Danthai stays positive despite disappointing start at The Open
Carnoustie, Scotland, July 18: Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat will be looking to produce his best outing at The Open when he tees off for his fifth appearance in the world’s oldest Major Championship on Thursday.
Kiradech, Asia’s number one in 2013, has never made the halfway cut in his last four appearances at The Open, which is also the only Major championship that he has yet to make it to the weekend rounds.
Placed 30th on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), Kiradech hopes to set the record straight when he plays alongside World number three Justin Rose and defending champion Jordan Spieth in the opening round on Thursday.
“I will try and play my best this week. If I can put up a good showing, it will be a perfect birthday gift for myself,” said Kiradech, who turns 29 on Monday. “I am playing with Rose and Spieth tomorrow. I want to make the Asians feel proud by playing well alongside them.”
The big-hitting Kiradech has enjoyed a superb season so far, claiming his third Asian Tour title and fourth European Tour victory at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth in February and taking home his third Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory in Brunei the following month.
Kiradech also came in tied-fifth at both the WGC-Mexico Championship and the WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play in March. In his last Major appearance at the US Open in June, Kiradech enjoyed a 15th place finish, which matched his best result in a Major championship.
The popular Kiradech will spearhead the Thai challenge alongside debutants Jazz Janewattananond and Danthai Boonma at The 147th Open at Carnoustie.
“I am looking forward to this week. I will just stay focused and try to keep the ball in play. Carnoustie is one of the toughest courses for The Open. I have to make sure I missed at the right spots to give myself opportunities to get up and down and avoid the bunkers out there,” he said.
Kiradech sang high praises for compatriot Jazz, who recently claimed his second Asian Tour victory at the Queen’s Cup presented by Bangchak on home soil by four shots.
“I played with Jazz yesterday and we enjoyed a good round. We’re sharing a house this week. Jazz is one of the up and coming golfers from Thailand and I think he has a bright future. This boy has the game and the skills to challenge at the highest level.
“I like the way he carries himself on the golf course. I feel like he has no fear at all, although he’s playing his first Major championship this week. I would love to see him play well. He just need to get used to the course, learn more about it and he will have a good chance,” he added.
Danthai, a one-time Asian Tour winner, is hoping to make it a week to remember when he gets his Major debut underway this week.
“I am enjoying the experience so far. This is my first time in Scotland and also my first time playing on a links course. The course’s pretty intimidating with the strong winds and firm greens but I will focus on playing shot by shot and stick to my strategy,” said the 22-year-old Danthai.
Danthai, a double-gold medalist at the 2012 South East Asia (SEA) Games, earned his Asian Tour breakthrough at The World Golf Classic Championship in Singapore three years ago. He has also notched back-to-back top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour, two weeks prior to his Major debut.
“I’m very excited to play in my first Major this week. My parents are here in Scotland for the first time and they are enjoying themselves too. A lot of superstars are here. I would love to see Tiger Woods, for sure.
“I played my practice round with some top players like Louis Oosthuizen and Gary Woodland yesterday and it was a great experience. I learned a lot from them. I am not thinking much about the results. I just want to enjoy myself this week,” Danthai added.
Ends.
About Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.
Carnoustie, Scotland, July 18: Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Gavin Green is ready to fly the flag for Malaysia when he tees off for his debut Major appearance at The 147th Open at Carnoustie on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Green, who sealed his place by winning the prestigious Merit title last season, is the third and youngest Malaysian, following Iain Steel (1996) and Danny Chia (2005, 2008 and 2010), to qualify for the world’s oldest Major.
“I’m excited, of course! You can feel the buzz in the air and I’m just going to go out there, try to enjoy myself and do the best that I can. I’m just trying to stay a little grounded and not get too excited.
“I have my entire support team here with me including my swing coach, my mental coach and my physio. My dad will be on the bag for me and that’s good as we’ve been working together pretty well the past few events,” said Green, who is the only Malaysian in the field this week.
Prior to turning professional in 2015, Green has enjoyed an illustrious career which saw him become the first amateur to win on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) following his victory in 2014.
He added two more wins to his successful exploits on the region’s secondary circuit in 2016 and eventually finished second on the final Order of Merit to earn his Asian Tour card for what would be a breakout year for him in 2017.
