping and my putting saved me multiple times and that’s why I didn’t make bogeys. I’m a professional and this is what I do for a living, so I will probably go where the money is, go there and play well. I have been a big fan of playing in Japan, but you can’t really get into that Tour if you haven’t gone to Q school. But now, things have changed. This course is a Jack Nicklaus design golf course. It’s the same as my own course, so the first time I came here, it literally looks identical. It has the same lines, the same kind of grass. Everything is exactly the same and it almost feels like a home away from home. So, you know I’ve heard someone say “horses for courses” and that’s the truth, because you generally play well at the same courses all year long.
Chan Kim (Usa) Fourth round 65 (-6) Total 271 (-13)
Yeah I played really solid and gave a good fight today. Obviously, you know, we were expecting some bad weather but it held up pretty well. It was pretty windy but it was definitely scorable conditions. It’s quite a bitter pill to swallow after finishing so close. I finished second and third quite a bit this year, so I’m just still waiting for that first win of the season.
Scott Vincent (Zim) Fourth round 71 (Even) Total 273 (-11)
It was just tough, not a lot went my way and I didn’t play very well. You know, I left a few shots out there as well but when you look at the overall picture, I would have had to at least shoot four under today to match that score which is going to be tough any day out here. So, the way Jbe played it was going to be tough to beat either way. But obviously with my position going in, I would have liked to have a slightly different result. But hey, I still haven’t finished outside of the top-three, so still not bad. I learned a lot and got a lot to work on, but heading in the right direction. I put myself in contention to win a tournament, that’s important for me. You know this has been a big tournament for me in my career, where it’s kind of boosted the rest of the year, so I’m hoping that this is going to do the same and carry me forward in these next few events.
Wentworth, UK, September 22: India’s Shubhankar Sharma produced an action-packed six-under 66 to charge up the leaderboard and end his third round in a share of third place at the BMW PGA Championships on Saturday.
The reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion marked his card with nine birdies and three bogeys where his three-day total of 12-under-par 204 saw him share third place with 2016 Olympic champion and former US Open winner Justin Rose and South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Three shots ahead of Sharma were joint-leader Jon Rahm of Spain and 2016 Masters winner, Danny Willett.
Sharma was thrilled with the round as he said, “It was a good round. I made a lot of birdies, gave myself a lot of opportunities and I’m pretty pleased with the way I played. The game has been improving as the rounds have been progressing. Obviously it’s my first time playing at Wentworth and learning more about the course with more rounds,” said Sharma.
“I was reading the greens really well. All in all, pretty solid day. I’ve not been playing bad the last few weeks. It’s just about putting in four good rounds together. Just the whole year has been a bit slow, but haven’t felt like I played really bad. It’s just about getting the right breaks and putting in four good rounds. Hopefully I can do that this week and get on a good run after this,” added the Indian.
Ends.
Overseas Watch: Sharma eases into weekend in England
Wentworth, UK, September 21: India’s Shubhankar Sharma wore a big smile as he walked off the Wentworth Golf Club with a five-under 67 to his name to head into the weekend in tied-eighth place after the second round of the BMW PGA Championship on Friday.
The reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion compiled a two-day total of six-under-par 138 to trail Spain’s Jon Rahm and England’s Danny Willett by five shots at the European Tour event.
Still smarting from the triple bogey he suffered on the first day and ended with 71, Sharma is pleased he managed to stay bogey-free.
“I’m pretty happy with no bogey and I started well with a good 7-Iron to five feet. Then followed a few good pars and four more birdies. The key was good putting, actually pretty much everything fell in the slot today. I was finding more fairways, iron play was better and overall I hit much today that first day,” said Sharma.
The Indian also admitted conditions were easier in the morning as towards the end of his round, wind was picking up, so there were more scoring opportunities.
“Six under for two rounds after a triple on first day felt good and lunch will taste better,” added Sharma.
Ends,
Incheon, Korea, September 21: Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent continued to hold on to his lead after signing for a third round three-under-par 68 as Typhoon Tapah threatens to affect the final round of the 35th Shinhan Donghae Open.
