Asia Rising
Sentosa, Singapore, June 14: It was a show of intent from a lineup of immensely-talented individuals. Team Asia was defeated by their European counterparts at the EurAsia Cup, but the Arjun Atwal-led squad certainly did not go down fighting. In fact, Team Asia even led the proceedings going into the singles matches before conceding their EurAsia Cup challenge, 10-14.
Despite the loss, there was an upbeat and palpable sense of optimism at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club, where the biennial event was held. Poom Saksansin impressed by beating veteran Paul Casey. He was also part of the team that demolished Henrik Stenson and Alexander Levy 5&4 in the opening Fourballs. 18-year-old Phachara Khongwatmai displayed maturity beyond his years by scoring two points for Team Asia.
If anything, the Asian Tour has so far mirrored the dogged performance put up by Poom, Phachara and the rest of Team Asia.
The Asian Tour has also come out swinging by setting for itself a lofty target of at least 32 tournaments in 2018. With the season reaching the halfway mark and the many tournaments added to the growing schedule, the Asian Tour is well and truly on its way to meeting its goal.
2018 has also welcomed a diverse and talented group of winners. Most certainly, the season is shaping up to be unpredictable and utterly fascinating.
A Masterful Performance
The 2018 Asian Tour season opened spectacularly in the Lion City, at the US$1,000,000 SMBC Singapore Open. The prestigious tournament always has the knack of producing famous winners and this year was no exception. 2017 Masters Tournament champion, Sergio Garcia, romped to a dominant five-shot victory at the weather-disrupted tournament in Sentosa Golf Club.
The event was also memorable for Thai duo Jazz Janewattanaond and Danthai Boonma, who punched their tickets to The Open Championship this year after finishing in tied-fourth. The Singapore Open is part of The Open Qualifying Series, where four players who finish inside the top-12 and ties, who are not already exempt, will earn places in the field at Carnoustie from July 19 to 22, 2018.
Coming full circle
The Tour travelled north for the US$750,000 LeoPalace21 Myanmar Open, where Paul Peterson of the United States masterfully orchestrated his first victory on the Asian Tour. He started the final round two shots off the lead and ended the day two shots ahead after posting a five-under-par 66 at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club. Peterson is thrilled to get a victory on the Tour that gave him a headstart in his professional career.
Said Peterson: “This victory is very special as the Asian Tour is where I started and to be able to get a win here really means a lot. I had to make that transition from Asia to Europe, and I was trying to play in as many events as I could. So, it just feels right that I’m finally able to have a win under my belt out here in Myanmar.”
Last man standing
The ever-impressive Kiradech Aphibarnrat added another feather to his cap after winning the A$1,750,000 (approx. US$1,250,000) ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth at the Karrinyup Golf and Country Club. The 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner was the last man to enter the tournament, and the last man standing. Kiradech flew into Australia the evening before the start of the event and did not get to play a practice round. He barely made the knockout matchplay round after surviving a tense, nine-man playoff on Saturday before beating Australian James Nitties to win the title on Sunday. It was Kiradech’s third victory on the Asian Tour.
“There were many times when I felt that I would be eliminated from the tournament. Winning any event is never easy. I pushed myself and I’m glad that things turned out the way it did,” said the champion, who recently accepted a PGA Tour Special Temporary Membership.
Compatriot Prom Meesawat earned a bonus prize of A$25,000 (approximately US$18,900) after finishing in first place after the stroke play rounds.
Greatness Personified
Shubhankar Sharma displayed one of the most scintillating final-round performances on the Asian Tour at the US$3,000,000 Maybank Championship. While many faltered, the 21-year-old carded an impressive 10-under-par 62 in windy conditions at the Saujana Golf and Country Club in Malaysia to win the tournament by two shots.
The victory was particularly impressive as Sharma was struggling in the opening two rounds. He was in 48th place going into the weekend, but he bounced back with a 66 in round three to put him within four shots of the lead before his heroics on Sunday. It was his second win on the Asian Tour.
Said Sharma: “The last two months have changed my life. I’ve been a member on the Asian Tour for a while and I will continue to be a member on the Asian Tour. I’ve always dreamt of winning and now I’m a two-time winner on the Asian Tour and European Tour.”
The victory was the start of a fantastic period for Sharma. He went on to play in the 2018 WGC-Mexico Championship, where he finished tied-ninth. His performance earned him an invitation to the Masters Tournament. He will also feature in the U.S. Open, the Open Championship and stands an excellent chance of qualifying for the PGA Championship.
Amazing Overtaking
Like Sharma, Daniel Nisbet of Australia also played the round of his life at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand. He won the NZ$1,200,000 (approximately US$860,000) tournament after overcoming a massive, six-hole deficit by carded a resplendent nine-under-par 62 in the final round.
Overnight leader Terry Pilkadaris of Australia enjoyed a five-shot lead going into Sunday, but he was not able to keep his place on top of the leaderboard as his putting touch eluded him on the day that matters most at Millbrook Resort. He only had one birdie during the round and signed for a 71 to settle for second place, two shots behind Nisbet.
A winning focus
Matt Wallace of England overcame the challenging course set up and the vociferous home crowd to win his first Asian Tour title at the US$1.75 million Hero Indian Open. He was in the final group with home course favourite, Shubhankar Sharma, who had a sizeable gallery following him. Wallace kept his mind on his game and carded a four-under-par 68 that got him into a playoff with compatriot and another crowd favourite, Andrew Johnston.
Wallace’s long and accurate drive gave him a significant advantage at the play-off hole, the 624-yard par-five 18th. He hit the green in two shots and made a birdie. Even with the majority of the crowd behind him, the effervescent Johnson could only muster a par and with that conceded the title to Wallace.
“This is one of the hardest golf course that I’ve played. I’ll learn from it and I’m looking forward to playing in similar conditions next time. This week has taught me a lot. Hopefully, it can be the start of a few things coming up,” said Wallace.
Iron will
The last time Rahil Gangjee won a title on the Asian Tour, Facebook was launched. Indeed, it has been a long time since the affable Indian was victorious on Asia’s premier circuit. Gangjee ending a 14-year barren spell on the Asian Tour by winning the Panasonic Open Golf Championship. He closed with a three-under-par 68 for a one-shot victory over Korea’s Hyungsung Kim and Junggon Hwang.
“It has been a very hard 14 years and the thing that surprises even myself is my will to keep going. Everyone will play their part in helping you out, the caddie, the mother, the father, the wife, friends. But more than anything else, you have to want it,” said Gangjee.
The JP¥150,000,000 (approximately US$1,370,000) tournament also saw the crowning of the 2017/18 Panasonic Swing champion, Shiv Kapur. The Indian was a model of consistency, having made the cut in all five events on the Panasonic Swing and finishing in the top-20 in four of them. Kapur won a bonus prize of US$70,000 and an exemption into an event on the European Tour this year.
Swede Victory
Alexander Björk made a breakthrough in his professional career by winning his first Asian Tour and European Tour title at the CN¥20,000,000 (approximately US$3,178,000) Volvo China Open. He carded a final-round seven-under-par 65 at the Topwin Golf and Country Club to win by one shot and with that, became the first golfer from Sweden to win China’s national open.
The Volvo China Open is the second tournament on Asia’s premier circuit after the signing of the Strategic Partnership between the China Golf Association and the Asian Tour in March 2017.
Play-off Perfection
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Sanghyun Park won the 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship, maintaining Korea’s iron grip on the illustrious tournament. He did not have it easy though, as he had to beat compatriots Yikeun Chang, Junggon Hwang and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar in a play-off before lifting the coveted trophy.
Bhullar was the first player to bow out at the first extra hole. Hwang was next to fall out after he carded a bogey while Park and Chang birdied. At the third extra hole, Park had one hand on the trophy as Chang was left with an uphill task to sink a 15-foor par putt, which he missed. Park made no mistake of his from inside 10 feet at the Namseoul Country Club.
