July 8: Anirban Lahiri recovered from a poor front nine to stay in the title hunt after battling to a third round one-over-par 71 at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier on Saturday.

The 2015 Asian Tour number one got off to a bogey-bogey start before dropping two more shots on holes seven and nine. He steadied ship on his homeward nine with three birdies to finish on 11-under-par 199.

Lahiri, who shot a second round 61, is tied in sixth place and trails the leaders Harold Varner III and Kelly Kraft by three shots.

Kuching, Malaysia, July 7: John Catlin of the United States sank a clutch birdie putt on the last hole to win his second Asian Tour title in a thrilling final round at the US$300,000 Sarawak Championship on Saturday. 

The 27-year-old held his nerve before rolling in a five-foot putt on the par-four 18th hole to edge his closest challengers Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand, Danthai Boonma and Paul Peterson of the United States by a single shot at the Damai Golf and Country Club.

There was very little breathing space for Catlin in the final round but he eventually prevailed after returning with a bogey-free six-under-par 66 for a 22-under-par 266 total in the inaugural Asian Tour event.

A fast charging Jazz birdied 16 and eagled 17 for a superb 64 to set the clubhouse target on 21-under before settling for second place with countryman Danthai (66) and overnight leader Peterson, who also birdied the last to finish with a 68.

With Jazz safely in the clubhouse, the Sarawak Championship looked likely to enter extra time before Catlin stepped up to sink the crucial putt under immense pressure.

Jazz failed to win back-to-back titles but the result will give him and Danthai the much needed confidence ahead of their Major debut at The Open in two weeks.

The 30-year-old Peterson was disappointed not to win the Sarawak Championship where he held the lead since the opening round. He piled the pressure on Catlin with a cool birdie finish on the last but eventually settled for second place.

Did you know? 

• Catlin only dropped one bogey this week in the second round. He snared a total of 21 birdies in 72 holes.
• He got off to hot start when he birdied the opening two holes before adding four birdies on his homeward nine on holes 10, 12, 17 and 18.
• He becomes the first player to win multiple titles on the Asian Tour in 2018. He won his first Asian Tour title at the Asia-Pacific Classic in China in May.
• The victory was especially sweet for Catlin who finished second last year in an Asian Development Tour (ADT) event which was played on the same course.
• He continues his impressive form this year where he has won two titles and missed only one cut in eight Asian Tour appearances.
• He won US$54,000 and 14 Official World Golf Ranking points. The victory also pushes him to 10th place on the Asian Tour’s Habitat for Humanity Standings.
• Catlin and Chan Shih-chang are now the most successful ADT players on the Asian Tour where they both hold two victories on the region’s premier Tour.
• Catlin’s career has been on the upswing since he finished third on the ADT Order of Merit last year to earn his Asian Tour card in 2018.
• Jazz missed out on a chance to become the first player to win in successive weeks since 2011. He came close when he eagled the 17th hole from five feet.
• Danthai’s title drought continues on the Asian Tour. He won his first title in 2015 but has struggled to replicate his winning form. He was also bogey-free in a round of six birdies.
• Peterson missed out on a chance to win his second Asian Tour title in 2018. However, the American can hold his head high after shooting his personal best of 63 on the Asian Tour in the opening round.
• The Sarawak Championship is only his second Asian Tour event since taking a six-week break to spend time with his family in the United States.

Player quotes:

John Catlin (Usa) – Final Round 66 (-6), Total 266 (-22) 

It was crazy! It was a grind all week long. People keep making birdies and I asked myself ‘when is my birdie going to be enough!’ I finally did it on the 18th hole and that’s what I needed.

Danthai, Peterson and I were tied after the 12th hole and suddenly on 17 we saw that Jazz was one ahead of us! Honestly I wanted someone to go ahead because I figured it would push me and put a little fire under me. That’s probably why I birdied the last hole.

I saw Peterson birdied 18 as well but it didn’t change the situation. It actually helped me seeing the break because I wouldn’t have played quite as much break if I hadn’t seen Paul’s putt. Seeing his putt go in was definitely helpful.

The putt on the last hole was huge because of all the putts from that distance which I missed this week. The win in China was monumental because if I had to go through what I did today without winning earlier this year, I’m not sure if I could have pulled it off. It was nice to have that little bit of winning experience to calm me down.