After notching four top-10 results, which included three runner-up finishes, Green broke through at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters before going on to lift the 2017 Order of Merit crown, thanks to a season’s haul of US$582,463.
“It’s very humbling to be able to represent Malaysia in a Major like The Open. I am very happy to have the opportunity to do so and I hope that I can continue to make the country proud.
“Whenever I see the Malaysian flag flying in the tournaments that I play in, I will feel very privileged to be able to represent the country,” added the young Malaysian.
Coming off a tied-19th place finish at the Scottish Open last week, Green is relishing the challenge of playing in his first Major championship. He will have his father, Gary, on his bag and his mother, brother and grandmother supporting him from outside the ropes when he vies for top honours this week.
“Walking up the 18th and seeing the famous leaderboards is pretty special! We stood on the 18th green a bit and just took in the peaceful atmosphere and I could just imagine how fantastic it would be when the stands are full of spectators!
“The course’s impressive! When the wind blows, it will be very challenging. Playing in Europe has definitely been an eye opener. You learn to appreciate the game so much more as you learn to handle the different courses. I am definitely practicing harder and improving on the variety of shots I have in the bag,” Green said.
Green will feature in the elite field alongside India’s Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban, as well as Thailand’s Danthai Boonma, Jazz Janewattananond and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, highest-ranked Asian Tour player in 30th position on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Ends.
About Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.
Carnoustie, Scotland, July 17: Young Thai Jazz Janewattananond hopes to cap a memorable return to Carnoustie by putting up a good showing in his debut appearance at The 147th Open which starts on Thursday.
When Padraig Harrington defeated Sergio Garcia in a play-off to win The Open at Carnoustie in 2007, a 10-year-old Jazz, who was in Scotland for The Junior Open then, caught the action live with his father from the grandstand seats.
11 years on, Jazz returned to Carnoustie for his first attempt at golf’s oldest Major championship. The 22-year-old Jazz had earned the coveted spot after finishing tied-fourth at the season-opening Singapore Open in January.
“It’s great to be back in Carnoustie. My dad brought me here to watch Tiger Woods play The Open in 2007. We were amongst the spectators here when Padraig Harrington defeated Sergio Garcia to win that year.
“My dad plays an important role in my career. He was the one who brought me into the game when I was young. It’s great to be back here with him and to have him watch me play in my first ever Major championship,” said Jazz, a two-time Asian Tour winner.
Jazz first played his way into the history books of the Asian Tour in 2010 when he became the youngest ever player to make the halfway cut at the 2010 Asian Tour International in Bangkok at the age of 14 years and 71 days.
Three weeks prior to his Major debut, Jazz clinched a sensational second victory at the Queen’s Cup on home soil where he triumphed by four shots after firing five straight birdies from the 10th for a closing 67.
The talented Thai went on to claim a joint runner-up finish at the Sarawak Championship in Malaysia the following week, thanks to a superb final round of a 64.
“After Sarawak, I took a few days off before coming here to practise. The weather was still pretty warm the last few days but it is getting colder now. The golf course is looking good. It’s amazing to be able to play in such a big event. The course set-up is great.
“The greens are firm and fast. It’s going to play tough. It’s been very overwhelming for me so far, playing in the first Major in my career this week. There are grand stands everywhere. I’m nervous yet excited at the same time,” Jazz added.
Jazz’s breakthrough on the Asian Tour came at the 2017 Bangladesh Open. The victory was especially sweet for him as he finished outside the top-60 on the 2016 Order of Merit and missed the grade at the 2017 Qualifying School.
Jazz will represent Thailand in the year’s third Major championship alongside fellow debutant Danthai Boonma and 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who sits in 30th place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as the highest-ranked Thai player in the world.
Reigning Order of Merit champion Gavin Green of Malaysia will also feature in The 147th Open at Carnoustie alongside India’s Anirban Lahiri, England’s Matt Wallace, South African Shaun Norris and Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, all winners on the Asian Tour.
Ends.
About Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.
Pattaya, Thailand, July 17: American Johannes Veerman is ready for another shot at glory at when the Royal Cup gets underway at the Phoenix Golf and Country Club next week.
Having enjoyed three consecutive top-10s in his last three starts, Veerman is confident of mounting a strong challenge at the US $500,000 event.