Developing into a champion
In professional golf, it is always about seizing opportunities and Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski did just that. The Asian Development Tour (ADT) regular, who had limited playing chances on the Asian Tour, qualified for a spot on the AB Bank Bangladesh Open and ended up winning the US$300,000 tournament.
Kokocinski closed with a six-under-par 65 to win by three shots for his first Asian Tour title, as well as exemption until the end of 2019.
Said Kokocinski: “I went back to the Qualifying School earlier this year but didn’t make the grade so I went to play on the ADT. I have had some good results on the ADT so I decided to stay in Asia and see what the year has to offer. My experiences from playing on the ADT has helped a lot. I’m glad I pull in off this time.”
Sharp Improvement
Hard work pays, evident by John Catlin’s success on the Asian Tour. Since missing the cut in Manila in 2016, the American put in extra effort on every aspect of his game. For that, he was rewarded with a third-place finish on the ADT Order of Merit in 2017 and a win at the US$300,000 Asia-Pacific Classic this year.
Catlin had a nervous start to his final round, as he dropped two shots in his front nine. He bounced back with three birdies before signing for a three-under-par 69 to win the tournament by two shots.
Said Catlin: “This victory validates all the hard work that I’ve put in since missing the cut in Manila in 2016. Winning on the ADT is nice, but the main Tour is a step up and as we all know, this is the main Tour on the continent. So, to be able to get into the winners’ category on the Asian Tour is huge.”
Happy Father’s Day
Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat won the US$300,000 Thailand Open after overcoming a nervy end to his tournament. He dropped two shots in his final six holes but managed to hold on to his lead at the end of the round.
The victory was a special one for the Thai hotshot, as he was playing on his home course and with his dad watching in the gallery. It was Panuphol’s second victory on the Asian Tour.
“It’s amazing. I can’t put it into words. It means a lot to win the title in front of my dad. He’s been with me ever since I picked up the game when I was eight. He’s been my best coach and my everything. I don’t know how to feel walking up to the 18th green, but I am really very happy. I always want him to see me win and I have done it now,” said Panuphol of his father.
Chachoengsao, Bangkok, June 10: Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand claimed a special victory at the Thailand Open after closing with an even-par 70 at the US$300,000 Asian Tour event on Sunday.
The bubbly Thai became the fifth local player to lift the prestigious Thailand Open trophy after holding off the strong challenge from countryman Poom Saksansin at the Thai Country Club.
The 25-year-old Panuphol battled nerves heading into the final six holes where he bogeyed 13 and 18, and almost found the water hazard with his third shot on the par-five 17th hole. He held on to victory after signing for a 13-under-par 267 total.
The baby-faced Poom, who represented Asia at the EurAsia Cup earlier this year, overtook the lead early in the round but struggled to maintain his title charge following bogeys on 10 and 12.
He ended his campaign on a 70 to settle for second place, one shot back of the champion Panuphol while 20-year-old Sarit Suwannarut enjoyed his best result on the Asian Tour after securing third place.
The victory was especially sweet for Panuphol as he won the revered Thailand Open trophy on his home course. The victory also marked a return to form for the Thai who came into the tournament following four straight missed cuts.
With the win Panuphol also took the early lead in the 2018/2019 Panasonic Swing race.
Did you know?
- Panuphol is the fifth Thai player to win his National Open since 1965. This is the second time in the tournament’s history that the Thailand Open has welcomed back-to-back Thai champions since 1991 (Suthep Meesawat) and 1992 (Boonchu Ruangkit).
- This is Panuphol’s second Asian Tour title. He won last year’s Indonesia Open in October. His second victory comes after playing in 11 Asian Tour events.
- He wobbled early in the round when he bogeyed the sixth hole to relinquish his overnight lead but recovered nicely with a pair of birdies on holes eight and nine. He said those birdies boosted his confidence.
- He earned 14 Official World Golf Ranking points with the win and moved the 12th place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings after earning US$54,000 for his win.
- He is also the second Thai player to win on the Asian Tour in 2018 after Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s victory at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth in February.
- Panuphol is playing in his eighth season on the Asian Tour. He came close to winning many times before winning his first title last year. He said the victory ‘helped him learn how to win a tournament.’
- Poom continued to struggle with his driver. He has changed six drivers this year and admits that he has no confidence when pulling out the big stick.
- He enjoyed a hot putting streak after holing eight consecutive one putts from the first hole. He ended the day with 25 putts which matched his total putts in round one and round two.
- Poom has never won an event where he trailed heading into the last round. His last two Asian Tour victories came when he held the lead in the penultimate round.
- The hole-in-one prize of 10,000 Dragon Coins went unclaimed as no players aced the 16th hole at the Thai Country Club. Dragon, the world’s entertainment token which offers the best digital payment solutions, will enter its first foray into golf sponsorship at the Thailand Open.
Player quotes:
Panuphol Pittayara (Tha) – Final Round 70 (even), Total 267 (-13)
This means everything to me. This is my national trophy, my home course and this is where I practice. I’m very, very happy. I felt a bit of nerves coming down the stretch but I kept it cool and patient. I tried not to let the nerves affect my thinking, my game or feeling. I think I kept things under control pretty well.
This win is a dream come true. It is always every Thai golfers dream to win their National Open. It took a little bit longer for me to sleep last night but I managed to sleep!
Poom (Saksansin) didn’t make it easy for me out there. He is one of the best golfers from Thailand and Asia. He beat Paul Casey in a match play (at EurAsia Cup) and this is like me playing match play against him. I didn’t push myself but he gave me a hard time.
My two birdies on eight and nine gave me the pump and a lot of confidence. That told me that I could take this trophy home. That win at the Indonesia Open taught me how to win a golf tournament. Today I tried to go back to what I felt in Indonesia and tried to do the same. It came out great.
I learned a lot on the Asian Tour. The Tour has taught me so many stuff about golf and life. I didn’t graduate high school but the Asian Tour is one of my teachers. I have some status on the Japan Golf Tour but I will always play on the Asian Tour because it is my home tour.
Poom Saksansin (Tha) – Final Round 70 (even), Total 268 (-12)
I hit it very bad but my putting saved me. I’m not swinging it bad but it is more my confidence. I’m still scared to hit driver and I know that I need to fix it and gain more confidence. Honestly, I’m a little bit disappointed I didn’t win. I’m proud because it is my best result on the Asian Tour but I will continue to work on my game.
I know I was on top the leaderboard at one point but I had no confidence and I wasn’t playing good. I was putting good and I thought I had a good opportunity to force a play-off on the last hole. I read the wrong line and I missed my birdie chance. I finished second place so that’s okay because I keep my Asian Tour card.
Sarit Suwannarut (Tha) – Final Round 70 (even), Total 269 (-11)
It is a pretty awesome week. It was tough on the last day but I’m proud of my good finish. I felt a lot of pressure today but I handled it pretty well. It will be easier the next time I’m in the same position. It was a tough front nine and I didn’t make a putt at all.
Scores after round 4 of the Thailand Open being played at the par 70, 7060 Yards Thai CC course (am – denotes amateur):
267 – Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 67-64-66-70.
268 – Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 66-66-66-70.
269 – Sarit SUWANNARUT (THA) 65-65-69-70.
270 – Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 64-69-70-67.
271 – Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 68-68-64-71.
272 – Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 65-69-70-68, David GLEESON (AUS) 67-69-68-68, Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 69-67-67-69, Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA) 66-69-67-70, Scott HEND (AUS) 69-66-66-71.
273 – Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 67-69-68-69, Kurt KITAYAMA (USA) 67-67-66-73.
274 – Pawin INGKHAPRADIT (THA) 70-67-71-66, Chikkarangappa S. (IND) 65-70-70-69, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 69-66-69-70, Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS) 67-69-68-70.
275 – Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 69-67-69-70.
276 – Charng-Tai SUDSOM (THA) 68-69-70-69, Rahil GANGJEE (IND) 71-69-66-70, Jack HARRISON (ENG) 69-69-68-70, Rory HIE (INA) 67-72-65-72, Doyeob MUN (KOR) 70-69-65-72, Miguel CARBALLO (ARG) 67-71-66-72.