It is crazy how life pans out. My coach actually told me to come out to Asia. My first two years was really eye opening and I realised what are the areas of my game that I needed to improve on in order to compete. Having a full year on the ADT was big for me to get my feet wet. I won a few times there and that gave me the confidence.

It is crazy where life will take you. I never thought I would be in Asia and now I’ve been here for three and a half years. 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.

Both my victories are equally awesome. You can’t really put one above the other.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) – Final Round 64 (-8), Total 267 (-21)

I didn’t think I had a chance today! I didn’t think I could come close and I started really slow on the front nine. I’m happy that I continued to play this well leading into The Open. After the birdie on 16, I still felt like I was too far but I hit it close on 17 and made eagle. That changed everything but I couldn’t birdie the last hole. It is okay because from no chance of winning, I actually gave myself a glimmer of hope.

Danthai Boonma (Tha) – Final Round 66 (-6), Total 267 (-21)

I played really well. I had six birdies and I was bogey free. I really tried my best. I missed a few short birdie putts on 13 and 14 but that’s golf. I was a little bit nervous but I’m still proud with how I played. I have more confidence now before The Open. I’m off next week so I will practice harder for my first Major championship.

Paul Peterson (Usa) – Final Round 68 (-4), Total 267 (-21)

It was a tremendous week. This is the most under-par I’ve ever been in my professional career. There are a lot of positives to take from the week. It was going to take someone to play a really good round to beat me and that’s what happened. I birdied the last to try and rattle him but a great putt by him. He deserved the win.

We all made putts to go to 20-under on 12 and then we all missed some putts and it was like ‘does anybody really want to win this tournament?’ I had a really good putt on 15 but it hit the lip. I did everything I could and I knew that I had to birdie 18 and I did that. When I look through my career, I can tell myself that I made putts when I needed to. That’s the positive I will take out from this week.

Scores after round 4 of the Sarawak Championship being played at the par 72, 6970 Yards Damai GC course (am – denotes amateur):

266 – John CATLIN (USA) 67-65-68-66.

267 – Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 66-66-71-64, Danthai BOONMA (THA) 67-66-68-66, Paul PETERSON (USA) 63-67-69-68."

268 – Javi COLOMO (ESP) 66-67-68-67.

269 – Mark BROWN (NZL) 65-71-67-66.

270 – Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 67-69-70-64, Johannes VEERMAN (USA) 67-70-68-65, Kevin LEE (KOR) 67-65-71-67."

272 – Peradol PANYATHANASEDH (THA) 66-69-67-70.

273 – Chikkarangappa S. (IND) 70-67-70-66, Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND) 68-71-67-67, Himmat RAI (IND) 68-67-70-68, Maverick ANTCLIFF (AUS) 69-69-67-68, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 68-68-66-71.

274 – Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 68-67-69-70.

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.

July 7: Indian star Anirban Lahiri fired a sparkling nine-under-par 61 to trail in tied second place at the halfway stage of the A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier on the PGA Tour on Friday. 

The 2015 Asian Tour number one produced nine birdies for a 12-under-par 128 total to trail the leader Kelly Kraft by a single shot at The Old White TPC course.

Without a bogey on his card in 36 holes, Lahiri took advantage of his sharp shooting game where he found all 18 greens in regulation. He is now in position to win his first PGA Tour title.

“I’ve been feeling good over the last two weeks. I’ve seen the improvement on the golf course and I’ve tried to plug the gaps that I’ve found over the last two weeks. And I’m happy that more than anything else I haven’t dropped a shot. But I’m not thinking about that. The focus is just to put myself in the best position that I can, and that’s a big positive for me,” said Lahiri.

Ends.

Kuching, Malaysia, July 6: Paul Peterson of the United States posted a bogey-free three-under-par 69 to hold a narrow one-shot lead over countryman John Catlin in the third round of the Sarawak Championship on Friday.  

Peterson, who won his first Asian Tour title in January, fired three birdies on his homeward nine to hold on to his lead for the third straight day on 17-under-par 199 at the Damai Golf and Country Club.

Catlin kept up his chase for a second Asian Tour title following a 68 while Thailand’s Danthai Boonma (68), who will play in The Open in a fortnight, and Spaniard Javi Colomo (68) are a further shot back in third place.