The centre of the typhoon will be approximately 300km away from the Bear’s Best Cheongna Golf Club on Sunday and in the event the final round cannot be completed, regardless of the number of holes completed, the tournament will be declared as a 54-hole tournament.
Depending on the weather situation on the final round, Vincent stands on the verge of lifting his maiden Asian Tour title, having come so close to winning on several occasions since he made his debut on the Tour.
The Zimbabwean’s three-day total of 11-under-par 202 was enough to give him a two-shot advantage over Korea’s Sung Kang, South Africa’s Jbe Kruger and Japan’s Shugo Imahira who returned with matching 204 total to share second place.
Vincent has never finished outside the top-three in his last three outings at the Bear’s Best Cheongna Golf Club and despite stumbling early with a bogey on the second hole, he demonstrated his resolve by bouncing back with a pair of birdies on the sixth and seventh holes.
He dropped another shot again on the par-four 10th but recovered quickly again with birdies on 11 and 13 before a closing birdie on 18 allowed him to pull ahead from the chasing pack with a two-shot cushion at The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open which is being tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Korean PGA and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).
Ends.
Did you know?
- Scott Vincent, the only Zimbabwean member on Tour, has never finished outside the top-three in his last three outings at the Shinhan Donghae Open.
- He finished tied-second in 2016, tied-third in 2017 and second last year.
- Vincent claimed his first international win at the Landic Challenge 7 held on the Japan Challenge Tour in June.
- He notched four top-10s in Australia, Japan, Korea and Malaysia to sit in ninth place on the latest Asian Tour Order of Merit. He has not missed a single cut in eight starts so far this season.
- Vincent was crowned the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year in 2016 after ending his season in 28th place on the Order of Merit.
- Jbe Kruger has won once on the Asian Tour in the 2012 Avantha Masters in India, a tournament that was co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
- Hailing from Northern Cape province in South Africa, he has also recorded four career wins on the Sunshine Tour. The latest title coming at the Sun Carnival City Challenge in 2017.
- The 33-year-old got his nickname Jbe from the initials in his full name, James Barry Kruger.
- Sunghoon Kang has previously won one title on the Asian Tour, the 2013 CJ Invitational Hosted by KJ Choi.
- The 32-year-old Korean also has victories in two other events. The Kolon Korean Open the week following his win at CJ Invitational, and most notably the 2019 AT&T Byron Nelson on the PGA Tour.
- This year, Kang finished seventh in the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black, his best finish in a Major to date.
- He also had his best career season on the PGA TOUR finishing 45th in the FedEx Cup standings.
Ends.
Scott Vincent (Zim) Third round 68 (-3) Total 202 (-11)
I had a shaky start. I hit a wayward one on the second hole. But you know, I was just really proud of the way that I held it together, and you know I made some good swings coming in to close out that nine and get myself under par. Which was something really huge for me. And then I held it well together on the back. I made some good putts and I hit it close enough to make putts, so it was just a good solid day. I had a great up and down on 17. That was a tricky little putt, not one you want right at the end. I’m planning on playing so I’ll be ready to go regardless of the typhoon. That birdie on the last that was huge. Many times this year I’ve missed a good makeable birdie putt on the last, it was big for me to make that. It was a fairly simple read, just outside the right edge and just give it enough speed. That was just one of those drives (on 18) that just came right out of the middle and had a great flight on it. We had some wind helping us behind and I assume it got a good kick as well. So yeah, it was just one of those ones that you happy to see get on the fairway, because if you hit that rough, it’s thick.
Jbe Kruger (Rsa) Third round 67 (-4) Total 136 (-6)
I didn’t know there was a typhoon coming in but well we’ll see what happens then. I think if it does rain, it’s going to be really difficult. If you want to score, the key is to hit it straight off the tee and if it rains it makes it so much harder to actually hit it straight. It’s going to be brutal I think if it does rain. It’s very familiar, a couple years ago when Gaganjeet won he also had rain in final round and I was playing with him. So, I can draw from past experience and that might just help
I probably say my putting helped me today. I probably hit the ball the worst I’ve hit all week. But my putting kept me in it. You know, I missed a lot of greens, but I scrambled and didn’t make one bogey. But you know, I missed so many green and still didn’t make a bogey, so the putting was really helpful.
