Jakarta, Indonesia, July 12: Johannes Veerman of the United States and Matthew Millar of Australia shot six-under-par 66 to give themselves a brilliant start at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open on Thursday.

Veerman, whose wife is on the bag this week, used his course knowledge to great effect as he made seven birdies against a lone bogey. Millar, who started from the 10th hole, had a resplendent back nine as he sunk six birdies, including four consecutive ones from holes four to seven.

Udayan Mane of India

India’s Udayan Mane, as well as Americans Paul Peterson and Kurt Kitayama, are one shot behind the leaders in tied-third.

Six players, including Liu Yanwei of China, 2018 Asian Tour Qualifying School winner Seungtaek Lee and South Africa’s Jbe Kruger shot matching 68s to share sixth place at the ongoing tournament.

Defending champion Panuphol Pittayarat is in tied-19th place on 70.

Jakarta, Indonesia, July 11: John Catlin of the United States, who is arguably the most in-form player at the moment, will be gunning for this third victory on the Asian Tour this year at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open which tees off tomorrow.

The 27-year-old is the winner of the Asia-Pacific Classic in May and the Sarawak Championship last week. He is taking his recent success in his stride and he will be adopting a neutral mindset, which has worked very well for him so far, going into the US$500,000 event at the Pondok Indah Golf Course from July 12 to 15.

At world number 150, Catlin will be entering the Bank BRI Indonesia Open as the highest-ranked player on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) list. He will be up against an elite field that features six other players in the top-200.

Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand

Defending champion Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand has grown immensely as a golfer following his win in Indonesia last year. He has learned to be calmer as well as more patient on the golf course, which has rewarded him with a second victory on Tour in June 2018.

The experienced George Gandranata will be leading the local charge. He participated in his first Indonesia Open in 2013 and the following year, the 32-year-old finished tied-15th, his best result at his National Open so far. Other notable Indonesians in the field include Danny Masrin and Rory Hie and Benita Kasiadi, whose father Kasiadi remains the only local golfer to win the Indonesia Open.

The Indonesia Open, which hails as the longest running golf tournament in the country, received a prize boost of US$200,000 for the 2018 edition. The co-sponsors for the Bank BRI Indonesia Open are PLN, PERTAMINA, TELKOM Indonesia, Batik Air, WIKA, BRILife, BRIAgro, BRISyariah and BRINS.

Did you know?

• John Catlin secured two Asian Tour titles over the last two months. He won his maiden Tour title at the Asia-Pacific Classic in May this year, and last week, he was victorious at the Sarawak Championship.
• Including his two victories, Catlin has finished in the top-10 five times in his last seven starts on the Asian Tour.
• Catlin earned his first Asian Tour card via the 2015 Qualifying School.
• Last year, he finished third on the 2017 Asian Tour Development (ADT) Order of Merit.  Catlin is also a two-time ADT champion.
• He currently sits in 10th place on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings.
• Panuphol Pittayarat won the Thailand Open last month and broke into the top-200 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) list for the first time in his career. He is currently ranked 198th.
• Panuphol, also known as ‘Coconut’, won his maiden Asian Tour title at last year’s Indonesia Open. He secured a dominant five-shot victory.
• 2018 marked the eighth season on the Asian Tour for Panuphol. Before his win in Thailand, he came closest to securing his maiden Tour title at the 2011 World Selangor Masters, where he finished in second place.
• George Gandranata won the 2016 PGM LADA Langkawi Championship, a tournament on the ADT.
• His best result on the Indonesia Open was in 2014 when he finished in tied-15th.
• Gandranata is a prolific winner on the Indonesia Golf Tour. He won his fifth title on the local circuit in February this year.

Players’ Quotes:

John Catlin (Usa)

I’m feeling OK (despite playing in the last three consecutive weeks). I’ve got some practice in, hitting it well and putting it well. Just another week in the office, I guess. I got to do what I love. So, it’s pretty good.