Royal Cup 2018 Official Press Conference
(From left to right) Chinnarat Phadungsil, Somsak Udompornsin (Marketing Director of Wangson Image Co.,Ltd.), Wanchai Meechai (Senior Tournament Director of Asian Tour), Chaicharn Aeimjaroen (Vice Governor of Chonburi), Chanya Swangchitr (President of Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club), Lt.Gen. Dr. Perapong (Chairman of Advisory Committee of Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club), Prarat Suwannamaytakorn (Director of Professional Sports Promotion and Development Division of Sports Authority of Thailand), Sattaya Supupramai
The 26-year-old American will face stiff competition from a host of strong Asian Tour stars including defending champion Shiv Kapur of India and compatriot Gaganjeet Bhullar who has been knocking on the door for his ninth Asian Tour victory, having finished second twice in his last six starts.
After getting off to a slow start in his 2018 season where he missed the cut in eight of his first 11 starts, things started to click for Veerman at the end of June where he enjoyed his first top-10 finish in Thailand.
With signs of a resurgent in form, the American has vowed to stay patient in his pursuit of a maiden Asian Tour victory.
“I am approaching this tournament with confidence but not arrogance. Golf is a very humbling game, I know I am playing well but a lot of players are in form too. Gaganjeet for example is playing well too so I know I will have my work cut out for me next week.
“But if I just stick to my game plan and take it one shot at a time, I don’t see why I can’t have another strong finish,” said Veerman who finished 24th on the Order of Merit in 2017 to keep his Tour card for 2018.
Veerman, who got married at the end of May this year, will enjoy the company of his wife Angela on his bag yet again as he returns to the land of smiles .
“I actually have fun playing golf when she is around and I can be relaxed but stay competitive. She has been awesome and I love having her around,” said Veerman.
Playing on the Lake course instead of the Ocean course, a total of 156 players consisting of 75 Asian Tour players, 40 Thai players, 10 PGA of Australasia players, 5 Japan Golf Tour players, 16 invite spots, and 10 players from the Monday Qualifier will gather for the prestigious event which will be held in conjunction with the 66th birthday celebration of King Rama X.
“I like that golf course and it is a good test of golf. I’ve played half the course already and it’s a little tight on some spots. There are a couple of holes where you don’t necessarily have to use your driver, cause if you do you bring danger into play. I’m playing well and I am excited for it,” said Veerman.
Also in the field is former Asian Tour number one, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh along with Thai stars Phachara Khongwatmai, Prom Meesawat and Panuphol Pittayarat, and newly-crowned Asian Tour winners American John Catlin, South Africa’s Justin Harding and Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski.
Chanya Swangchitr (President of Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club)
The Royal Cup will be broadcast live on True Sport HD 3 on True Visions during 1pm-4pm local time on Saturday and Sunday.
Admission tickets for spectators are available at the ticket booths near the public entrance of the golf club at 100THB/person/day from July 26 to 29. Free admissions are available for spectators aged under 18 and over 60 years old and gates will open at 8am daily.
The Royal Cup 2018 is sponsored by Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), P.Overseas Steel PLC, PTT Group, True Visions, Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club, Advanced Info Service PLC, Port Authority of Thailand.
Ends.
About Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.
Hong Kong, July 17: HONMA will be the title sponsor of the newly named Honma Hong Kong Open, when the US$ 2 million purse tournament returns to the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling from 22nd to 25th November this year.
The Japanese golf equipment manufacturer takes on the sponsorship of one of Asia’s most prestigious golf tournaments as HONMA and the Hong Kong Open look to celebrate their respective 60th year anniversaries.
Established in Sakata, Japan in 1959, HONMA is one of the world’s leading premium golf brands, synonymous with intricate craftsmanship, dedication to performance excellence and exceptional product quality. Its renowned ‘Made in Japan, SAKATA’ stamp is recognised by golfers around the world.
Dating back to the same year, the Hong Kong Open is Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event and along with the Masters Tournament at Augusta National and the European Masters at Crans-Montana, is the only professional golf tournament to have been held at the same venue for more than 55 consecutive years.
The tournament, which was won in thrilling fashion by Wade Ormsby of Australia last November, will continue to be played on the Hong Kong Golf Club’s composite Championship Course in Fanling, and will be tri-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association.