Sung Kang (Kor) Third round 65 (-6) Total 204 (-9)
I was playing as though today’s like the last day of the tournament because I heard the typhoon is coming tomorrow so I tried to do all the best I could today. I played actually lot more solid than the last couple days, I hit the ball better and putted a little better too. That’s why I shot a lower round. It has been a good year for me and I’m definitely bring that confidence and positive vibes into this week. It has been nine months since I’ve been away from Korea and it’s nice to catch up with my family and friends and having good Korean food again.
Olympic heroes to renew rivalry at 2020 SMBC Singapore Open
By - Serene Loh
[addtoany]
The 2020 SMBC Singapore Open is set to be one of the most memorable in its history as organizers confirmed today the participation of England’s Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson from Sweden and American Matt Kuchar – the gold, silver and bronze medalists respectively at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Sentosa, Singapore, September 24: The 2020 SMBC Singapore Open is set to be one of the most memorable in its history as organizers confirmed today the participation of England’s Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson from Sweden and American Matt Kuchar – the gold, silver and bronze medalists respectively at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Boasting an epic field, fittingly at the beginning of a year that will see the summer Olympics staged in Tokyo, the US$1 million tournament will be played on the award-winning Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club from January 16 to 19.
For the fifth successive season the event will be jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organization.
“The SMBC Singapore Open has attracted many world class players over the years but it is fair to say the 2020 edition will be an extra special tournament with the calibre of players competing and their list of achievements,” said Ross Tan, President, Singapore Golf Association.
“We look forward to welcoming them to Singapore for what is one of the biggest and most important golf tournaments in Asia. It is also the perfect way to start a year when the Olympics returns to Asia.”
Rose and Stenson have played in Singapore’s national Open before – Rose tied for ninth in 2011 and Stenson missed the cut the same year – while this will mark the first time Kuchar has competed in the Lion City.
The Englishman became golf’s first Olympic champion since 1904 when he won the gold medal in Rio. He also made history when he recorded the first hole-in-one in Olympic golf.
Rose was tied with playing partner Stenson going into the final hole at the Olympic Golf Course in Rio, but secured victory by making birdie. Stenson three putted for a bogey to finish two off the lead while Kuchar finished a stroke further back.
“The SMBC Singapore Open is one of the first tournaments of the year in world golf and what an exciting line-up of players we can look forward to watching next year. And there can be no better venue to stage such an eye catching event than Sentosa Golf Club and the holiday island of Sentosa,” said Andrew Johnston, General Manager and Director of Agronomy, Sentosa Golf Club.
“Sentosa has staged Singapore’s national Open since 2005 and we are proud the tournament has grown to become one of the region’s showpiece events that draws the finest players in the game.”
Rose enjoyed his most successful season to date last year by winning the FedEx Cup and claiming the number one spot on the Official World Golf Ranking – both for the first time.
Winner of the 2013 US Open he has claimed 11 titles on the European Tour and 10 on the PGA Tour. The 39-year-old is currently ranked fourth in the world.
Stenson, world ranked 34, also has one Major to his name, the Open championship in 2016 – the year he claimed the European Tour’s Race to Dubai. In 2013, he made history by winning both the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai titles – becoming the first player to win both, and to do so in the same season.
The Swede famously partnered Rose in the Ryder Cup in 2018 winning both their foursomes matches. Stenson also triumphed in his singles game to go undefeated and help Europe reclaim the Cup.
Kuchar is a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour and won the Money List in the States in 2010.
The 41-year-old American has triumphed in some of the biggest tournaments in the game including the Players Championship in 2012 and the 2013 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. He has also finished in the top-10 at Majors on 12 occasions.
He is currently ranked 21st in the world and like Rose and Stenson he has been a regular in the Ryder Cup matches over the past decade.