On my two victories on Tour, it’s an accumulation of all the efforts on all parts of my game. I’m always trying to be better. I’m also being honest with myself, asking questions like, “is this good enough to compete?”, “is this good enough to win?”. If it wasn’t, I’d hit more shots until it is good enough. Knowing that you are not good enough is a difficult reality to face. So, I have to keep pushing myself because I’m not there yet.

Winning the Sarawak Championship last week is not going to put pressure on me. The Indonesia Open just another tournament week. There will always be people watching, but I appreciate that. That’s what makes tournaments possible. Nothing is going to change.

This is a great golf course and it is a lot better compared to 2016. The rough is definitely a challenge and the greens are really fast. I’m just going to keep plodding on. One shot at a time. Nothing is going to change.

Panuphol Pittayarat (Tha)

It (his win at the Indonesia Open last year) was my first time winning on the Asian Tour. It was a real breakthrough for me. What every golfer work for is to win. The victory obviously taught me how it is like to win and hopefully, I will go on to win the second, third, fourth title and so on. Golf is a great teacher; it even teaches you lessons about life.

For one, it taught me to be patient on the golf course. You have to wait for the right opportunity to come and grab it. I adopted that mindset at my National Open and was rewarded with another win on the Asian Tour.

I always like the look, the layout and the entire set up of the golf course here. It feels like home – the grass, the weather, the greens. I feel very comfortable here. It is very important to keep the ball on the fairway so that you can attack the pin. You need a good all-round game in order to get a good score.

I don’t really feel the pressure as the defending champion. It is another tournament where I come and try to win. No pressure, I’m just going to go out there and play my game.

George Gandranata (Ina)

The local golf fans will be keeping an eye on us, but really, there’s no pressure. I’m taking it like any other tournament. Whether you win or lose, it’s still golf. Good players can play anywhere in the world. This is the same field I saw last week or even three years ago. Although, it has gotten stronger. I have to take this opportunity to learn from the best. We keep learning from mistakes and from others. In golf, there’s always something to improve your game.

The golf course is great. The rough is taller; the greens are faster. It’s the best condition that it has been. Hopefully, we’ll have an enjoyable week.

I remember hearing the name of past heroes like Kasiadi, who won the Indonesia Open in 1989, which is very impressive. My best memory of the tournament was from the 2014 edition. I enjoyed the company of my flight mates, and perhaps because of that, I played very well. That was my best year so far. Hopefully, I can replicate or better my result (tied-15th) this week.

Shiv Kapur (Ind)

This is my first tournament after recovering from my foot injury. I’m glad to return and play on a fantastic golf course. I’ve played many times in Indonesia but this is the first time I’m playing on this golf course. After playing on it, I feel that you need to be accurate off the tee. The greens are undulating and they have subtle slopes. You will have to be firing on all cylinders. It’ll be an overall test of golf. You are going to see the cream rise to the top.

The first thing after injury is to get back into a ‘tournament’ mode. But having said that, I won’t enter a tournament unless I have a chance to win. I took some time off because I feel that I wasn’t in a position to play and win. Now I’ve come back, I’m confident and I feel that I have a chance to do so. My goal number one this week is to get four rounds under my belt and get into a competitive state of mind. There’s no doubt in my mind that I can win if I play well.

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, July 10: The Asian Tour has announced details for its 2019 Qualifying School, which will be held in Thailand in November and December this year.

The Qualifying School comprises of two stages – the First Qualifying Stage and the Final Qualifying Stage. The Windsor Park & Golf Club continues to host the event, while the Lake View Resort & Golf Club in Hua Hin will return as a host venue for the first time in two years.

The First Qualifying Stage will be played over two different weeks. Players have the option of entering the First Qualifying Stage on the week commencing November 26, or the week commencing December 17. The top-placed players from the First Qualifying Stage will progress to the Final Qualifying Stage.

The Final Qualifying Stage will be held at the Lake View Resort & Golf Club from December 26 to 30. The event will be played over five rounds. The top 70 players (and ties) will play in the pivotal final round, which will be held on December 30. At the conclusion of the Qualifying School, the top-35 players (and ties) will earn their Tour cards for the 2019 season.

Aspiring Qualifying School applicants can either email to [email protected] to receive an entry form or download it from  www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com/qschool.

