Young Thai Rattanon plots second Thailand Open victory
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.
Bangkok, June 1: A strong line-up of Asian Tour stars comprising of 13 players inside the top-20 of the Habitat for Humanity Standings will challenge for the Thailand Open title next week.
Rahil Gangjee will be the highest-ranked player in the elite field where he currently sits in third place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings. He will be joined by new Asian Tour winner John Catlin and an in-form Sihwan Kim of the United States at the Thai Country Club from June 7 to 10.
Australia’s Scott Hend, the 2016 Asian Tour number one, Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe, Berry Henson of the United States and Indian stalwart Gaganjeet Bhullar will also feature in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event which also marks the start of the new 2018/2019 Panasonic Swing series.
Thailand will also be well represented in her National Open by defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan, Jazz Janewattananond, Danthai Boonma, Panuphol Pittayarat and Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who won his sixth Asian Development Tour (ADT) title last week.
Korean-American Kim is enjoying a splendid season on the Asian Tour so far. The 29-year-old finished tied third at the Hero Indian Open in March and followed up on that performance with a fourth-place finish at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship in Japan in April.
Kim is playing in his second full season on the Asian Tour and he hopes to land his first victory. He is currently ranked fifth on the Habitat for Humanity Standings and is determined to improve on his tied 15th place finish at the Thailand Open last year.
“If I can play well, things will take care of itself. I’ve had good results and that will get my confidence up. If I continue to play like how I did in India and Japan, then I’ll be fine,” said Kim.
Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden
New Asian Tour winner Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden, who is based in Hua Hin, Thailand, is determined to continue his winning form.
The Swede played primarily on the ADT earlier this year where he secured three runner-up finishes before going on to win his first Asian Tour title at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open last month.
“The victory in Bangladesh means a lot to me. I didn’t have a status on the Asian Tour so I’m pleased with how I won. I have had some good results on the ADT so I decided to stay in Thailand and see what the year has to offer,” said Kokocinski.
The Thailand Open will also see a charity drive initiated by the Asian Tour’s Sustainable Development Partner, Habitat for Humanity. The non-profit organisation, which focusses on providing low-income families in need of decent shelter, will raise funds by selling their merchandise at the Thai Country Club.
Ends.
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.
Sentosa, Singapore, May 31: Promising talent Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand will brace himself for new challenges when he makes his debut appearance at The 147th Open at Carnoustie in July.
The 22-year-old Jazz, who earned the coveted berth by finishing tied-fourth at The Open Qualifying Series at the SMBC Singapore Open in January, is excited to make his first Major appearance at the venue where he watched his idol Tiger Woods in action in 2007.
“My father brought me to watch Tiger play in The Open at Carnoustie when I was around 10 years old so earning my Major debut to play at the same venue this year makes me feel really special. It has been a long journey since.
“I’m just trying to gather as many information as I can before I head there. It’s going to be a different kind of golf tournament for sure. I have never played there before so I need to expect the unexpected, go there with an open mind and see what I can do,” said Jazz.
Jazz reckons that playing in the unfamiliar conditions will be his biggest test when he tees off in the year’s third Major championship from July 19 to 22.
“I’ve been asking around to find out how it is like to play on a links course. I played with Thongchai (Jaidee) and Kiradech (Aphibarnrat) during a practice round at the Volvo China Open last month and they gave me some advice on what I should be prepared for,” he added.
Jazz turned professional at the end of 2010. Earlier that year, he played his way into the history books of the Asian Tour by becoming the youngest ever player, at the age of 14 years and 71 days, to make the halfway cut at the Asian Tour International.
He failed to retain his Asian Tour card for the first time at the end of 2016 but a breakthrough win at the 2017 Bangladesh Open saw him turned his career around and eventually finished the season in a career-high ninth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
“It’s difficult to find something that’s similar to the links course here. The weather is different and the ground is firmer. Everything is going to be different. Sometimes, when a big event comes, you try and do something different. But it doesn’t necessarily work all the time.