The 2018 edition of the Honma Hong Kong Open presents both organisations with an opportunity to celebrate each other’s history and provide a world-class sporting spectacle for the people of Hong Kong and golf fans around the world, as Liu Jianguo, Chairman, HONMA explained:
“HONMA is proud to be named title sponsor of the Honma Hong Kong Open for the 2018 edition. HONMA and the Hong Kong Open are two unique organisations with a great history. We are excited about the increasing popularity of golf in Asia, with the number of golf fans in Asia growing by some 34% over the past five years. We look forward to celebrating the 60th anniversary of the tournament and the founding of HONMA and to working together with the Hong Kong Golf Club to make this year’s event a very special occasion in the tournament’s esteemed history.”
Martin Hadaway, Captain of Hong Kong Golf Club said, “The Hong Kong Golf Club is pleased to welcome HONMA to the Hong Kong Open. 2018 promises to be a very special year in the history of the tournament as the Hong Kong Golf Club celebrates 60 years of bringing the best golfers in the world to Hong Kong to compete in this prestigious tournament. We share HONMA’s passion for the game and look forward to celebrating this important milestone with them. Over the last two years the tournament has made significant steps to make the Hong Kong Open accessible to everyone in Hong Kong with free access on Thursday and Friday continuing in 2018.”
Yoshihiro Nishi, President of the Hong Kong Golf Association, added, “We welcome HONMA to the golf community in Hong Kong. Their sponsorship of the 2018 Honma Hong Kong Open is testament to their reputation as one of the leading brands in the golf industry and we look forward to celebrating the 60th anniversary of both organisations in November this year. We thank them for their support of the tournament, while also extending our thanks to our partners at the European Tour and the Asian Tour for their continued support of this wonderful event."
Ben Cowen, the European Tour’s Director of International Policy, said: “We congratulate the Hong Kong Golf Club and HONMA on their 60th year anniversaries and we look forward to another exciting edition of the Honma Hong Kong Open.
“Last year’s Hong Kong Open marked the start of the European Tour’s 2018 Race to Dubai and it’s fitting that a tournament of this stature continues to be the curtain raiser for the new season. We look forward to once again working with our sanctioning partners, the Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association, to staging another world-class event.”
The Honma Hong Kong Open will be staged at Hong Kong Golf Club from 22nd to 25th November 2018 and marks the start of the European Tour’s 2019 season, while offering valuable season-ending points for the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.
The Honma Hong Kong Open is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours as well as the Hong Kong Golf Association. For more information see www.honmahkopen.com
The Honma Hong Kong Open has also been recognized as an “M” Mark event to help enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. “M” Mark is awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolizing an intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar.
Ends.
Jakarta, Indonesia, July 15: Justin Harding of South Africa put an exclamation point on the closely contested final day, as he carded a one-under-par 71 to win his maiden Asian Tour title at the US$500,000 Bank BRI Indonesia Open on Sunday.
The 32-year-old, who missed only three greens-in-regulation before the final round, uncharacteristically dropped two shots on holes seven and eight. However, he bounced back when it mattered with two birdies before emerging victorious with an 18-under-par 270 total at the Pondok Indah Golf Course.
Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent transferred the pressure to Harding early in the round after firing three consecutive birdies on the second, third and fourth hole. But he lost the advantage after dropping three shots at the sixth, ninth and 10th. He eventually ended the week in second place, his fifth top-10 finish this year.
Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat and United States’ Sihwan Kim shared third place after carding 68 and 69 respectively. Gaganjeet Bhullar of India is one shot behind the duo, in lone fifth place.
Johannes Veerman (66), who led the tournament after the opening round, ended his tournament with a flourish. He grabbed a share of sixth place, along with India’s Udayan Mane and Thailand’s Natipong Srithong.
Harding will be taking up Asian Tour membership after his win at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open. The current Sunshine Tour Order of Merit leader was playing in the tournament on an invite.
Did you know?
- Justin Harding missed only three fairways in his the first three rounds.
- At 90 per cent (65/72), he is ranked first in greens-in-regulation at the tournament.
- Before his consecutive bogeys on the final round, he last dropped a shot in round one, on the second hole.
- Harding turned professional in 2010.
- He has a total of seven victories on the Sunshine Tour.
- Scott Vincent posted two top-10 finishes in his rookie year. He was tied-ninth at the 2016 Bashundhara Bangladesh Open and tied-second at the 2016 Shinhan Donghae Open.