“Golf fans in Singapore are in for special treat next year with Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar set to grace the fairways of Sentosa Golf Club,” said Patrick Feizal Joyce, Senior Vice President, Golf – Asia, Lagardère Sports.
“This is certainly an exceptional line-up of star players particularly as they were the medalists at the last Olympics. All three have won nearly every accolade in golf and are known for being true ambassadors of the game, so it will be an outstanding start to the year for everyone involved!”
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond was victorious at the SMBC Singapore Open at the start of this year. He held off challenges from world stars Paul Casey and Matthew Fitzpatrick, both from England, and is expected to be back to defend what will be the 54th staging of Singapore’s national Open in 2020.
Ends.
Pressure does not care about form and can be very cruel.
Sentosa, Singapore, September 23: Pressure does not care about form and can be very cruel.
Zimbabwean Scott Vincent had the chance to seal his maiden win on the Asian Tour after going into the final round of The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open with a two-shot cushion.
It may seem advantageous but the margin for error has also shrunk with the possibility of drama that lies ahead when the first tee shot is hit.
And it did for Vincent, who bogeyed his first hole before a mixture of two more bogeys and three birdies denied his day of glory on a Sunday again.
“It was just tough, not a lot went my way and I didn’t play very well. You know, I left a few shots out there as well but when you look at the overall picture, I would have had to at least shoot four under today to match that score which is going to be tough any day out here,” said Vincent.
A victory would mean the world to Vincent but having seen victory slipped by his grasp on numerous occasions, the Zimbabwean knows he will make peace with pressure and win one day.
“I still haven’t finished outside of the top-three, so still not bad. I learned a lot and got a lot to work on but heading in the right direction. I put myself in contention to win a tournament, that’s important for me.
“You know this has been a big tournament for me in my career, where it’s kind of boosted the rest of the year, so I’m hoping that this is going to do the same and carry me forward in these next few events,” said the Zimbabwean.
With his third place finish, Vincent moved up to sixth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, while South Africa’s Jbe Kruger, who won again for the first time since 2012, made a huge leap up to ninth place from the previous week’s 95th position on the money list.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattanond continues to hold prime spot atop the Order of Merit despite ending his week in Korea in tied-32nd place while Australia’s Scott Hend, who did not feature at The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open, remains in second place.
The Asian Tour heads to Japan for the Panasonic Open Golf Championship which will take place at the Higashi Hirono Golf Club from September 26-29.
Ends.
Top-20 players on the Habitat for Humanity Standings
Pos Player Order of Merit (US$)
1 Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) $769,297.49
2 Scott HEND (AUS) $528,160.94
3 Yosuke ASAJI (JPN) $296,523.73
4 Taehee LEE (KOR) $284,661.95
5 Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) $260,100.96
6 Scott VINCENT (ZIM) $234,723.16
7 Zach MURRAY (AUS) $221,011.92
8 Jbe KRUGER (RSA) $210,624.31
9 Micah Lauren SHIN (USA) $187,218.98
10 Johannes VEERMAN (USA) $177,288.30
11 Yikeun CHANG (KOR) $170,703.36
12 Sanghyun PARK (KOR) $140,473.49
13 David LIPSKY (USA) $137,309.79
14 Prom MEESAWAT (THA) $123,386.86
15 Sadom KAEWKANJANA (THA) $118,336.53
16 Janne KASKE (FIN) $114,708.67
17 Berry HENSON (USA) $106,792.21
18 Dongkyu JANG (KOR) $104,405.57
19 Richard T. LEE (CAN) $98,972.88
20 Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) $98,850.98
Catch up on all the highlights from round 4 of The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open.
South Africa’s Jbe Kruger ended his seven-year title drought on the Asian Tour by signing off with a six-under-par 65 to win The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open by two shots.
Incheon, Korea, September 22: South Africa’s Jbe Kruger ended his seven-year title drought on the Asian Tour by signing off with a six-under-par 65 to win The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open by two shots on Sunday.
Kruger has not won another Asian Tour title since his lone win in India in 2012. However, he showed he was ready to make his comeback to the winner’s circle with a commanding performance where he did not drop a single shot in his last 37 holes at the Bear’s Best Cheongna Golf Club.