“I just want to give it my best. I will prepare to my best capability and see what happens. My parents will be heading over to Carnoustie with me so I am looking forward to it. Playing in a Major tournament is every professional golfer’s dream. I can’t wait to be there,” Jazz said.
This July, Jazz will represent his country alongside Kiradech Aphibarnrat, world number 30, and Danthai Boonma, who also secured his Major debut after finishing tied-fourth at the season-opener in Singapore in January.
Reigning Order of Merit champion Gavin Green of Malaysia and India’s Shubhankar Sharma, who leads the current Habitat for Humanity Standings, will also feature at The Open, golf’s oldest Major championship.
Other players expected to spearhead the Asian Tour challenge at The Open include 2015 Order of Merit champion Anirban Lahiri of India, South African Shaun Norris, Japan’s Yuta Ikeda and Mashiro Kawamura.
The upcoming Kolon Korean Open, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Korean Golf Association, will be part of The Open Qualifying Series.
Two spots will be awarded to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) finishing in the top-eight and ties in the event, which will take place at the Woo Jeong Hills from June 21 to 24.
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.
Caption: (l-r) Masanori Kobayashi, Shota Akiyoshi, Michael Hendry and Masahiro Kawamura qualified for The 147th Open at the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open at the Royal Golf Club in Japan.
Japan, May 28: Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura successfully earned his place at The 147th Open after closing with a one-under-par 71 to finish in tied-second place at the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open held on home soil on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Kawamura, a one-time Asian Tour winner in 2013, ended his campaign one shot back of winner and compatriot Shota Akiyoshi on even-par 288 total to grab one of the four tickets on offer at The Royal Golf Club.
Kawamura will be making his debut at The Open, which gets underway at the Carnoustie Golf Links from July 19 to 22. It will be his second appearance in a Major championship since qualifying for the US Open through a sectional qualifier in Japan three years ago.
“To have earned a place in The Open is fantastic and I am very excited to be playing in the Championship” said Kawamura. “It will be my first visit to Scotland and I am looking forward to the challenge of playing Carnoustie,” he added.
“I am a little disappointed not to have won the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open but to have earned a place in The Open is fantastic and I am very excited to be playing in the Championship,” said Kawamura.
“It will be my first visit to Scotland and I am looking forward to the challenge of playing Carnoustie for the first time. I know that links golf is very different so I will speak to my friends in the UK to get some advice. The way in which the course was set up this week will give me good experience in preparation for playing Carnoustie,” he added.
Sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO), the Mizuno Open is the fourth event in The Open Qualifying Series. The leading four players in the top-12 and ties, who were not already exempt, earned The Open berths this July.
New Zealander Michael Hendry and Japan’s Masanori Kobayashi, a one-time Asian Tour winner, also earned coveted spots at The Open after carding respective rounds of 74 and 71 to finish joint runner-ups at The Mizuno Open.
Indian hotshot Shubhankar Sharma, who leads the current Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, will be making his maiden appearance at Golf’s oldest Major this July.
He earned his ticket after claiming his breakthrough victory at the Joburg Open, which was the second tournament of The Open Qualifying Series, last December.
Asian Tour winners Jazz Janewattananond and Danthai Boonma of Thailand secured their dream debut at the year’s second Major championship after finishing tied-fourth at the SMBC Singapore Open in January.
Reigning Order of Merit champion Gavin Green of Malaysia and Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat are also set to tee up for The Open in two months’ time.
The upcoming Kolon Korean Open, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Korean Golf Association, will be part of The Open Qualifying Series.
Two spots will be awarded to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) finishing in the top-eight and ties in the event, which will take place at the Woo Jeong Hills from June 21 to 24.
Ends.
Sentosa, Singapore, June 23: Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat is the highest-ranked Asian Tour member at 31st place on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) that was released on Monday.
Kiradech, a former Asian Tour number one, achieved his personal best of 29th place in the world after finishing tied-fifth at the WGC-Dell Technologies in March. Despite dropping two positions, the Thai is still safely inside the top-50 in the world.