277 – Tirawat KAEWSIRIBANDIT (THA) 67-71-70-69, Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) 68-70-69-70, Jarin TODD (USA) 68-71-66-72.
About Panasonic Swing
The Panasonic Swing was initiated by the Asian Tour and the Panasonic Corporation to reinforce Panasonic’s support for professional golf across the region when it came on board as the Asian Tour’s Official Consumer Electronics in May 2017.
The Panasonic Swing ranking is based on an aggregate point ranking earned by players at selected tournaments in Asia. The top-three finishers in the Panasonic Swing final ranking will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.
The inaugural Panasonic Swing, launched at the 2017 Thailand Open before concluding at the 2018 Panasonic Open Japan, saw India’s Shiv Kapur winning the Panasonic Swing with total points of 2922.90. His compatriot Rahil Gangjee came in second with 2805.00 while Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand finished third on 2380.50.
The second edition of the Panasonic Swing is set to kick off again at the 2018 Thailand Open, which will be staged at the Thai Country Club from June 7 to 10. It will feature tournaments in India, Malaysia and Indonesia before concluding at the Panasonic Open Japan in 2019.
About Thailand Open
The prestigious Thailand Open returned on the Asian Tour schedule in 2017 after an eight-year lapse. The Thailand Open, which was inaugurated in 1965, is one of the oldest National Opens in Asia.
Rattanon Wannasrichan became the fourth Thai player to win the Thailand Open when he claimed his breakthrough last year. The three other Thais are Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004) and Prayad Marksaeng (2013).
Sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Thailand Golf Association, the Thailand Open will return to the Thai Country Club for its second straight edition on the Asian Tour from June 7 to 10.
The Thailand Open is proudly sponsored by Panasonic, Singha, Dragon, Novotel Bangkok Bangna, Srixon and Ricoh.
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.
- Panuphol Pittayarat was clearly the fan favourite at the Thailand Open on his home course. However, the Thai was especially proud to win his second Asian Tour title in front of his father, who caddied for Panuphol when he began his career as a teenager on the Asian Tour.
- Amongst the contenders at the Thailand Open, Sarit Suwannarut was one of the stand-out youngsters to emerge. At the age of 20, the Thai enjoyed his best result on the Asian Tour after finishing third. At 181 centimetres tall, Sarit also displayed his big-hitting game where he finished as the longest hitter in the Thailand Open after averaging 319.5 yards during the week.
- In the first sponsorship of its kind, 10,000 Dragon Coins was on offer as a hole-in-one prize to the first golfer who aced the 16th hole at the Thai Country Club. However, no golfer claimed that prize. To find out more about Dragon, please click here (https://www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com/newsdetails/dragon-corporation-partners-with-thailand-open-n22077)
- Among the top-10 finishers at the Thailand Open are Chapchai Nirat and David Gleeson. Chapchai , a four-time Asian Tour winner has not won since 2014 and Gleeson’s last Tour win was in 2011.
- The Thai Country Club hosted the Thailand Open for the second year running. But way back in 1997, Tiger Woods played on this course at the Honda Classic, which he won. During the victory he famously drove the par-four 10th green which is still fondly remembered by fans and members at TGC. During the Thailand Open, the Asian Tour stars tried to emulate the similar shot and even used the same driver model which Tiger used in 1997! Stay tuned for the video to find out what happened.
Chachoengsao, Bangkok, June 9: Home favourite Panuphol Pittayarat birdied the last two holes for a four-under-par 66 to pull one shot clear in the third round of the Thailand Open on Saturday.
Playing on his home course, the bubbly Panuphol returned with a bogey free card to lead on 13-under-par 197 and put himself in prime position to win his second Asian Tour title at the Thai Country Club.
Thailand’s Poom Saksansin trailed closely in second place after matching Panuphol’s 66 while overnight leader Sarit Suwannarut posted a 69 to lie in third place, two shots from the lead at the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.
Poom Saksansin of Thailand
Asian Tour rookie Kurt Kitayama stayed in the title hunt following a 66 to share fourth place with four-time Asian Tour winner, Chapchai Nirat, who fired a blistering 64 for a 200 total.
The 25-year-old Panuphol, who won his first Asian Tour title last year, was neck-to-neck with Poom before he seized the outright lead by holing a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.
Poom, a two-time Asian Tour winner, also birdied the last to stay in contention of becoming the fifth Thai player to win their National Open since 1965.
Did you know?
- Panuphol enjoyed his first bogey-free round this week. After 54 holes, he has only dropped three shots.
- After missing the last four cuts, Panuphol is now in the running to win the Thailand Open after finishing fourth last year.
- This is Panuphol’s best three round score since going 16-under in the penultimate round of the 2017 Indonesia Open. He went on to win the tournament.
- Since his win in Indonesia, Panuphol has struggled to rediscover his winning form. His best result since the win was a tied 16th place finish at the Hero Indian Open in March.
- There will be extra added value for the winner this week as the Thailand Open marks the start of the 2018-2019 Panasonic Swing. Panuphol finished ninth in the inaugural Panasonic Swing which ended in April while Poom settled for 39th place.
- Poom is a two-time Asian Tour winner. He has changed the driver six times this year after struggling with erratic tee shots. He showed huge signs of improvement today after finding 13 out of 14 fairways.
- His three-day total of 12-under-par matched his best score at the Take Solutions Masters in India where he went on to win the tournament. He has never won a tournament while trailing after 54 holes.
- He was one of the standout performers at the EurAsia Cup earlier this year where he contributed two points which included defeating Paul Casey in the Singles matches.
- Only four Thai players have won their National Opens since 1965. The last time the Thailand Open had two back-to-back Thai winners was in 1991 (Suthep Meesawat) and 1992 (Boonchu Ruangkit).
- After 54 holes, the hole-in-one prize of 10,000 Dragon Coins on the 16th hole is still unclaimed. Dragon, the world’s entertainment token which offers the best digital payment solutions, will enter its first foray into golf sponsorship at the Thailand Open.
Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand
Player quotes:
Panuphol Pittayarat (Tha) – Third Round 66 (-4), Total 197 (-13)
The first 16 holes was very tight. It was hot and humid after the rain suspension but the two last birdies made my day.
This is home for me and everything here makes me feel comfortable. I really enjoy playing and practising here. I know the course well but you have to be patient. It is golf and it doesn’t mean that you will do well on your home course every day. You have a little bit of advantage.
My win in Indonesia taught me how to win a golf tournament. I’m going to go out tomorrow and try to have fun.
I’m happy to be in contention and I’m happy that I’m playing well. I just want to be on top on Sunday. I’m not surprised with how well I’ve played. I missed four cuts before this week but it doesn’t mean that I played badly. I’ve been playing well but it just doesn’t reflect in my score.
The birdie on the last was nice. I hit a perfect drive and approach. My (10 feet) birdie putt slowed down a bit but it eventually fell into the hole so that was nice.
Poom Saksansin (Tha) – Third Round 66 (-4), Total 198 (-12)
I feel good because I finished under-par. I putted very good but my iron wasn’t as good as I liked it to be. Honestly, I’m scared to hit driver so I’m hitting more fade shots to control my ball. I found a lot more fairways today.
I feel very excited but I cannot think ahead. My plan is to try and finish under-par. I want to win the Thailand Open but if I don’t, I hope another Thai player will win it.
Sarit Suwannarut (Tha) – Third round 69 (-1), Total 199 (-11)
It wasn’t my day but I reached my goal of finishing under-par. My driving and second shot were not good. I got to hit it better tomorrow. I’m not disappointed because I felt a lot of pressure. I didn’t play that badly.
I want to try and play today. I played with Panuphol and Poom today and I know them quite well. The round was quite chill so I hope to keep it that way. When you play with somebody else and he is serious, I would be like ‘please talk to me’ but it was fun today.