The Asian Tour Qualifying School has been the springboard to success for many graduates not only on the Asian Tour but internationally too.

The illustrious alumni include Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, Korea’s Noh Seung-yul, United States’ David Lipsky and Australian Scott Hend, who are all Asian Tour Order of Merit champions.

More recently, Australian Todd Sinnott won his maiden Asian Tour title in Myanmar two weeks after finishing second at the 2017 Qualifying School. American John Catlin, who earned his first Tour card via the 2015 Qualifying School, achieved a career breakthrough by capturing the Asia-Pacific Classic title in May and continued his winning run by capturing the Sarawak Championship last week.

Other Qualifying School graduates who have gone on to become champions include recently-crowned Panasonic Swing champion Shiv Kapur, two-time Asian Tour winner, rising global star Shubhankar Sharma as well as 2017 Asian Tour Rookie of the Year Micah Lauren Shin of the United States.

Graduates from the 2018 Qualifying School have benefited from the numerous playing opportunities on the Asian Tour this year, as more than 32 events have been planned on the growing schedule, including 15 full-field tournaments.

In addition, players who played in the Qualifying School are eligible to compete on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) which is the feeder circuit to the main Tour. The ADT, which offers Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) point, will sanction more than 22 events in 2018 with the leading seven players on the final ADT Order of Merit earning their Asian Tour card.

Asian Tour Chief Operating Officer, Cho Minn Thant said: “With the Asian Tour growing from strength to strength, we are expecting an enthusiastic response from international and regional golfers for the 2019 Qualifying School.”

“Evident from the success of its graduates, the Qualifying School has provided the ultimate platform for golfers to become champions both on the Asian Tour and the international stage. We look forward to welcoming more talented golfers to the Tour at our Qualifying School this December.”

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.

Jakarta, Indonesia, July 10:  In-form Gaganjeet Bhullar of India will aim to lift the Bank BRI Indonesia Open trophy for an unprecedented third time when he tees off for the US$500,000 event on Thursday.

Bhullar, who won the prestigious tournament twice in 2013 and 2016, is looking to bank on his recent run of good form to contend for the title at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open, which will be held for the third consecutive year at the Pondok Indah Golf Course this week

The 30-year-old Bhullar has enjoyed a hot streak of late, finishing second twice in his last six starts on Tour this season. Having claimed three of his eight Asian Tour titles in Indonesia, Bhullar is hopeful of putting up another title run on his favourite hunting ground.

Sihwan Kim of the United States

Compatriot Chikkarangappa S., who marked his best result so far this season with a tied-11th place finish in Malaysia last week, will continue his chase for a breakthrough win on the Asian Tour when he makes his second appearance at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open. Sihwan Kim of the United States, the highest-ranked player in the 150-man field, will also continue to hunt for his maiden victory on the Asian Tour.

The 29-year-old American sits in seventh place on the latest Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, thanks to three top-five results in India, Japan and Thailand.

The Indonesia Open, which hails as the longest running golf tournament in the country, received a prize boost of US$200,000 for the 2018 edition. The co-sponsors for Bank BRI Indonesia Open are PLN, PERTAMINA, TELKOM Indonesia, Batik Air, WIKA, BRILife, BRIAgro, BRISyariah and BRINS.

Did You Know?

• Gaganjeet Bhullar became the youngest player, at the age of 29, to win eight Asian Tour titles when he emerged victorious at the Macao Open last year
• He claimed his Asian Tour breakthrough at the 2009 Indonesia President Invitational. Out of his eight victories, three were claimed in Indonesia, including the Indonesia Open in 2013 and 2016.
• Chikkarangappa S. is a two-time Asian Development Tour (ADT) champion.
• Placed 68th on the money list, Chikkarangappa needs a good showing to break into top-60 and secure his playing rights for the 2019 season.
• Sihwan Kim is the highest-ranked player on the Habitat for Humanity Standings at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open. He sits in seventh place with earnings of US$251,374 this year.
• Kim finished in the top-10 three times this season. He was third at the Hero Indian Open, tied-fourth at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship and tied-third at the Queen’s Cup presented by Bangchak.
• He came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2017 and kept his card for the 2018 season by finishing within the top-61 of the Order of Merit list last year.