- Vincent came into the Bank BRI Indonesia Open on the back of two top-10 finishes. He was tied-sixth at the Queen’s Cup and tied-seventh at the Sarawak Championship.
- He graduated from Virginia Tech University with a finance degree.
- Sihwan Kim finished ninth on the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2013.
- After the Queen’s Cup, he rose to 211st on the Official World Golf Ranking list, the highest achieved so far in his professional career.
- Gaganjeet Bhullar won both his Indonesia Open titles in 2013 and 2016 by three shots.
- Udayan Mane has won on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) this season, at the Golconda Masters 2018.
- Johannes Veerman is the 2016 Asian Development Tour Order of Merit champion.
- At one point of the final round, only three shots separated the top nine golfers.
- This was the first time in three years the officials did not have to suspend the play due to bad weather.
Players’ quotes:
Justin Harding (Rsa) – Final Round 71 (-1), Total 270 (-18)
It was a hard day today. Perhaps it was a case of nerves, but I was playing for a Tour card and there was a lot of money of the line. I started well and I thought that I can birdie the sixth then I had two bogeys out of nowhere. My last bogey was at the second hole in the first round! I tried to stay patient and keep the momentum going. I aim to hit the greens and statistically, you are bound to make one or two. I made one on the 12th, and that got me going. I was annoyed not to make another one on 14.
I’m a leaderboard watcher as I like to know what’s going on. That makes a difference to how I play. The 16th is a tough hole; I played conservatively there the whole week. Today, I hit it inside 10 or 15 feet. I rolled it in, which was crucial as it gave me a one-shot lead.
I hit a good shot at the 18th. I was planning to lag it down there to two inches and tap it in, but I didn’t mean it put it four feet past the hole!
I’m thrilled with the victory. I came here not knowing what to expect. I’ve been playing nicely the whole year. I like the golf course and it was set up quite nicely for me. You can’t get too aggressive on it. Manage distances and make some putts here and there. I didn’t expect to win, and it was to have done so.
I knew that Scott (Vincent) will come out firing. I thought that I have to finish close to 20-under to have a chance. His time will surely come. If you finish ahead of Scott, then you are going to have a good week. We had a good day out there and I’ve had a good week in Indonesia.
(About accepting membership for the Asian Tour) I’m glad to have avoided Q-School! I’m looking forward to playing on Tour, but I’ll have to look at the schedule and shift some things around. I’m just happy to get an opportunity from the Asian Tour to play here and I’m glad it all worked out fine.
Scott Vincent (Zim) – Final Round 70 (-2), Total 271 (-17)
I can’t be too disappointed with the result. I got off to a good start that put some pressure on him. AT the end of the day he came through when it mattered. More credit to him. I’m getting very close to winning for sure.
It was frustrating to give away shots and I gave one too many here. I played the par-fives very poorly today. That is something that I’ll be thinking about a little longer. I was probably too aggressive then, especially when I was in the front seat. I still have got a lot to learn from this.
I decided to play an iron on the 18th. I made a birdie in the end so I’m happy with that.
The fans were great! I enjoyed the attention and I’m happy that the fans like me. I’m taking the next two weeks off and recharge for the busy next half of the season.
Sihwan Kim (Usa) – Final Round 69 (-3), Total 272 (-16)
It has been a good tournament for me. I’ve been hitting it really well. I didn’t get the win, but I’ve tried my hardest and I’m happy with my results.
I bounced back after my double bogey on the fifth with an eagle, which was good. I couldn’t hold back, so I just swung with more purpose and it ended up pretty well.
I kept at it throughout the season, which explains the good results. I’m just going to make more putts and I’m sure I can get that victory very soon.
Winning the Habitat for Humanity Standings is an aim. There are a few big events coming up and all it takes is a good finish at a good event.
After this tournament, I realised that I have to putt better. But I’ve been hitting the ball so well and I’m really proud of myself for that. I’ll be heading into future tournaments with even more confidence.
Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) – Final Round 68 (-4), Total 273 (-15)
It was a solid round of golf. I made a few good birdies. Most of them were tricky putts.
I was looking at the leaderboard and with that, I kept motivating to get up there. I kept on going. But I still assessed the situation hole-by-hole. For the final few holes, I was particularly aggressive because I was hitting the ball well.
My swing is on the way to being fixed. I see plenty of progressions and the goal is to be really consistent and get to my peak really soon. I’m working really hard to get my ninth Asian Tour title.