A total of 16 Asian Tour members are also ranked inside the top-200 on the OWGR. Japan’s Yuta Ikeda, the only EurAsia Cup member that was undefeated in Team Asia, sits in 71st place while India’s Shubhankar Sharma is placed 74th.
Shubhankar Sharma of India
Sharma is currently the highest ranked Indian in the world and he enjoyed a big jump in rankings following his win at the Maybank Championship in February. He was ranked 202nd place at the end of 2017 after winning the Joburg Open in South Africa.
The other Asian Tour members in the top-200 include Hideto Tanihara (101st), Anirban Lahiri (104th), Shaun Norris (109th), Paul Peterson (137th), Jeunghun Wang (148th), Gaganjeet Bhullar (160th), Younghan Song (161st ), Sanghyun Park (166th), Jazz Janewattananond (174th), David Lipsky (178th), Gavin Green (186th), Ajeetesh Sandhu (192nd), Phachara Khongwatmai (198th).
The biggest mover last week on the Asian Tour was American John Catlin who moved to 207th place following his win at the Asia-Pacific Open in China last week. Prior to the win, he was ranked 507th at the end of 2017.
Ends.
Henan, China, May 20: American John Catlin won his maiden Asian Tour title after carding a final-round three-under-par 69 to win the US$300,000 Asia-Pacific Classic on Sunday.
The 27-year-old had a nervy start as he dropped two shots on his opening nine holes. However, he recovered when it mattered most, scoring birdies on holes 11, 13 and 14 before holding on for his maiden Asian Tour victory on a 16-under-par 272 total at the St Andrews Golf Club in Henan, China.
Catlin, a two-time Asian Development Tour (ADT) winner who has earned his Asian Tour card by finishing third on the ADT merit list, took home a winner’s purse of US$54,000. He has risen from 44th to 20th place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings.
Natipong Srithong of Thailand
Thailand’s Natipong Srithong (66) and Australia’s Adam Blyth (70) share second place, two shots behind Catlin. Natipong shot six birdies during his flawless round, but it was a case of too little, too late. Blyth rued his bogey at the 10th, which took away his momentum in his chase for the title.
Shohei Hasegawa of Japan finished in lone fourth after carding a 69. Andrew Martin of Australia and Miguel Carballo of Argentina share fifth place, while Canada’s Justin Shin was a further shot behind in lone seventh place.
Huang Wenyi flew the flag for China, as he ended his tournament with a 71 for a 279 total. He finished in tied-eighth along with Australia’s Josh Younger.
The Asia Pacific Classic is the Asian Tour’s second stop in China this season. The tournament is part of the Asian Tour’s strategic partnership with the China Golf Association where the goal is to grow and develop professional golf in the region.
Did you know:
- John Catlin entered the Asia-Pacific Classic ranked 278th on the Official World Golf Ranking list. His best position ever is 277th and he looks set to go even higher after earning 10 World Ranking points from this win in China.
- Catlin becomes the eighth player following Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski, American Berry Henson, Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei, Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Poom Saksansin, as well as Malaysian duo Gavin Green and Nicholas Fung, to win on the Asian Tour after enjoying successes on the ADT, which was inaugurated as the gateway to the Asian Tour in 2010.
- He hit 36 out of 56 fairways, 54 out of 72 greens in regulation and took 28.25 putts per round this week.
- Catlin has been on a sharp incline since missing the cut in Manila in 2016. He finished third on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit last year and enjoyed three top-10 finishes on the ADT in 2018 before his breakthrough victory in China.
- Adam Blyth has always played well in China. He was tied-fifth at the 2005 Volkswagen Masters-China, tied-fourth at the 2006 Crowne Plaza Open and second at the 2006 Pine Valley Beijing Open in 2006.
- He was an accomplished amateur golfer, winning 32 titles before turning professional in 2004.
- Blyth played in four events on the Asian Tour before the Asia-Pacific Classic, making the cut only once at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.
- Natipong Srithong was his maiden Asian Tour title in Manila in 2015. He got into the tournament on a sponsor’s invite and ended up topping the field.