Players’ quotes:

Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind)

The Pondok Indah Golf Course is one of my favourite venues and it has one of the best layouts on the Asian Tour. I clearly remember the win at the Indonesia Open back in 2016. It would be nice to win the tournament for the third time.

Indonesia is close to my heart. I’ve always been successful in the country as I’ve won here a total of three times. My first international win was in Indonesia back in 2009 and it seems that there’s something there in this country that attracts me.

Hopes are high this year. I’m playing well. I’m going to spend some time on the putting greens and read them properly today. Overall, I’m feeling comfortable playing golf.

In terms of my form, I’m striking the ball pretty well. I’m working on some technical parts of my swing and because of this, I’m delivering a lot of good results from the tee box and fairways to give myself a lot of good putts on the green. That was part of the plan, which is to hit the ball closer to the hole and hole lots of putts. I’m always trying to get better so that I can compete with these guys on Tour! It’s all in the process and I’m working hard. I’ve adapted to some changes but there’s more to do. I’m happy with my ball striking at the moment and the goal is to repeat what I’ve been doing.

This is definitely one of the best layouts on Tour. This course makes you think off the tee. Not every hole is ‘driveable’ and you have to use almost every club in your bag. Depending on how you play at that moment, you have to capitalise the opportunity.

Chikkarangappa S. (Ind)

I’ve played at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in 2016. It’s a very beautiful course. You need to have all the shots there. It’s not easy, but I’m looking forward to it.

I played well then, but I couldn’t compete in the Indonesia Open last year because of the hectic schedule and I needed to take a break. I’m glad to be here this year; even more so now that the prize purse has increased to US$500,000. Besides, it’s always good to play on a golf course where you get rewarded for good golf shots.

It’s a great event to start the second half of the year. I’m getting better every week. Now, you can see me playing with a smile on my face, as I convert those even-pars to under-pars. I’ve always done well in Indonesia. I retained my Asian Tour card for 2018 at the season-ender that was held in this country.

Sihwan Kim (Usa)

I’m feeling good about this tournament. I’ve been playing pretty well lately, although I need a little more work on my putting. I just need to sort that out and play with the confidence that I’ve been playing with. That will lead to a victory at some point in time I’m sure.

I consider myself a good putter, but not so much over the last month and a half. I’m hitting the ball very well, but I’m just not producing on the greens. I have to read the lines and control the speed better, and I’ll need to adapt to the conditions that differ at almost every Asian Tour event. I will have to make some putts and get my confidence back.

It’s my first time playing here at the Pondok Indah Golf Course. Hopefully, it’ll fit my eyes.

My season has gone pretty well so far and now that I’m in my second year, I’ve settled quite well on the Asian Tour. Beyond a victory on Tour which is my main goal, I hope to get a spot at the WGC-HSBC Champions as well the CIMB Classic. Being in the top-10 of the money list (Habitat for Humanity Standings) is great, but of course, everything can be better.

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.

Fiji, July 9: Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent will add to the strong international flavor when the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways gets underway at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course next month. 

Vincent is the only Zimbabwean player on the Asian Tour and with the Fiji International being tri-sanctioned with the Asian Tour, ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour again, the 26-year-old cannot wait to tee off against the breathtaking views of the Coral Coast.

“I’ve very good memories of Fiji and I absolutely love the place. You just feel a lot more relaxed when you go to a beautiful spot and that helps with your golf game. It’s like a vacation spot and a nice place to take the wife,” said Vincent, who will have his wife Kelsey on his bag in Fiji.

Vincent finished tied-ninth at the Fiji International last year and is hopeful of a better result this time around.

“I was able to put together some good rounds last year. Hopefully I can go and do the same again next month. I’ve been very consistent with my game. I’m trying to tighten up on a few things with my game and it’s starting to show a little bit now. It has given me the opportunity to be in position and have a chance on Sunday,” said Vincent.

 Vincent signalled his arrival in Asia when he came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2016.