Udayan Mane (Ind) – Final Round 70 (-2), Total 274 (-14)
A top-five finish is always great, but I’m not happy about what happened during the middle of the round. The wind affected my play on the eighth. On the ninth, I put myself in a decent position but I three-putted. At the 10th, I hit a good drive down the fairway. Had 120 yards in but I was so upset with my bogeys I skipped my thought process and three-putted. But at 11th, I recovered from a snap hook off the tee with a par. That got my round going.
I’m happy with a top-10 finish. There is so much I can take back home from the way I played this week. I’m close to the winner. I have a blueprint of my scoring capabilities on this Tour.
Johannes Veerman (Usa) – Final Round 66 (-6), Total 274 (-14)
Indonesia is special to me. To play well here in front of family and friends is a huge bonus. This is my third straight top-10. I have finally got my game going. I feel confident and I’m excited for future tournaments.
I learned that Pondok Indah is a good test of golf. The difference between 66 and 72 isn’t too much. It’s a fine line out here. I hit it really good today and putted well today. I made plenty of long putts, from up to 25 feet. It’s funny how golf works.
I revived my old swing thoughts that worked for me previously and it has worked for me now.
Natipong Srithong (Tha) – Final Round 68, Total 274 (-14)
My first two rounds were great, but I putted poorly on round three. Today’s back nine was great as well. I never thought that I’ll have a chance to win, as the others were playing so well. I just try to do my best. This week, I learned that I must concentrate off the tee, otherwise the second shot is going to be tough. I gained a lot of confidence after China, and now, I have another top-10, which is my fourth. So I’m really confident heading into the Royal Cup.
Rattanon Wannasrichan (Tha) – Final Round 66 (-6), Total 275 (-13)
I’m very happy to with my good finish to the tournament. I wasn’t hitting well yesterday, but all in all, I’m happy with my performance here in Indonesia. I’m now very confident heading into the next event in Fiji.
After playing here, I’ve learned how to control my emotions even better and not getting angry over bad shots. My drives got a bit wayward over the back nine yesterday, but I overcame the disappointment simply by not thinking about it.
Scores after round 4 of the Bank BRI Indonesia Open 2018 being played at the par 72, 7243 Yards Pondok Indah GC course (am – denotes amateur):
270 – Justin HARDING (RSA) 67-66-66-71.
271 – Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 69-66-66-70.
272 – Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 69-67-68-68, Sihwan KIM (USA) 69-67-67-69.
273 – Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 69-67-69-68.
274 – Johannes VEERMAN (USA) 66-72-70-66, Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 68-65-73-68, Udayan MANE (IND) 67-68-69-70.
275 – Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 70-65-74-66, Maverick ANTCLIFF (AUS) 68-71-68-68.
276 – Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 68-72-67-69, Matthew MILLAR (AUS) 66-68-70-72.
277 – Steven JEFFRESS (AUS) 72-70-68-67, Khalin JOSHI (IND) 67-68-71-71, Angelo QUE (PHI) 69-68-67-73.
279 – Heungchol JOO (KOR) 71-71-71-66, Michael LONG (NZL) 72-71-71-65, Jack HARRISON (ENG) 72-68-71-68, Mark BROWN (NZL) 72-70-67-70.
280 – Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 72-68-71-69, Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) 70-69-71-70, Daniel FOX (AUS) 69-73-68-70, Miguel CARBALLO (ARG) 70-72-68-70, Doyeob MUN (KOR) 69-71-69-71, Masaru TAKAHASHI (JPN) 68-72-69-71, Jarin TODD (USA) 74-67-68-71.
About Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.
Jakarta, Indonesia, July 14: South Africa’s Justin Harding did not put a foot wrong as he carded a six-under-par 66 to take a two-shot lead at the US$500,000 Bank BRI Indonesia Open on Saturday.
Harding, who is playing in the tournament on an organiser’s invite, hit every single green in regulation and missed only one fairway enroute to a 17-under-par 199 total at the Pondok Indah Golf Course.
Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe kept up the chase as he signed for a 66, highlighted by four consecutive birdies from holes 12 to 15. A bogey on the 18th spoiled his plans for a grandstand finish but he is happy to be placed in the final group on Sunday.