Kurt Kitayama of United States
Scores after round 3 of the Thailand Open being played at the par 70, 7060 Yards Thai CC course (am – denotes amateur):
197 – Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 67-64-66.
198 – Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 66-66-66.
199 – Sarit SUWANNARUT (THA) 65-65-69.
200 – Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 68-68-64, Kurt KITAYAMA (USA) 67-67-66.
201 – Scott HEND (AUS) 69-66-66.
202 – Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA) 66-69-67.
203 – Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 69-67-67, Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 64-69-70.
204 – Miguel CARBALLO (ARG) 67-71-66, Doyeob MUN (KOR) 70-69-65, Rory HIE (INA) 67-72-65, David GLEESON (AUS) 67-69-68, Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS) 67-69-68, Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 67-69-68, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 69-66-69, Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 65-69-70.
205 – Kammalas NAMUANGRUK (am, THA) 68-70-67, Jarin TODD (USA) 68-71-66, Andrew MARTIN (AUS) 71-67-67, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 69-67-69, Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) 70-66-69, Piya SWANGARUNPORN (THA) 72-68-65, Adam BLYTH (AUS) 66-69-70, Chikkarangappa S. (IND) 65-70-70.
About Panasonic Swing
The Panasonic Swing was initiated by the Asian Tour and the Panasonic Corporation to reinforce Panasonic’s support for professional golf across the region when it came on board as the Asian Tour’s Official Consumer Electronics in May 2017.
The Panasonic Swing ranking is based on an aggregate point ranking earned by players at selected tournaments in Asia. The top-three finishers in the Panasonic Swing final ranking will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.
The inaugural Panasonic Swing, launched at the 2017 Thailand Open before concluding at the 2018 Panasonic Open Japan, saw India’s Shiv Kapur winning the Panasonic Swing with total points of 2922.90. His compatriot Rahil Gangjee came in second with 2805.00 while Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand finished third on 2380.50.
The second edition of the Panasonic Swing is set to kick off again at the 2018 Thailand Open, which will be staged at the Thai Country Club from June 7 to 10. It will feature tournaments in India, Malaysia and Indonesia before concluding at the Panasonic Open Japan in 2019.
About Thailand Open
The prestigious Thailand Open returned on the Asian Tour schedule in 2017 after an eight-year lapse. The Thailand Open, which was inaugurated in 1965, is one of the oldest National Opens in Asia.
Rattanon Wannasrichan became the fourth Thai player to win the Thailand Open when he claimed his breakthrough last year. The three other Thais are Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004) and Prayad Marksaeng (2013).
Sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Thailand Golf Association, the Thailand Open will return to the Thai Country Club for its second straight edition on the Asian Tour from June 7 to 10.
The Thailand Open is proudly sponsored by Panasonic, Singha, Dragon, Novotel Bangkok Bangna, Srixon and Ricoh.
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.
Chachoengsao, Bangkok, June 8: Little known Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand emerged as the surprise package at the US$300,000 Thailand Open after grabbing the second round clubhouse lead on Friday.
Playing in only his second Asian Tour tournament, the big-hitting 20-year-old averaged 322.5 yards en-route to a second straight five-under-par 65 as he leads the weather interrupted tournament on 10-under-par 130.
The Thailand Open was suspended at 6.45pm due to darkness after thunderstorms halted play for more than an hour in the morning. A total of five players will return on Saturday at 6.45am to complete round two.
Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand
Sarit, who joined the play-for-pay ranks earlier this year, produced a flawless card highlighted by five birdies to lead by one-shot from Panuphol Pittayarat, who equalled the week’s low round of 64, on his home course at the Thai Country Club.
After changing his driver for the sixth time, Poom Saksansin fired a solid 66 to charge into contention for a third Asian Tour victory on a 132 total.
The little known Sarit pursued his studies at the Virginia Tech University in the United States last year before returning to Thailand to pursue his golf career. He is a regular on the local Tour and has won two out of three long drive competitions in 2018.
Playing without any expectations this week, Sarit has only dropped one shot in 36 holes and is in prime position to win his first Asian Tour title.
Did you know?
- Sarit has only dropped one shot in 36 holes. He has 11 birdies so far and was flawless in the second round.
- The young Thai is the only player to reach double digits at the halfway stage of the Thailand Open.
- Sarit is known for his big-hitting game. He took advantage of his booming drives where he averaged 322.5 yards. He has also won two longest drive competitions held on the local circuit this year.
- Sarit is among a strong Thai representation on the leaderboard. Five Thai players occupy the top six spots with fifth placed Kurt Kitayama of the United States being the only non-Thai player.
- He studied and played golf at the Virginia Tech University in the United States in 2016 but returned to Thailand earlier this year to pursue his dream of becoming a professional golfer.
- Sarit was nicknamed ‘safe’ by his mother after she suffered a miscarriage. She wanted Sarit to be safe during her pregnancy and gave him the moniker. He is the only child in the family.
- Panuphol is enjoying a return to form after missing the last four cuts. He will look to better his fourth place finish at the Thailand Open last year.
- His score of six-under-par 64 equalled the low round set by overnight leader Natipong Sritong.
- Panuphol struggled off the tees today. He found five out of 14 fairways but bounced back with a hot putter. He totalled 24 putts today.
- Poom is a two-time Asian Tour winner. He has been struggling with the driver this year which has resulted in him changing the big stick six times.
- He was one of the standout performers at the EurAsia Cup earlier this year where he contributed two points en-route to defeating Paul Casey in the Singles matches.
Poom Saksansin of Thailand
Player quotes:
Sarit Suwannarut (Tha) – Second Round 65 (-5), Total 130 (-10)
I feel pretty good about my game. I feel good about everything. My putting was pretty good the last two days and I made a lot of long putts. I’m a bit surprised my putting is this good but it will be the key this week. I want to try and go out there and have fun. I’m not thinking about winning.
I’m feeling a lot of pressure. I just came back from the United States because I didn’t play good golf there so I wanted to come here and become a professional golfer. I went to college in the United States (Virginia Tech University).
I’m going to talk to my friend, who is my caddy this week, to ease the pressure. I’m very excited to be leading the tournament. I think it is good to be a ‘no name’ here because nobody is looking for you. You just play your game.
On the local tour, they have the long drive competitions during the tournaments. I actually won it twice in three matches. I played football when I was seven or eight but I injured myself and I could barely walk. When I got hurt, I watched my father play golf and I took his club and hit the ball on my first try. That’s how why my parents said I should start playing golf.
My nickname is ‘Safe’ because my mom lost my brother while she was pregnant. She wanted me to be safe so I got this nickname. I’m the only child in the family.
Panuphol Pittayarat (Tha) – Second Round 64 (-6), Total 131 (-9)
I’m very happy to be on nine-under especially on my home course. I didn’t expect to finish birdie, birdie but I went into the restaurant (during the rain suspension) and had two boiled eggs. When I returned to the course, I finished with two birdie! If it is one egg for one birdie then I will have eight eggs tomorrow (laughs).
It wasn’t a good start for me this year. I haven’t been playing well in Japan. It is golf and you have to keep trying and practising. Hopefully you find what you need to do and hang on to it.
I hit it in the right rough on the eighth hole and hit it to about 25 feet and holed that birdie putt. I hit it in the right rough on the ninth again and hit it to five feet and holed that.
Poom Saksansin (Tha) – Second Round 66 (-4), Total 132 (-8)
I hit my irons really good today. My driver hasn’t been working but I’ve fixed it and now it is getting better. I’ve changed many drivers this year. This month I changed four drivers so in total it has been six new drivers.
My driving has been so poor and after I changed one driver, I started to change shafts and couldn’t stop changing drivers (laughs). This course suits my game. It isn’t long and the fairways are quite tight.
This is my National Open and it is the biggest golf tournament in my country. I really want to win this.
Kurt Kitayama of the United States
About Panasonic Swing
The Panasonic Swing was initiated by the Asian Tour and the Panasonic Corporation to reinforce Panasonic’s support for professional golf across the region when it came on board as the Asian Tour’s Official Consumer Electronics in May 2017.