Trailing overnight leader Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe by two shots, the South African made his move quickly with a birdie on the second hole, followed by another pair of birdies on holes seven and eight.
After making another birdie on 11, Kruger knew he would have a chance of winning and charged ahead with three straight pars before pulling ahead with another set of birdies on 15 and 16 to eventually close with a winning total of 15-under-par 269.
Korean-American Chan Kim matched Kruger’s final round efforts with another 65 of his own to finish in outright second place while Vincent could not hold on to his overnight lead, slipping to third place after posting a 71 at The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open which is being tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Korean PGA and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).
Ends.
Did you know?
- With this win Jbe Kruger secures a two-year exemption on the Asian Tour after being ranked 95th on the Order of Merit the previous week.
- The South African did not make a bogey in his last 37 holes of the tournament, going back to the 17th hole on Friday.
- He had a Driving Distance average of 286 yards, Driving accuracy of 67.86%, Greens in Regulation (GIR) of 76.39 and Putts per GIR of 1.69.
- Kruger last won on the Asian Tour in the 2012 Avantha Masters in India, a tournament that was co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
- Hailing from Northern Cape province in South Africa, he has also recorded four career wins on the Sunshine Tour. The latest title coming at the Sun Carnival City Challenge in 2017.
- The 33-year-old got his nickname Jbe from the initials in his full name, James Barry Kruger.
- He currently holds the record for most Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) tournaments played in a 12 month period: 41.
- Chan Kim is a former member of the Asian Tour. He topped the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2013.
- He finished third on the JGTO money list in 2017, thanks to three wins.
- Kim came in second at the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour in July where he earned his spot to The Open.
- He is currently leading the driving distance stats category (320.34) on the JGTO.
- Scott Vincent, the only Zimbabwean member on Tour, has never finished outside the top-three in his last four outings at the Shinhan Donghae Open.
- He finished tied-second in 2016, tied-third in 2017, second last year and third this week.
- Vincent claimed his first international win at the Landic Challenge 7 held on the Japan Challenge Tour in June.
- He has not missed a single cut in eight starts so far this season.
- Vincent was crowned the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year in 2016 after ending his season in 28th place on the Order of Merit.
Read what Jbe Kruger, Chan Kim and Scott Vincent have to say after the final round of this week’s 35th Shinhan Donghae Open.
Jbe Kruger (Rsa) Fourth round 65 (-6) Total 269 (-15)
It all changed on the seventh hole when I made my second birdie and I could feel the momentum then. It was in the Lord’s plan whether I would win again today. But as for me, I started to feel good and after the 11th hole, I had a good feeling it was my time again. I would say what went right today was probably my putting. I obviously didn’t hit it as well as I could have but my chipping and my putting saved me multiple times and that’s why I didn’t make bogeys. I’m a professional and this is what I do for a living, so I will probably go where the money is, go there and play well. I have been a big fan of playing in Japan, but you can’t really get into that Tour if you haven’t gone to Q school. But now, things have changed. This course is a Jack Nicklaus design golf course. It’s the same as my own course, so the first time I came here, it literally looks identical. It has the same lines, the same kind of grass. Everything is exactly the same and it almost feels like a home away from home. So, you know I’ve heard someone say “horses for courses” and that’s the truth, because you generally play well at the same courses all year long.
Chan Kim (Usa) Fourth round 65 (-6) Total 271 (-13)
Yeah I played really solid and gave a good fight today. Obviously, you know, we were expecting some bad weather but it held up pretty well. It was pretty windy but it was definitely scorable conditions. It’s quite a bitter pill to swallow after finishing so close. I finished second and third quite a bit this year, so I’m just still waiting for that first win of the season.