Sihwan Kim will be playing alongside the leading duo after carding a 67 to sit in lone third place. The American was nearly flawless on Saturday, trading six birdies against a lone bogey.
Philippines’ Angelo Que, a three-time Asian Tour champion, improved his score for the third day in a row. He carded a 67 to sit in tied-fourth, alongside Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat (68), India’s Udayan Mane (69) and Australia’s Matthew Millar (70) share fourth place on a 204 total.
Mane, who is also playing on an invite this week, is in serious contention for the first time on the Asian Tour. His solid back nine, where he scored three birdies, has set him up for a charge at the title.
Did you know?
- Justin Harding hit all the greens in regulation and missed only one fairway on Saturday.
- He has won twice on the Sunshine Tour this year and currently leads the Order of Merit.
- His best position on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) list is 153rd. Harding is ranked 166th going into the Bank BRI Indonesia Open.
- Scott Vincent came close to winning his maiden Asian Tour title last year at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters. He was tied-second, two shots behind eventual champion Gavin Green.
- Vincent got married last October. He said that his wife, Kelsey, constantly encourages him and that has helped him improved his game.
- Vincent won the first stage of the 2016 Asian Tour Qualifying School. He went on to finish in sixth place at the Final Stage and earned a Tour card for the 2016 season.
- Sihwan Kim posted three top-10 finishes this season and is placed seventh on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings.
- Kim secured his Asian Tour card at the 2017 Qualifying School and went on to claim two straight top-10 finishes at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open and Bashundhara Bangladesh Open. He finished 55th on the money list to retain his card for the 2018 season.
- He ended 2017 with a flourish by finishing tied-sixth at the Indonesian Masters, the penultimate event on the Asian Tour that season.
- Angelo Que is a three-time winner on the Asian Tour.
- He had a commendable 2017 season, as he finished 38th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Then, Que posted two top-10 finishes in 10 tournaments.
- Udayan Mane’s best result on the Asian Tour so far was tied-10th at the 2017 Bashundhara Bangladesh Open
- Millar was the PGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year in 2015. That year, he posted 11 top-10 finishes in 14 events.
Players’ quotes:
Justin Harding (Rsa) – Third Round 66 (-6), Total 199 (-17)
As I’ve mentioned yesterday, I was struggling with the heat. But that actually helps me focus better out there. I played solidly today. I didn’t miss any green and I missed only one fairway. With a bit more luck, I could have run away with it but I’m happy where I am. I’ll be looking forward to playing with my buddy, Scott (Vincent), tomorrow.
The grass type is different here compared to the ones back home. It has taken me some time to adjust but it is not something that I struggle with.
I’ve known Scott for a while. He has played great on the Asian Tour this season and the Sunshine Tour last year too. We are good mates and we’ll share a few jokes. Hopefully, one of us will win tomorrow. Either way, I’m going to grind it out and see what happens.
I’ve been playing well since the start of the year. I wanted to be out competing, so I asked around for opportunities. Cho (Minn Thant) and the Asian Tour gave me a chance and I’m very grateful for it. Hopefully, I’ll be rewarded with a title.
It (whether or not he’s playing more on the Asian Tour) depends on what happens tomorrow. I’ve played half decently here and it’s a matter of acclimatising to the weather. These guys on the Asian Tour are good!
Scott Vincent (Zim) – Third Round 66 (-6), Total 201 (-15)
I played great. I hit 12 fairways today and I’ve put myself in the right spots. I was able to attack the pins. My putter worked well today as I was able to make some long putts, which got me moving in the right direction. I set myself a target out there and I’ve beaten it. All in all, I’m very happy today. The last hole was disappointing but still, I’m happy with the overall score.
For tomorrow, similarly, I’m setting myself a target. Justin (Harding) is obviously playing very well. It’s going to be a fun one tomorrow. The title won’t be handed the me, I’ll have to go and take it.
Nerves are part of the game. If I don’t have that I wouldn’t be playing this game. It’s exciting and the nerves are a good thing. Hopefully at the end of the today, it’s good enough. Otherwise, you give it your best shot and look forward to the next tournament.
My wife is probably trying to call me now. She’ll say all the right things and it’ll be good.
Sihwan Kim (Usa) – Third Round 67, Total 203 (-13)
I’m pretty happy with how I played. I just need to make some more putts. I hit it really well today and my birdies didn’t come from long putts. I need to make more 10, 15 footers to give myself a chance to win. I’ll be spending some time on the putting green before taking a rest. I’ve played four weeks in a row, so I’ll be conserving some energy in preparation for tomorrow.