The Panasonic Swing ranking is based on an aggregate point ranking earned by players at selected tournaments in Asia. The top-three finishers in the Panasonic Swing final ranking will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.
The inaugural Panasonic Swing, launched at the 2017 Thailand Open before concluding at the 2018 Panasonic Open Japan, saw India’s Shiv Kapur winning the Panasonic Swing with total points of 2922.90. His compatriot Rahil Gangjee came in second with 2805.00 while Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand finished third on 2380.50.
The second edition of the Panasonic Swing is set to kick off again at the 2018 Thailand Open, which will be staged at the Thai Country Club from June 7 to 10. It will feature tournaments in India, Malaysia and Indonesia before concluding at the Panasonic Open Japan in 2019.
About Thailand Open
The prestigious Thailand Open returned on the Asian Tour schedule in 2017 after an eight-year lapse. The Thailand Open, which was inaugurated in 1965, is one of the oldest National Opens in Asia.
Rattanon Wannasrichan became the fourth Thai player to win the Thailand Open when he claimed his breakthrough last year. The three other Thais are Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004) and Prayad Marksaeng (2013).
Sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Thailand Golf Association, the Thailand Open will return to the Thai Country Club for its second straight edition on the Asian Tour from June 7 to 10.
The Thailand Open is proudly sponsored by Panasonic, Singha, Dragon, Novotel Bangkok Bangna, Srixon and Ricoh.
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.
Chachoengsao, Bangkok, June 8: Little known Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand emerged as the surprise package at the US$300,000 Thailand Open after grabbing the second round clubhouse lead on Friday.
Playing in only his second Asian Tour tournament, the big-hitting 20-year-old averaged 322.5 yards en-route to a second straight five-under-par 65 as he leads the weather interrupted tournament on 10-under-par 130.
The Thailand Open was suspended at 6.45pm due to darkness after thunderstorms halted play for more than an hour in the morning. A total of five players will return on Saturday at 6.45am to complete round two.
Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand
Sarit, who joined the play-for-pay ranks earlier this year, produced a flawless card highlighted by five birdies to lead by one-shot from Panuphol Pittayarat, who equalled the week’s low round of 64, on his home course at the Thai Country Club.
After changing his driver for the sixth time, Poom Saksansin fired a solid 66 to charge into contention for a third Asian Tour victory on a 132 total.
The little known Sarit pursued his studies at the Virginia Tech University in the United States last year before returning to Thailand to pursue his golf career. He is a regular on the local Tour and has won two out of three long drive competitions in 2018.
Playing without any expectations this week, Sarit has only dropped one shot in 36 holes and is in prime position to win his first Asian Tour title.
Did you know?
- Sarit has only dropped one shot in 36 holes. He has 11 birdies so far and was flawless in the second round.
- The young Thai is the only player to reach double digits at the halfway stage of the Thailand Open.
- Sarit is known for his big-hitting game. He took advantage of his booming drives where he averaged 322.5 yards. He has also won two longest drive competitions held on the local circuit this year.
- Sarit is among a strong Thai representation on the leaderboard. Five Thai players occupy the top six spots with fifth placed Kurt Kitayama of the United States being the only non-Thai player.
- He studied and played golf at the Virginia Tech University in the United States in 2016 but returned to Thailand earlier this year to pursue his dream of becoming a professional golfer.
- Sarit was nicknamed ‘safe’ by his mother after she suffered a miscarriage. She wanted Sarit to be safe during her pregnancy and gave him the moniker. He is the only child in the family.
- Panuphol is enjoying a return to form after missing the last four cuts. He will look to better his fourth place finish at the Thailand Open last year.
- His score of six-under-par 64 equalled the low round set by overnight leader Natipong Sritong.
- Panuphol struggled off the tees today. He found five out of 14 fairways but bounced back with a hot putter. He totalled 24 putts today.
- Poom is a two-time Asian Tour winner. He has been struggling with the driver this year which has resulted in him changing the big stick six times.
- He was one of the standout performers at the EurAsia Cup earlier this year where he contributed two points en-route to defeating Paul Casey in the Singles matches.
Poom Saksansin of Thailand
Player quotes:
Sarit Suwannarut (Tha) – Second Round 65 (-5), Total 130 (-10)
I feel pretty good about my game. I feel good about everything. My putting was pretty good the last two days and I made a lot of long putts. I’m a bit surprised my putting is this good but it will be the key this week. I want to try and go out there and have fun. I’m not thinking about winning.
I’m feeling a lot of pressure. I just came back from the United States because I didn’t play good golf there so I wanted to come here and become a professional golfer. I went to college in the United States (Virginia Tech University).
I’m going to talk to my friend, who is my caddy this week, to ease the pressure. I’m very excited to be leading the tournament. I think it is good to be a ‘no name’ here because nobody is looking for you. You just play your game.
On the local tour, they have the long drive competitions during the tournaments. I actually won it twice in three matches. I played football when I was seven or eight but I injured myself and I could barely walk. When I got hurt, I watched my father play golf and I took his club and hit the ball on my first try. That’s how why my parents said I should start playing golf.
My nickname is ‘Safe’ because my mom lost my brother while she was pregnant. She wanted me to be safe so I got this nickname. I’m the only child in the family.
Panuphol Pittayarat (Tha) – Second Round 64 (-6), Total 131 (-9)
I’m very happy to be on nine-under especially on my home course. I didn’t expect to finish birdie, birdie but I went into the restaurant (during the rain suspension) and had two boiled eggs. When I returned to the course, I finished with two birdie! If it is one egg for one birdie then I will have eight eggs tomorrow (laughs).
It wasn’t a good start for me this year. I haven’t been playing well in Japan. It is golf and you have to keep trying and practising. Hopefully you find what you need to do and hang on to it.
I hit it in the right rough on the eighth hole and hit it to about 25 feet and holed that birdie putt. I hit it in the right rough on the ninth again and hit it to five feet and holed that.
Poom Saksansin (Tha) – Second Round 66 (-4), Total 132 (-8)
I hit my irons really good today. My driver hasn’t been working but I’ve fixed it and now it is getting better. I’ve changed many drivers this year. This month I changed four drivers so in total it has been six new drivers.
My driving has been so poor and after I changed one driver, I started to change shafts and couldn’t stop changing drivers (laughs). This course suits my game. It isn’t long and the fairways are quite tight.
This is my National Open and it is the biggest golf tournament in my country. I really want to win this.
Kurt Kitayama of the United States
About Panasonic Swing
The Panasonic Swing was initiated by the Asian Tour and the Panasonic Corporation to reinforce Panasonic’s support for professional golf across the region when it came on board as the Asian Tour’s Official Consumer Electronics in May 2017.
The Panasonic Swing ranking is based on an aggregate point ranking earned by players at selected tournaments in Asia. The top-three finishers in the Panasonic Swing final ranking will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.
The inaugural Panasonic Swing, launched at the 2017 Thailand Open before concluding at the 2018 Panasonic Open Japan, saw India’s Shiv Kapur winning the Panasonic Swing with total points of 2922.90. His compatriot Rahil Gangjee came in second with 2805.00 while Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand finished third on 2380.50.
The second edition of the Panasonic Swing is set to kick off again at the 2018 Thailand Open, which will be staged at the Thai Country Club from June 7 to 10. It will feature tournaments in India, Malaysia and Indonesia before concluding at the Panasonic Open Japan in 2019.
About Thailand Open
The prestigious Thailand Open returned on the Asian Tour schedule in 2017 after an eight-year lapse. The Thailand Open, which was inaugurated in 1965, is one of the oldest National Opens in Asia.
Rattanon Wannasrichan became the fourth Thai player to win the Thailand Open when he claimed his breakthrough last year. The three other Thais are Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004) and Prayad Marksaeng (2013).
Sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Thailand Golf Association, the Thailand Open will return to the Thai Country Club for its second straight edition on the Asian Tour from June 7 to 10.