He was named the Rookie of the Year after ending his 2016 season in 28th position. The Zimbabwean finished 17th on the money list in 2017 to retain his card for 2018.

“The Asian Tour has played a huge role in my career and in the years to come, this is the Tour I would call home because this is where I started and has taken me places. I wouldn’t want to lose my Asian Tour card for anything,” said Vincent.

While Vincent has yet to secure his breakthrough, he has enjoyed five top-10s since the start of the year.

“It has been frustrating not being able to get over the finishing line so far. But I’m more excited about where my game’s heading. Obviously you would like to have that win taken care of. But as long as the game is moving in the right direction, I think I’m okay,” said Vincent.

The Fiji International will be headlined by former World Number one and one of Fiji’s greatest sportsmen Vijay Singh as well as four-time Major winner Ernie Els of South Africa.

About the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways

To be held from 2-5 August 2018 the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways will be played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course which boasts breathtaking views of the Coral Coast and is home to the Natadola Beach Land Estate.

Enticed by the tropical destination, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways has attracted some of the world’s best golfers since its inaugural staging in 2014 including Fijian hero and three-time Major champion Vijay Singh, 2017 champion Jason Norris, 2016 champion Brandt Snedeker, 2015 champion Matt Kuchar, 2014 champion Steven Jeffress, Steven Bowditch, Boo Weekley and Nick Price. 

This year’s tournament is set to feature four-time Major champion and Captain of the International Team for the 2019 Presidents Cup, Ernie Els.

In 2018, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways continues to have a global presence confirming its position as an integral tournament in the South Pacific region, with the tournament being tri-sanctioned by the European Tour, ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour.

A Pacific paradise, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways also boasts some of the most unique hospitality options in world golf with the par-3 8th hole providing the perfect vantage point to watch the golf, whilst socialising on the beach.

More than just a golf tournament, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways aims to leave a lasting legacy for golf in the Pacific region, with the PGA of Australia supporting initiatives to introduce and grow the game in Fiji.

Owned by SEL and the PGA of Australia, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways is proudly supported by the Fijian Government, Tourism Fiji and the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa as the official resort of the tournament.

Sentosa, Singapore, July 9: American John Catlin first set foot on the Asian Tour in 2015, armed only with copious amount of talent and a dream.

A dream to become the best golfer that he can be and win on the Asian Tour.

“It is crazy where life will take you. I remember landing in Bangkok and I don’t know where I’m going and I don’t even know where Hua Hin is but now I live there. It is pretty crazy,” said Catlin.

It was an arduous journey but a fulfilling one which would see Catlin win not once but twice on the Asian Tour this season.

The Sarawak Championship was the 27-year-old’s second Asian Tour victory in two months which catapulted him to 10th place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings.

“I always wanted to do great things ever since I was a little kid. Both my victories are equally awesome. You can’t really put one above the other,” said Catlin, who earned his maiden breakthrough at the Asia-Pacific Classic in China in May.

Life as an aspiring professional looking for his big break meant tightening the purse strings as he only made three cuts in eight starts on the Asian Tour in 2016 and had to switch his focus to the Asian Development Tour (ADT).

“I had to save a lot on the ADT because I didn’t have money to spend. We get like four of us with four golf bags in cab and would pack ourselves in the car just to save like five or 10 dollars.

“Sometimes four of us would be living in a room. It makes you work extra harder instead of going through that every week. You don’t want to stay there. That’s where you start and you want to work your way up from there. It has always spurred me on,” said Catlin.

Catlin found success on the ADT at the Combiphar Golf Invitational in Indonesia in November 2016. But having missed the grade at the 2017 Qualifying School, he would soldier on and eventually found his way back onto the main Tour with a second win and five other top-10s to finish third on the ADT money list.

The American’s sojourn on the Asian Tour has taken him to the length and breadth of the continent, each with a fascinating tale to tell.

“I’ve been to Dhaka, I never thought I would go and play four tournaments there. Going to India was pretty awesome and eye opening. I’ve also been to Pakistan, never did I think I would ever go to Pakistan but I had to for the ADT to finish inside the top-five on the Order of Merit and get my Asian Tour card,” said Catlin.