I’ll be aggressive tomorrow. When I try to be conservative off the tee today, it didn’t go very well. Then, I can give myself more chances from shorter distances.
Angelo Que (Phi) – Third Round 67, Total 204 (-12)
I’ve been starting to hole more putts than before. I could have holed more, but I can’t complain given my position. All in all, I’m very happy.
I just hit it closer today. Three of the four par-fives I hit it in two, which is of course, easier to make birdie. I’ve only missed two fairways and three greens, which helps.
My tournament has been pretty good. My scores are getting lower every day so maybe a six-under-par tomorrow would do it? I’m just going to try to enjoy myself out there. I’ve been playing the same every day, and keep doing what I’ve been doing. Hopefully, the luck will come.
Udayan Mane (Ind) – Third Round 69 (-3), Total 204 (-12)
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I wasn’t too satisfied with my putting today. There were two or three putts within four feet but they just didn’t go in. I hit the putts well but they were on the firm side, which ended with a similar length coming back! All in all, I held my nerve. I was nervous in the beginning as it was the first time I’m in this position on this Tour. I was playing with legends like Chapchai Nirat, who gave me a short game exhibition. It was a great learning experience for me. Otherwise, I’m just happy to be in striking distance.
I just breathe (to overcame his nervousness). I focused on my breathing, which helps. For tomorrow, I’ll just do what I do and not let anything escape me.
Matthew Millar (Aus) – Third Round 70 (-2), Total 204 (-12)
I’ve hit some good shots and I played well on the front nine. I am quite happy there and I remained patient. I hit a few ordinary shots on the back nine and made par from there. But the turning point was the par-five 14th, where I bogeyed. In the last four holes I hit some really good shots to be honest. Would have been nice to get two birdies, but I didn’t get any. Suddenly, I’m a long way back. There’s a lot of work to be done tomorrow.
I’ll just keep playing my game and keep up the aggression. I’ll be trying to hit the iron shots closer and try to make the putts. Five shots may be hard to make up around here but I’ll give it everything I got. Maybe if Justin (Harding) didn’t make the putts then I may have a chance.
Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) – Third Round 69 (-3), Total 205 (-11)
I got penalised one shot today and that was one shot given to the field. Other than that, it was a roller coaster round. I made lots of birdies and bogeys. I made par on the first three holes and the next par I made was on hole 11. I could have done better, as I felt that I was struggling on the golf course. Somehow, I made some birdies and turned it back.
My putting was slightly better today.
(About the penalty incurred at hole four), it is the rule. It is what it is. There’s nothing you can do at the time and just concentrate on playing the rest of the round.
Scores after round 3 of the Bank BRI Indonesia Open 2018 being played at the par 72, 7243 Yards Pondok Indah GC course (am – denotes amateur):
199 – Justin HARDING (RSA) 67-66-66.
201 – Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 69-66-66.
203 – Sihwan KIM (USA) 69-67-67.
204 – Angelo QUE (PHI) 69-68-67, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 69-67-68, Udayan MANE (IND) 67-68-69, Matthew MILLAR (AUS) 66-68-70.
205 – Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 69-67-69.
206 – Khalin JOSHI (IND) 67-68-71, Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 68-65-73.
207 – Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 68-72-67, Maverick ANTCLIFF (AUS) 68-71-68, Berry HENSON (USA) 69-69-69, Dodge KEMMER (USA) 67-71-69.
208 – Johannes VEERMAN (USA) 66-72-70.
209 – Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 70-72-67, Mark BROWN (NZL) 72-70-67, Jarin TODD (USA) 74-67-68, Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI (THA) 72-68-69, Masaru TAKAHASHI (JPN) 68-72-69, Doyeob MUN (KOR) 69-71-69, Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 70-65-74.
210 – Steven JEFFRESS (AUS) 72-70-68, Daniel FOX (AUS) 69-73-68, Miguel CARBALLO (ARG) 70-72-68, Lyle ROWE (RSA) 71-70-69, Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) 70-69-71, Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 69-69-72, LIU Yanwei (CHN) 68-69-73.
About Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), Habitat for Humanity (Official Sustainable Development Partner), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist and FootJoy (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.
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