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar also charged into contention with a sparkling 66 to share fifth place with Thailand’s Peradol Panyathanasedh (67) on a 202 total at the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.

Southpaw player Peterson started with nine straight pars before birdies on holes 10, 13 and 16 earned him a slight edge heading into the final 18 holes. The American continued his fine form after dropping only one shot in 54 holes.

The 27-year-old Catlin has unfinished business this week after finishing second on this course on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) last year. The American sank a clutch birdie putt from 18 feet on the 17th hole to stay within striking distance.

Thailand’s Boonma birdied the last two holes to put himself in prime position to end a three-year title drought on the Asian Tour. This will be his final event before he heads to Carnoustie for his Major debut at The Open.  

Did you know? 

• Peterson only dropped one bogey in the second round. In 54 holes, the American has snared a total of 18 birdies.
• He won his first Asian Tour title at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open in January but since then has struggled to find his winning form.
• The Sarawak Championship is the second Asian Tour event Peterson is playing in after taking a six-week break to visit his family in the United States.
• Peterson holds the low round this week following his opening 63.
• Catlin is enjoying one of his best seasons so far on the Asian Tour. He won his first Asian Tour title in May and has notched three other top-10 results. He only missed one cut in seven appearances so far on the Asian Tour.
• He is currently ranked 15th on the Habitat for Humanity Standings and will battle with countryman Peterson to become the first player in 2018 to win multiple Asian Tour titles.
• Like Peterson, Catlin was also flawless in the penultimate round.
• Danthai won his first Asian Tour title at the 2015 World Classic Championship in Singapore. He has two top-10s so far this year but the most significant was a tied fourth place result at the season-opening SMBC Singapore Open (The Open Qualifying Series) which earned him a ticket to the year’s third Major championship.
• Colomo is an Asian Tour regular who is searching for a first Asian Tour title. This is the first time in 2018 where he is in contention. Last week he secured his best result on the Asian Tour in 2018 with a tied 12th place finish.
• Bhullar finished second at the Queen’s Cup in Thailand last week. It was his second runner-up result following The 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship in Korea in May.
• He found 14 out of 14 fairways and missed only one green in regulation. He totalled 25 putts and is in good position to launch a title assault for a ninth Asian Tour title.

Player quotes:

Paul Peterson (Usa) – Third Round 69 (-3), Total 199 (-17) 

It did take me a while to get hot. The group seems to survive the first few holes. Nobody really did much and John (Catlin) made a couple of putts. I didn’t really feel that the pin positions suited my game with the wind direction. There were a lot of left pins with left to right wind and I tend to draw the ball.

I tried to stay as patient as I could and hit the ball to the middle of the green and not try to get greedy. I knew that after the turn I will have more opportunities to score. I expected the front nine to be a bit slower unless I made a putt.

I feel like I got a lot out of my round. I had a lot of momentum pars which led to the birdies on the back nine. Hopefully I can get the putter a little bit hotter. The game felt solid and another bogey free day so those are always fun.

I can’t control what the other players do. I just need to make as many birdies as I can. More of the same in terms of cutting the bogeys to a minimum. I will tell my coach that I had a lot out of my round and that I’m happy with things. We will probably just have a laugh tonight.

John Catlin (Usa) – Third Round 68 (-4), Total 200 (-16)

You always want to have a chance going into the last round. To be in this position is why I work all those hours. It is always exciting chasing down a trophy. He (Paul Peterson) is playing well and I’m playing well, it is going to be a good battle. The birdie on 17 was really good. I was just coasting along until that birdie on 17 (18 feet) came. That was nice.

I’ve won on the Asian Tour now so the experience will certainly help. Being able to look yourself in the mirror and honestly say that I’ve been here before and won. There’s no substitute for that.

Danthai Boonma (Tha) – Third Round 68 (-4), Total 201 (-15)

I played really good. Everything seems good for me now. My approach shots to the green are really good and I’m giving myself a lot of birdie chances. I don’t want to think about the win yet. I want to stay focus on my game.

Javi Colomo (Esp) – Third Round 68 (-4), Total 201 (-15)

My game is in a very good shape. I’m really happy with my game. Golf is very funny. At the Korea Open, I finished third to last. The feeling was not that bad but my scores have been very poor. I kept believing in myself and after the Korea Open, I’ve learned a lot. You can see my score at the Queen’s Cup.