- He finished 44th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit last year, and his best finish was tied-sixth at the Shinhan Donghae Open.
- Shohei Hasegawa’s breakthrough win on the ADT was achieved in Indonesia this year. There, he beat American Sydney Chung by one shot.
- He earned his Asian Tour card for 2018 by finishing tied-11th at the Qualifying School early this year.
- Huang Wenyi is the highest-placed Chinese golfer at the Asia-Pacific Classic. He ended his tournament in tied-eighth. Compatriot Xiao Bowen had to contend with a tied-12th finish
Players’ Quotes
John Catlin (Usa) – Final round 69 (-3), total 272 (-16)
Firstly, I’ll have to thank my coach, Noah. He has done amazing work for me over the past four years. It has been a long time coming. He stayed very patient with me, through ups and down. Being here is a huge testament. Victory feels just so good. Unreal, surreal, lots of different feelings now.
Going into the final two holes, I told myself to keep going. Adam could have made a birdie and I could have made a bogey. So, I told myself to secure that last par and I was able to lie one here (on the 18th green) close to about six inches, which made it a lot easier. As they say, it’s never over until the final putt.
At the fifth and seventh, nerves got the better of me. But I found ways to calm myself. I know I’ve worked hard and I knew that I can execute any shot. I had a sense of calm. It was nice to birdie ninth and at the 10th, I made par which was big. I made birdies on 12th and 13th, which made up for the mistakes earlier one.
My goal is to win on the Asian Tour and to accomplish that this week is huge. I have to start booking my flights! Knowing that I’m eligible for the events takes a lot of pressure off.
This victory validates all the hard work that I’ve put in since missing the cut in Manila in 2016. Winning on the ADT (Asian Development Tour) 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.
Knowing that I can compete and win at this level gives me a lot of confidence going forward. In fact, my next aim is to get into the "Multiple Winners" category. I’m glad that I was able to transit very well onto the Asian Tour. Playing a full schedule on the ADT certainly helped, and being based in Asia as well. I moved permanently in November 2016 and my game has got better and better ever since.
The Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings is also an aim for me. Shubhankar (Sharma) has a pretty huge lead, but we’re getting into some big money events so, anything can happen. Right now, I’m just happy to have won, and I’m looking to win again!
Adam Blyth (Aus) – Final round 70 (-2), total 274 (-14)
John (Catlin) thoroughly deserved it today. He had a good run there, especially with the birdies on 13th and 14th. He got a good momentum, nudged ahead and I wasn’t able to make the putts. I made an error on 10th. John played well.
Obviously, it was a great week coming in second place. The earnings will bump me up the Habitat for Humanity Standings. But, when you had that opportunity to win, you want to finish it. Although, he did have the lead coming into today and it just stayed that way. I’ll just have to keep working harder.
I took the lead early on, but it was still a long way to go. My goal this week was to get to 16-under-par and if that happened, it would have been a play-off. But, I’m taking the positives and moving on.
I’m heading to the Thailand Open, which is great. I’m looking forward to that. Playing like this gives you confidence, especially when you see your game coming together after all the hard work that I’ve put in. Second place is OK, although it’s hard to take right now and that I didn’t put the pressure on. But, it’s all good!
Natipong Srithong (Tha) – Final round 66 (-6), total 274 (-14)
I feel very happy to have a low score for the final round. I played well today as I stuck to my game plan, which is to stay on the fairway and make birdies. I made six of them, so I’m very happy!
I’ve played my wedges well and made some long putts. Hole one stood out, as I birdied from about 25 feet away. My feel for my putter has been great today.
I only took notice of the leaderboard at the last hole. I was aiming to make a birdie and get to 15-under-par, but I missed it, unfortunately.
I haven’t been playing well this year, so to finish well here in China certainly gave me back my confidence.