“In Pakistan I was a bit nervous. Coming out of the airport I was scared. I got through customs and everything fine. Then we saw 20 people and they were the nicest people we’ve ever met and I see this convoy with four or five armed vehicles.

“It was like the president is coming to town and we were in a bus and these vehicles escorted us to the hotel. That was pretty amazing, I’ve never been treated like that before in my life,” recalled Catlin, who is targeting another win at this week’s Bank BRI Indonesia Open.

India’s Shubhankar Sharma continues to take pole position on the Habitat for Humanity Standings with England’s Matt Wallace and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat occupying second and third place respectively.

Top-20 players on the Habitat for Humanity Standings

Pos       Player   Order of Merit (US$)

1            Shubhankar SHARMA   (IND)                $589,575.00

2            Matt WALLACE   (ENG)                            $446,660.00

3            Kiradech APHIBARNRAT   (THA)           $360,737.14

4            Sanghyun PARK   (KOR)                           $295,660.39

5            Rahil GANGJEE   (IND)                             $290,425.53

6            Minchel CHOI   (KOR)                              $271,340.97

7            Sihwan KIM   (USA)                                  $251,373.77

8            Paul PETERSON   (USA)                           $241,148.57

9            Jazz JANEWATTANANOND   (THA)      $199,324.39

10          John CATLIN   (USA)                                 $183,191.66

11          Scott VINCENT   (ZIM)                             $176,289.85

12          Gaganjeet BHULLAR   (IND)                   $174,472.30

13          Berry HENSON   (USA)                             $155,033.66

14          Daniel NISBET   (AUS)                              $151,883.64

15          Panuphol PITTAYARAT   (THA)              $135,949.11

16          Khalin JOSHI   (IND)                                 $123,931.97

17          Hideto TANIHARA   (JPN)                       $123,306.08

18          Danthai BOONMA   (THA)                      $122,021.50

19          Prom MEESAWAT   (THA)                       $121,605.91

20          Shaun NORRIS   (RSA)                             $118,284.91

Singapore, July 9: Here are the 5 takeaways from the 2018 Sarawak Championship where John Catlin took home his second Asian Tour title.

1. John Catlin is the first player to win twice in 2018. It was also his second win in two months following his first Asian Tour title in China in May

2. The Sarawak Championship was the first time the Asian Tour visited the Borneo state in Malaysia. However Sarawak has been a regular stop on the Asian Development Tour (ADT). Interestingly, Catlin finished second at the Damai Golf and Country Club last year on the ADT.

3. Spaniard Javi Colomo enjoyed his first top-five finish on the Asian Tour since 2013. The last time he finished tied fifth was at the Hong Kong Open six years ago.

4. The Open bound Danthai Boonma and Jazz Janewattananond did not win the Sarawak Championship but their tied second place result will give them a huge confidence boost ahead of their Major debut next week.

5. Many of the Asian Tour stars visited Sarawak and the Damai Golf and Country Club for the first time. They were awed by the beauty of the Malaysian Borneo state and what it had to offer, just look at their photos below:

Sweet spot this week on the @asiantour. Let’s go feed the birds. #sarawakchampionship pic.twitter.com/HVbVQVRnrS

— Berry Henson (@BerryHenson) July 2, 2018

Great to be part of the Sarawak Championship, Malaysia on the @asiantourgolf this week, venue and all involved have been fantastic #thankyou #golf #asiantour #SarawakChampionship pic.twitter.com/ttL4jmvIQ9

— Jeev Milkha Singh (@JeevMilkhaSingh) July 5, 2018

Sentosa, Singapore, July 9: India’s Anirban Lahiri closed with a disappointing six-over-par 76 to settle for a tied-39th place finish at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier on Sunday.

The 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, who trailed by three shots heading into the final round, marked his card with two birdies against six bogeys and a double-bogey to finish on five-under-par 275 total, 14 shots behind winner Kevin Na of the United States.

The 31-year-old Lahiri had earlier fired a sparkling 61 to trail by one shot at the halfway stage of the PGA Tour tournament.

Ends.