The Thailand Open is proudly sponsored by Panasonic, Singha, Dragon, Novotel Bangkok Bangna, Srixon and Ricoh.
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.
Chachoengsao, Bangkok, June 7: Thailand’s Natipong Srithong seized the opening round lead at the Thailand Open on Thursday, just five days after completing his final examinations for a law degree.
The 24-year-old completed his studies at the Thammasat University in Thailand on Saturday before turning his focus to the US$300,000 tournament where he fired a six-under-par 64 to lead by one shot.
India’s Chikkarangappa S. produced his best round in 2018 to trail in second place alongside Jazz Janewattananond and Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand on matching 65s at the award-winning Thai Country Club.
Chikkarangappa S.
China’s Xiao Bowen, Australia’s Terry Pilkadaris and Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, who represented Team Asia at the EurAsia Cup earlier this year, were among nine players bunched up in tied fifth place on 66s.
Natipong, who won his first Asian Tour title at the 2015 Resorts World Manila Masters while pursuing his law degree, produced a flawless round highlighted by six birdies. The young Thai was surprised with his hot start after taking time off from golf to study for his examinations.
After working with his coach Vijay Divecha last week, Chikkarangappa played one of his best rounds which was only marred by a bogey on his final ninth hole where his tee shot hit a tree and found water. He narrowly missed his par putt to settle for a 65.
The 22-year-old Jazz, who has been juggling between tournaments in Europe and Asia, was also bogey-free as he put himself in position to launch a title assault for a second Asian Tour victory.
Did you know?
- Natipong struggled earlier in the year and was low on confidence before finishing tied second at the Asia-Pacific Classic in China in May.He admits that he was worried about his final examinations.
- In relation to par, Natipong matched his best score at the Thai Country Club where he fired a six-under in the final round of the 2017 Thailand Open. The course is playing to a par-70 this year as opposed to a par-71 last year.
- Natipong started on the 10th hole and produced three birdies in each half.
- He broke through in style when he won the 2015 Resorts World Manila Masters which was only his fourth event on the region’s premier Tour.
- Natipong said he was happy to complete his exams but when he graduates, he will still choose golf over becoming a lawyer.
- This was Chikkarangappa’s best opening round since shooting a 65 at the 2015 Take Solutions Masters on home soil.
- He went through an intensive two-day training with his coach in Bangalore last week to iron out his erratic golf game which resulted in four out of seven missed cuts in 2018.
- Chikkarangappa took advantage of a hot putter where he totalled 23 putts in a round of six birdies against one bogey.
- He ended the 2017 season as the last player to earn full playing rights on the 2018 Asian Tour season after finishing in 61st position on the Order of Merit.
- Jazz and Sarit ensured a strong Thai presence at the top of the leaderboard. Sarit charged into a share of second place after shooting four straight birdies from the 14th hole.
- Jazz won his first Asian Tour title at the Bangladesh Open last year. 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.
- He still holds the record as 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
Player quotes:
Natipong Srithong (Tha) – First Round 64 (-6)
I feel very happy because last week I didn’t practice much. I was preparing for my final exams for my law degree. I’m so happy because I’ve finished my studies and I can focus on golf. I was surprised with my result today.
I wanted to keep my ball on the fairway and I executed the plan very well. I didn’t play very well at the start of the 2018 Asian Tour season. After finishing second in China, I became more confident in my golf game. I was thinking too much earlier in the year.
Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) – First Round 65 (-5)
The course is more difficult as compared to last year so I’m happy with my round without any bogeys. The conditions were tough so your all round game has to be good. I saved quite a few good pars so I’m happy with how I played.
The course is set-up really good so thank you Thai Country Club. I’ve been playing in Europe and Asia but I’m happy with how I’ve been playing. Look at Kiradech (Aphibarnrat), he played in Asia and Europe before so if he can do it, I need to learn how to do it as well.
There are lot of golf to be played so I want to keep my momentum going.
Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand
S. Chikkarangappa (Ind) – First Round 65 (-5)
This is my best round in a long time. It was a very solid round. My putting was amazing, I made 23 putts today. I holed some clutch par putts and that’s where I managed to keep going.
I’ve been going through a lot of changes and not being able to progress in the right way. It has been a year of the half now and I spend two solid days with my coach (Vijay Divecha). I was swinging all over the place previously but now I have it under control.
I was a bit nervous obviously coming into this week because I’ve been making so many changes. But after my lesson with my coach, I’m feeling more confident with my game.
(On the bogey on 18) That was probably the only bad shot I hit the whole day. It was right to left wind as I was about to hit my shot and my ball hit the tree and entered the left hazard. It is okay, you tend to have bad shots in a round. You can’t help it.
To be honest, the line of my putt was very tricky and I hit a great putt but I didn’t get the speed right. I felt bad the putt didn’t go in but I was happy because I read the line correctly. I’ve been able to read the greens very well here so I should take the positives going into the coming rounds.
I was the last person to earn a full Asian Tour card last year and it was a great relief to me. I’ve been working with my coach and making sure that I don’t end up in the same situation I was (on the Habitat for Humanity Standings).
Scores after round 1 of the Thailand Open being played at the par 70, 7060 Yards Thai CC course (am – denotes amateur):
64 – Natipong SRITHONG (THA).
65 – Chikkarangappa S. (IND), Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA), Sarit SUWANNARUT (THA).
66 – Nattawat SUVAJANAKORN (THA), Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA), Suttijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA), Terry PILKADARIS (AUS), XIAO Bowen (CHN), Poom SAKSANSIN (THA), Adam BLYTH (AUS), Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI (THA), Josh YOUNGER (AUS).
67 – David GLEESON (AUS), Anthony KANG (USA), John CATLIN (USA), Daniel NISBET (AUS), Rashid KHAN (IND), Rory HIE (INA), Pasavee LERTVILAI (THA), Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA), Kurt KITAYAMA (USA), Miguel CARBALLO (ARG), Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA), Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS), Tirawat KAEWSIRIBANDIT (THA), Scott BARR (AUS), Pannakorn UTHAIPAS (THA).
68 – Somsak KAOPRATUM (THA), Chapchai NIRAT (THA), LU Wei-chih (TPE), Witchayanon CHOTHIRUNRUNGRUENG (am, THA), Kammalas NAMUANGRUK (am, THA), Ben CAMPBELL (NZL), Peradol PANYATHANASEDH (THA), Charng-Tai SUDSOM (THA), Tanapat PICHAIKOOL (am, THA), Danthai BOONMA (THA), Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN), Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN), Jarin TODD (USA), Settee PRAKONGVECH (THA).
About Panasonic Swing
The Panasonic Swing was initiated by the Asian Tour and the Panasonic Corporation to reinforce Panasonic’s support for professional golf across the region when it came on board as the Asian Tour’s Official Consumer Electronics in May 2017.
The Panasonic Swing ranking is based on an aggregate point ranking earned by players at selected tournaments in Asia. The top-three finishers in the Panasonic Swing final ranking will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.
The inaugural Panasonic Swing, launched at the 2017 Thailand Open before concluding at the 2018 Panasonic Open Japan, saw India’s Shiv Kapur winning the Panasonic Swing with total points of 2922.90. His compatriot Rahil Gangjee came in second with 2805.00 while Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand finished third on 2380.50.
The second edition of the Panasonic Swing is set to kick off again at the 2018 Thailand Open, which will be staged at the Thai Country Club from June 7 to 10. It will feature tournaments in India, Malaysia and Indonesia before concluding at the Panasonic Open Japan in 2019.
About Thailand Open
The prestigious Thailand Open returned on the Asian Tour schedule in 2017 after an eight-year lapse. The Thailand Open, which was inaugurated in 1965, is one of the oldest National Opens in Asia.
Rattanon Wannasrichan became the fourth Thai player to win the Thailand Open when he claimed his breakthrough last year. The three other Thais are Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004) and Prayad Marksaeng (2013).
Sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Thailand Golf Association, the Thailand Open will return to the Thai Country Club for its second straight edition on the Asian Tour from June 7 to 10.
The Thailand Open is proudly sponsored by Panasonic, Singha, Dragon, Novotel Bangkok Bangna, Srixon and Ricoh.
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.
Chachoengsao, Bangkok, Thailand, June 6: Rashid Khan of India hopes to end a four-year title drought when he contends at the US$300,000 Thailand Open which starts on Thursday.
The lanky Indian enjoyed an amazing season in 2014 when he won two Asian Tour titles in India and Thailand. He has been through some lean years since but hopes to turn the corner at the Thai Country Club, a venue where he last played 10 years ago.
The 27-year-old Khan will look to high-flying countryman Shubhankar Sharma, who just qualified for next week’s U.S. Open, for inspiration when he goes up against the elite field led by title holder Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand.
Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand
Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert will also feature in his National Open after winning a record sixth Asian Development Tour (ADT) title in Thailand a fortnight ago. Prior to the ADT win, the 29-year-old Pavit rested for four weeks to recover from a wrist injury.
Also returning from injury is Scott Hend of Australia, the 2016 Asian Tour number one. He is slowly returning to form after a bulging disc in his back kept him out of the game for five weeks starting from the middle of March.
The nine-time Asian Tour winner, who finished tied 14th at the Italian Open last week, will feel at home at the Thai Country Club, a venue where he regularly practices when he is in Asia.
Did you know?
- Khan won two titles at the 2014 SAIL-SBI Open in India and 2014 Chiangmai Golf Classic in Thailand. He earned a three-year multiple winner’s exemption which ended at the end of last year. He finished in 39th place on the 2017 Order of Merit to earn full playing rights this season.
- He has struggled with illnesses and injuries over the years but the biggest setback he suffered was when he got into a motorcycle accident which kept him out of the game for a month in 2016.
- Khan said his driver has been a huge letdown in his game and he might opt to use a three-wood off the tees at the Thailand Open this week.
- The last time Khan played at the Thai Country Club was in 2008 when he qualified for the Volvo Masters of Asia after winning the Faldo Series.
- Pavit sensationally won his first Asian Tour title at the 2016 Macao Open when he defeated Anirban Lahiri of India on the first play-off hole.
- He is aiming for a second Asian Tour title at the Thailand Open this week and will be buoyant by his sixth ADT win two weeks ago. He currently holds the most number of victories on the ADT.
- Since the Thailand’s Open inauguration in 1965, only four Thai players have won their National Open.
- Hend is one of the most successful international golfers on the Asian Tour. He has won nine Asian Tour titles, three of which are from Thailand. He is also the first Australian to win the Order of Merit crown.
- He made the long trip to Thailand after finishing tied 14th at the Italian Open last week.
- Hend finished tied sixth at the Thailand Open last year and was six shots back of the champion Rattanon, who finished on 21-under-par 263. He expects another low scoring week.
- The Thai Country Club will be played as a par-70 course as opposed to last year’s par-71.
- The Thailand Open will also offer a hole-in-one prize of 10,000 Dragon Coins "DRG" to the first professional who aces the 16th hole. Dragon, the world’s entertainment token which offers the best digital payment solutions, will enter its first foray into golf sponsorship at the Thailand Open.
Players’ quotes:
Rashid Khan (Ind)
I’m playing this golf course after 10 years. The last time I played here was in 2008 (Volvo Masters of Asia) after I won the Faldo Series. I was quite surprised when I reached the golf course because it looked so familiar. Took me two days to find out I played here before!
I’ve been struggling with my driver for a very long time. The driver technology has changed so much. Now you have to fix the bolts here and move the nuts there so it is very confusing.
I have tried so many different things to improve on my driving. I have tried so many things that I’ve forgotten what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m planning to find a new coach to help me fix this problem soon. I hope my driver works tomorrow but if it doesn’t I will use my three wood.
My irons are okay and my short game is perfect but on this course, you must find the fairways.
The last few years have been frustrating. When I’m playing good golf, I get food poisoning, fall sick or get into a bike accident. It is heart breaking because you practise so hard and bad things like this tend to put a lot of negative thoughts in your mind.
I feel that I’m very close to my best game. Last week I shot 12-under at the Delhi Golf Club in a practice round so I feel that my game is there. I just need to feel comfortable with the driver.
Shubhankar (Sharma) and I used to play on the PGTI and on the Asian Tour. Now he is playing on the PGA Tour. It gives me a lot more motivation and because of his success, I’m practicing more. I used to chill at home but now I’m training more and spending 10 hours at the golf course. Everybody struggles in their game including Tiger Woods. I have to stay positive if I want to play my best golf again.
Scott Hend of Australia
Pavit Tangkamolprasert (Tha)
The win on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) two weeks ago was very special because I’m the brand ambassador for Betagro. It is also very special because I just returned from a wrist injury and it was my first tournament in four weeks.
I feel very confident at the moment. When I was injured, I didn’t touch my golf clubs for four weeks. That’s the first time that I didn’t touch my clubs at all. I felt fresh in my mind and I took the time to work out more.
I really wanted to play golf so badly and I gave it my all at the ADT event. I didn’t expect to win because I wasn’t 100% healed. Luckily I shot a 62 in the third round and that obviously helped a lot.
This week, I feel really good. It will be a tough week but I’m a long hitter so I have an advantage here. I’m very happy to play in the Thailand Open because I didn’t play here last week. It is always nice to play at home, people are cheering for you so it is a very special week.
Winning on the Tour is not easy even on the ADT. The competition is so strong now. The most important thing is to keep your card on the main Tour and don’t think about winning every week. That will only put pressure on yourself.
Scott Hend (Aus)
My back is starting to feel better. I’m starting to feel the golf club a bit better. It is just a matter of getting some confidence. It is always difficult for anybody from any sport to have an injury and not play for a long time. It is a slow process.
I had a bulging disc in my back. I hurt it in New Zealand and tried to play in India. Then I went home to see my physiotherapist and chiropractor and decided to have a MRI. It is not a golf injury but probably from go karting. I had the longest break in my 20-year golf career because I didn’t touch a club in five weeks.
It is a tough thing for me to be on a break. I’m the sort of person who wants to play every single week so for me not to play and practice was excruciating. This is like a home course to me. When I’m in Asia, I practice and play here. The golf course, in my opinion is one of the best in the region.
No, my game is not 100%. We are getting there. It is a long season and we are only half way there. There’s a lot of stiff competition here. Look at Rattanon last year, he played extremely well. There are low scores out here and if you are not on top of your game, you are not going to win.
About Panasonic Swing
The Panasonic Swing was initiated by the Asian Tour and the Panasonic Corporation to reinforce Panasonic’s support for professional golf across the region when it came on board as the Asian Tour’s Official Consumer Electronics in May 2017.
The Panasonic Swing ranking is based on an aggregate point ranking earned by players at selected tournaments in Asia. The top-three finishers in the Panasonic Swing final ranking will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.
The inaugural Panasonic Swing, launched at the 2017 Thailand Open before concluding at the 2018 Panasonic Open Japan, saw India’s Shiv Kapur winning the Panasonic Swing with total points of 2922.90. His compatriot Rahil Gangjee came in second with 2805.00 while Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand finished third on 2380.50.
The second edition of the Panasonic Swing is set to kick off again at the 2018 Thailand Open, which will be staged at the Thai Country Club from June 7 to 10. It will feature tournaments in India, Malaysia and Indonesia before concluding at the Panasonic Open Japan in 2019.
About Thailand Open
The prestigious Thailand Open returned on the Asian Tour schedule in 2017 after an eight-year lapse. The Thailand Open, which was inaugurated in 1965, is one of the oldest National Opens in Asia.
Rattanon Wannasrichan became the fourth Thai player to win the Thailand Open when he claimed his breakthrough last year. The three other Thais are Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004) and Prayad Marksaeng (2013).
Sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Thailand Golf Association, the Thailand Open will return to the Thai Country Club for its second straight edition on the Asian Tour from June 7 to 10.
The Thailand Open is proudly sponsored by Panasonic, Singha, Dragon, Novotel Bangkok Bangna, Srixon and Ricoh.
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.
Chachoengsao, Bangkok, Thailand, June 5: Young talent Rattanon Wannasrichan aims to become the second Thai player to win multiple Thailand Open titles when the event gets underway on Thursday.
The 22-year-old became the fourth local player to win his National Open last year and will be eyeing a successful title defence at the Thai Country Club, which he rates as his favourite course.
Thai legend Boonchu Ruangkit is the only local player to win the prestigious event twice in 1992 and 2004.
Rahil Gangjee of India
There will be extra motivation for Rattanon to do well this week as the Thailand Open marks the start of the 2018-2019 Panasonic Swing race which will see players battle it out in an aggregate points ranking at five selected tournaments across Asia.
Joining the young Thai in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event are Rahil Gangjee of India, who is the highest ranked player in third place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings and newly-crowned Asian Tour champion, John Catlin of the United States.
Gangjee is still feeling the after-effects of ending a 14-year wait for a second Asian Tour title at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship in April. His confidence is still high but the 39-year-old prefers to keep his expectations low.
The 28-year-old Catlin won his first Asian Tour title at the Asia-Pacific Classic in China last month and is relishing the opportunity to contend at the Thailand Open. The American is confident of doing well in the country where he has set-up base since coming to Asia two years ago.
Did you know?
- Rattanon became only the fourth Thai player to win his National Open after after Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004) and Prayad Marksaeng (2013) to win the prestigious tournament since its inception in 1965.
- Rattanon is one of the highly rated young golfers to emerge from Thailand. He won his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) title at the 2015 Taifong Open in Chinese Taipei before securing his first Asian Tour win last year.
- He won the Thailand Open with a winning total of 21-under-par 263 total and only dropped four bogeys the entire week. He held at least a share of the lead since the opening round last year.
- Rattanon said the Thai Country Club is his favourite course because of the hot weather.
- He represented Thailand during his amateur days and won the team and individual gold medals at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.
- Gangjee is adopting a different approach this week and will keep his expectations low. He said “If my expectations go down low, it is okay because that’s when I play my best golf.”
- He is ranked third on the Habitat for Humanity Standings where he trails the leader and countryman Shubhankar Sharma by slightly more than US$300,000.
- Gangjee’s future took a turn for the better when he won the Panasonic Open Golf Championship in April. Prior to the win, he missed five cuts and retired twice in seven appearances.
- Catlin sharpened his game on the ADT before going on to win on the Asian Tour last month. He is also a two-time ADT winner.
- At the age of 27, Catlin believes Thailand is his ‘home away from home’ as he has been based in Hua Hin in the last two years.
- Before turning professional, Catlin earned the honours of being named an All-American in two of the four years he spent at the New Mexico University.
Players’ quotes:
Rattanon Wannasrichan (Tha)
It feels good to be back here. I want to try and win again. If I can putt as good as I did last year, I believe I have a chance. The greens are quite firm this year and it will be difficult to get up-and-down around the greens. If you hit the greens, you will have a better chance at getting birdies.
I came close to winning the 2017-2018 Panasonic Swing but I was nervous on the last day of the Panasonic Open Golf Championship (final Panasonic Swing event). I didn’t win but I did earn a bonus of US$30,000 so I was very happy with that.
When I smile, I don’t feel nervous. I feel relaxed. I just want to follow the same game plan and hope to sink my putts. Last year I hit many fairways and my putter was really hot. Last year, I was very proud when I became only the fourth Thai player to win the Thailand Open. It is a very good record for me because it was also my first Asian Tour title.
If I win, I think I’m lucky but I really want to try and win it again this year because I really like this golf course. It is not my home course but I like the hot weather here.
The players at the press conference
Rahil Gangjee (Ind)
It has been unreal (on his win at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship in Japan). There was enough excitement when I got home. We had a nice big party, all my friends came and even though it was after a week, it still felt unreal. I still feel excited when people remind me about the final day in Japan.
Confidence is the key thing in golf. It is like a chicken and egg situation. You play well and get confidence or you have confidence and play well? The key word is ‘confidence’ whichever way you get it. It must be there in your game.
I absolutely did not expect to win, let’s be truthful. It was about a year and half since I played decent golf and there was something lacking in the game. I started working on things which I haven’t in the past and had time to reflect during the quiet weeks.
My expectations were way down. It is something which I don’t mind. If my expectations go down low, it is okay because that’s when I play my best golf. When you don’t have expectations, you feel relaxed and you play the way you need and supposed to play.
I felt my expectations were a bit high in recent weeks but it was something which I addressed immediately. I’m on the path to get rid of expectations. For me, having that expectation and putting pressure on myself doesn’t work.
I’m not chasing anything anymore. If it happens, it happens. It was a long time since I won and over that period you look back and you ask yourself what’s going on? I’ve played well and kept my Tour card every year but you look back at the bigger picture and you tell yourself that you need to do things differently.
This mind-set comes with age. Experience is the biggest teacher. If somebody had told me this when I was 24, I might not have known how to put it into action. When you are young got the power of the world behind you and you want to just beat everybody. As you get older, you realise that you have to play a certain way to be able to beat everybody.
John Catlin (Usa)
Thailand always feels like a home away from home ever since I came here two years ago. It was a very easy transition for me. The people here are friendly and the food is good. It has been a great home base for me. As long as I’m playing the Asian Tour, I will definitely be based in Thailand.
The win in China was huge. My goal in the beginning of the year was to win on the Asian Tour so it was good that I did it so early in the season. I’m really excited to keep going. Anytime you put yourself in the winner’s circle, it’s awesome and it gives you a lot of confidence.
The hard work has definitely been showing dividends. I kept telling myself to stay patient and hit the shot you feel comfortable with. You never know when the win will come and when it does, it feels fantastic.
The ADT is great. It is a four-day tournament and it gives you Official World Golf Ranking points. For me it was huge playing on the ADT because it gave me the comfort of travelling around Asia and playing on different grasses. I felt a lot more confident playing on the Asian Tour this year because the ADT prepared me for it.
The win is huge… monstrous for my confidence. I’m looking forward to the next opportunity to win again and say it to myself that I’ve been here and I’ve done it.
About Panasonic Swing
The Panasonic Swing was initiated by the Asian Tour and the Panasonic Corporation to reinforce Panasonic’s support for professional golf across the region when it came on board as the Asian Tour’s Official Consumer Electronics in May 2017.
The Panasonic Swing ranking is based on an aggregate point ranking earned by players at selected tournaments in Asia. The top-three finishers in the Panasonic Swing final ranking will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.
The inaugural Panasonic Swing, launched at the 2017 Thailand Open before concluding at the 2018 Panasonic Open Japan, saw India’s Shiv Kapur winning the Panasonic Swing with total points of 2922.90. His compatriot Rahil Gangjee came in second with 2805.00 while Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand finished third on 2380.50.
The second edition of the Panasonic Swing is set to kick off again at the 2018 Thailand Open, which will be staged at the Thai Country Club from June 7 to 10. It will feature tournaments in India, Malaysia and Indonesia before concluding at the Panasonic Open Japan in 2019.
About Thailand Open
The prestigious Thailand Open returned on the Asian Tour schedule in 2017 after an eight-year lapse. The Thailand Open, which was inaugurated in 1965, is one of the oldest National Opens in Asia.
Rattanon Wannasrichan became the fourth Thai player to win the Thailand Open when he claimed his breakthrough last year. The three other Thais are Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004) and Prayad Marksaeng (2013).
Sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Thailand Golf Association, the Thailand Open will return to the Thai Country Club for its second straight edition on the Asian Tour from June 7 to 10.
The Thailand Open is proudly sponsored by Panasonic, Singha, Dragon, Novotel Bangkok Bangna, Srixon and Ricoh.
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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