Scott Vincent (Zim) Fourth round 71 (Even) Total 273 (-11)
It was just tough, not a lot went my way and I didn’t play very well. You know, I left a few shots out there as well but when you look at the overall picture, I would have had to at least shoot four under today to match that score which is going to be tough any day out here. So, the way Jbe played it was going to be tough to beat either way. But obviously with my position going in, I would have liked to have a slightly different result. But hey, I still haven’t finished outside of the top-three, so still not bad. I learned a lot and got a lot to work on, but heading in the right direction. I put myself in contention to win a tournament, that’s important for me. You know this has been a big tournament for me in my career, where it’s kind of boosted the rest of the year, so I’m hoping that this is going to do the same and carry me forward in these next few events.
The first Zimbabwean to play on the Asian Tour, find out more about Scott Vincent in this feature.
India’s Shubhankar Sharma produced an action-packed six-under 66 to charge up the leaderboard and end his third round in a share of third place at the BMW PGA Championships.
Wentworth, UK, September 22: India’s Shubhankar Sharma produced an action-packed six-under 66 to charge up the leaderboard and end his third round in a share of third place at the BMW PGA Championships on Saturday.
The reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion marked his card with nine birdies and three bogeys where his three-day total of 12-under-par 204 saw him share third place with 2016 Olympic champion and former US Open winner Justin Rose and South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Three shots ahead of Sharma were joint-leader Jon Rahm of Spain and 2016 Masters winner, Danny Willett.
Sharma was thrilled with the round as he said, “It was a good round. I made a lot of birdies, gave myself a lot of opportunities and I’m pretty pleased with the way I played. The game has been improving as the rounds have been progressing. Obviously it’s my first time playing at Wentworth and learning more about the course with more rounds,” said Sharma.
“I was reading the greens really well. All in all, pretty solid day. I’ve not been playing bad the last few weeks. It’s just about putting in four good rounds together. Just the whole year has been a bit slow, but haven’t felt like I played really bad. It’s just about getting the right breaks and putting in four good rounds. Hopefully I can do that this week and get on a good run after this,” added the Indian.
Ends.
Overseas Watch: Sharma eases into weekend in England
Wentworth, UK, September 21: India’s Shubhankar Sharma wore a big smile as he walked off the Wentworth Golf Club with a five-under 67 to his name to head into the weekend in tied-eighth place after the second round of the BMW PGA Championship on Friday.
The reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion compiled a two-day total of six-under-par 138 to trail Spain’s Jon Rahm and England’s Danny Willett by five shots at the European Tour event.
Still smarting from the triple bogey he suffered on the first day and ended with 71, Sharma is pleased he managed to stay bogey-free.
“I’m pretty happy with no bogey and I started well with a good 7-Iron to five feet. Then followed a few good pars and four more birdies. The key was good putting, actually pretty much everything fell in the slot today. I was finding more fairways, iron play was better and overall I hit much today that first day,” said Sharma.
The Indian also admitted conditions were easier in the morning as towards the end of his round, wind was picking up, so there were more scoring opportunities.
“Six under for two rounds after a triple on first day felt good and lunch will taste better,” added Sharma.
Ends,
Catch up on highlights from round 3 of the 35th Shinhan Donghae Open.
Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent continued to hold on to his lead after signing for a third round three-under-par 68 as Typhoon Tapah threatens to affect the final round of the 35th Shinhan Donghae Open.
Incheon, Korea, September 21: Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent continued to hold on to his lead after signing for a third round three-under-par 68 as Typhoon Tapah threatens to affect the final round of the 35th Shinhan Donghae Open.
The centre of the typhoon will be approximately 300km away from the Bear’s Best Cheongna Golf Club on Sunday and in the event the final round cannot be completed, regardless of the number of holes completed, the tournament will be declared as a 54-hole tournament.
Depending on the weather situation on the final round, Vincent stands on the verge of lifting his maiden Asian Tour title, having come so close to winning on several occasions since he made his debut on the Tour.
The Zimbabwean’s three-day total of 11-under-par 202 was enough to give him a two-shot advantage over Korea’s Sung Kang, South Africa’s Jbe Kruger and Japan’s Shugo Imahira who returned with matching 204 total to share second place.
Vincent has never finished outside the top-three in his last three outings at the Bear’s Best Cheongna Golf Club and despite stumbling early with a bogey on the second hole, he demonstrated his resolve by bouncing back with a pair of birdies on the sixth and seventh holes.