Shohei Hasegawa (Jpn) – Final round 69 (-3), total 275 (-13)
I’m thrilled with the way I’ve finished this tournament! Today, I played well. I had no bogey and three birdies. It wasn’t a win, but it’s OK. Over the front nine, I could have scored a lot more birdies and pile the pressure on John (Catlin) and Adam (Blyth), but it wasn’t the case. John played good and easy golf. So, congratulations to him! For me, maybe, I’ll grab the chances next time!
I like the Asian Tour and the ADT, because of the players and the courses. It’s very nice and I look forward to competing on both Tours in the future.
The 13th was memorable for me. I hit a great approach to the green and I only had to tap in for birdie.
Andrew Martin (Aus) – Final round 69 (-3), total 277 (-11)
I struggled with the driver off the tee during the last three rounds. Being on the fairway would have made the approach easier but overall, I still hit some good shots. I just gave myself chances really. The tournament was pretty good overall.
The rounds have been quite stress-free, actually. But you still want to chase the leaders as well. But then again, that’s golf. I didn’t know what was going on on the leaderboard. I know I’m giving myself plenty of chances, but the leaders were probably doing the same.
I’m happy with my tournament and I’ve always enjoyed coming to China. I’m looking ahead to Thailand.
Miguel Carballo (Arg) – Final round 68 (-4), total 277 (-11)
I played very well this week, had plenty of opportunities for birdies. 11-under-par is a good result for me. My putting hasn’t been great though, which was a waste because my drives and approach play has been good this week.
This is my first tournament on the Asian Tour that I made the cut, and to be in the top-10 to boot. So, I’m very happy about this week. I’m getting a lot of confidence from the Asia-Pacific Classic. I’ve played very well on the ADT as well, so I’m very happy about my game.
I birdied the 10th because of three good shots to the green, and a good putt. That hole stood out for me.
Scores after round 4 of the Asia-Pacific Classic being played at the par 72, 7261 Yards St. Andrews (Zhengzhou) Golf Club course (am – denotes amateur):
272 – John CATLIN (USA) 68-66-69-69.
274 – Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 67-67-74-66, Adam BLYTH (AUS) 70-66-68-70.
275 – Shohei HASEGAWA (JPN) 68-69-69-69.
277 – Miguel CARBALLO (ARG) 68-71-70-68, Andrew MARTIN (AUS) 66-72-70-69.
278 – Justin SHIN (CAN) 70-70-70-68.
279 – Josh YOUNGER (AUS) 67-70-71-71, HUANG Wenyi (CHN) 71-69-68-71.
280 – Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 71-71-72-66, Jack HARRISON (ENG) 67-69-72-72.
281 – Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 68-69-71-73, Jack WILSON (AUS) 67-71-69-74, XIAO Bowen (CHN) 70-68-69-74, Callum TARREN (ENG) 67-72-68-74.
282 – Bryden MACPHERSON (AUS) 71-73-67-71, Pasavee LERTVILAI (THA) 71-71-69-71, Kevin LEE (KOR) 69-73-69-71, Danthai BOONMA (THA) 67-74-69-72, KOH Deng Shan (SIN) 67-69-73-73.
283 – Alex BELT (ENG) 74-69-70-70, Taewoo KIM #1087 (KOR) 70-69-76-68, Udorn DUANGDECHA (THA) 71-68-70-74, Steven JEFFRESS (AUS) 71-67-70-75.
284 – ZHANG Huilin (CHN) 70-73-70-71, HAK Shun-Yat (HKG) 71-68-73-72, Niall TURNER (IRL) 71-70-71-72, Sunil JUNG (CAN) 73-66-72-73, Pawin INGKHAPRADIT (THA) 71-68-72-73, Charlie SAXON (USA) 69-66-74-75.
285 – LU Wei-chih (TPE) 72-68-74-71, Tirawat KAEWSIRIBANDIT (THA) 72-71-71-71, LIU Yanwei (CHN) 67-75-71-72, Honey BAISOYA (IND) 67-73-72-73, HUNG Chien-yao (TPE) 72-72-71-70, Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 71-70-71-73, Matt STIEGER (AUS) 71-71-74-69.
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.
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