He dropped another shot again on the par-four 10th but recovered quickly again with birdies on 11 and 13 before a closing birdie on 18 allowed him to pull ahead from the chasing pack with a two-shot cushion at The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open which is being tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Korean PGA and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).
Ends.
Did you know?
- Scott Vincent, the only Zimbabwean member on Tour, has never finished outside the top-three in his last three outings at the Shinhan Donghae Open.
- He finished tied-second in 2016, tied-third in 2017 and second last year.
- Vincent claimed his first international win at the Landic Challenge 7 held on the Japan Challenge Tour in June.
- He notched four top-10s in Australia, Japan, Korea and Malaysia to sit in ninth place on the latest Asian Tour Order of Merit. He has not missed a single cut in eight starts so far this season.
- Vincent was crowned the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year in 2016 after ending his season in 28th place on the Order of Merit.
- Jbe Kruger has won once on the Asian Tour in the 2012 Avantha Masters in India, a tournament that was co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
- Hailing from Northern Cape province in South Africa, he has also recorded four career wins on the Sunshine Tour. The latest title coming at the Sun Carnival City Challenge in 2017.
- The 33-year-old got his nickname Jbe from the initials in his full name, James Barry Kruger.
- Sunghoon Kang has previously won one title on the Asian Tour, the 2013 CJ Invitational Hosted by KJ Choi.
- The 32-year-old Korean also has victories in two other events. The Kolon Korean Open the week following his win at CJ Invitational, and most notably the 2019 AT&T Byron Nelson on the PGA Tour.
- This year, Kang finished seventh in the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black, his best finish in a Major to date.
- He also had his best career season on the PGA TOUR finishing 45th in the FedEx Cup standings.
Ends.
Read what the leading contender have to say after the third round of The 35th Shinhan Donghae Open.
Scott Vincent (Zim) Third round 68 (-3) Total 202 (-11)
I had a shaky start. I hit a wayward one on the second hole. But you know, I was just really proud of the way that I held it together, and you know I made some good swings coming in to close out that nine and get myself under par. Which was something really huge for me. And then I held it well together on the back. I made some good putts and I hit it close enough to make putts, so it was just a good solid day. I had a great up and down on 17. That was a tricky little putt, not one you want right at the end. I’m planning on playing so I’ll be ready to go regardless of the typhoon. That birdie on the last that was huge. Many times this year I’ve missed a good makeable birdie putt on the last, it was big for me to make that. It was a fairly simple read, just outside the right edge and just give it enough speed. That was just one of those drives (on 18) that just came right out of the middle and had a great flight on it. We had some wind helping us behind and I assume it got a good kick as well. So yeah, it was just one of those ones that you happy to see get on the fairway, because if you hit that rough, it’s thick.
Jbe Kruger (Rsa) Third round 67 (-4) Total 136 (-6)
I didn’t know there was a typhoon coming in but well we’ll see what happens then. I think if it does rain, it’s going to be really difficult. If you want to score, the key is to hit it straight off the tee and if it rains it makes it so much harder to actually hit it straight. It’s going to be brutal I think if it does rain. It’s very familiar, a couple years ago when Gaganjeet won he also had rain in final round and I was playing with him. So, I can draw from past experience and that might just help
I probably say my putting helped me today. I probably hit the ball the worst I’ve hit all week. But my putting kept me in it. You know, I missed a lot of greens, but I scrambled and didn’t make one bogey. But you know, I missed so many green and still didn’t make a bogey, so the putting was really helpful.
Sung Kang (Kor) Third round 65 (-6) Total 204 (-9)
I was playing as though today’s like the last day of the tournament because I heard the typhoon is coming tomorrow so I tried to do all the best I could today. I played actually lot more solid than the last couple days, I hit the ball better and putted a little better too. That’s why I shot a lower round. It has been a good year for me and I’m definitely bring that confidence and positive vibes into this week. It has been nine months since I’ve been away from Korea and it’s nice to catch up with my family and friends and having good Korean food again.
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