I missed the putt on the last hole to miss out on a top-10 finish but that’s okay. I was very proud of myself and I’m giving myself a lot of chances this week. I’m 15-under but my score should be better. Hopefully the best score will happen on the last day.

Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) – Third Round 66 (-6), Total 202 (-14)

I hit the ball really good. I hit all the fairways and missed only three greens. Overall it was a good day in terms of ball striking. I got off to a good start with two birdies and that gave me a lot of boost and confidence.

I’m happy to be in this position. I’ve been striking the ball really good in the last four months. The trick is all mental now. If I’m able to do the same thing in the last few days, I will be happy with my game.

It looks like it will be an exciting final round. It looks like the guy who is leading is playing some good golf. Golf is a funny sport and anything is possible. Everybody is giving their 100% and so am I. I’ll go out there and do my best.

Game wise, I’m feeling really confident and I’ve been converting a lot of good scores and giving myself a lot of opportunities.

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.

Bengaluru, July 6: The TAKE Solutions Masters will return to the Karnataka Golf Association, Bengaluru with an increased prize fund to US$350,000 following the success of last year’s tournament.

TAKE Solutions, a globally-recognised domain-leader in life sciences and supply chain management, raised the purse by US$50,000 after a thrilling edition last year where Thai rising star Poom Saksansin claimed his second Asian Tour title. 

TAKE’s ambassadors SSP Chawrasia, the six-time Asian Tour and four-time European Tour winner will be returning to the KGA course.  The tournament will also see Khalin Joshi, whose second-place result made him India’s top finisher in last year’s event at his home course and the 2015 winner of the Panasonic Open India, Chiragh Kumar.  They will also be joined by Bangalore boy, Chikkarangappa S.

The region’s talented Asian Tour stars and India’s formidable line-up will complete the elite field at the TAKE Solutions Masters which will be played from August 9 to 12.  

The tournament is also an opportunity for the top players on the PGTI to test themselves against a world-class field.  Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGTI, the money earned in the tournament will be counted on the Asian Tour’s Habitat for Humanity Standings and the PGTI Order of Merit. The tournament will also carry Official World Golf Ranking points.

The TAKE Solutions Masters was staged on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2014 and 2015, with both editions won by Chikkarangappa S before the tournament was upgraded to the Asian Tour in 2017. This year’s edition is expected to attract a strong international field and promises to provide four days of exhilarating golf.                                                

TAKE has been associated with golf for over 15 years in efforts to create better infrastructure and greater playing opportunities in India and internationally.  Srinivasan H R, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, TAKE Solutions said, “We are committed to seeking every opportunity to expose Indian golfing talent to international opportunities and TAKE Solutions Masters is a fantastic way to achieve this.  After the success of last year’s tournament, it is great to be coming back to Bengaluru with an increased prize fund”.                            

Asian Tour Chief Operating Officer Cho Minn Thant said, “We would like to thank TAKE Solutions for their vision to grow the game in India and across the region. It is fantastic news that this year’s tournament will see an increased prize purse of US$350,000 from last year’s US$300,000.

“We truly appreciate Srinivasan H R’s effort and his continuous support of the Asian Tour and the development of golf in Asia.  It is great to see more and more Indian players doing well on the Asian Tour, especially with the likes of Shubhankar Sharma, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Ajeetesh Sandhu, SSP Chawrasia and Shiv Kapur all winning on the Tour last year.  This is truly a testament to TAKE’s commitment to golf,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the PGTI, CEO Uttam Singh Mundy said, “The TAKE Solutions Masters is a great opportunity for our Indian players to test themselves alongside the best in Asia and experience a truly world-class event, at one of our country’s finest golf courses.”

The tournament is promoted and managed by Kreeda Events who are looking forward to working with all the stakeholders to build on the success of last year and over the coming years develop the tournament into one of the leading events on the Asian Tour.  This year one area of focus will be to increase awareness among the Karnataka region’s golfers and encourage as many spectators as possible to make the most of the opportunity to witness world-class golf on their doorstep at the KGA course in Bengaluru.    

Ends.

For further information please contact:

Media enquiries:

Serene Loh, Asian Tour Communications 

M: +65 9797 4178

E: [email protected]

Event Enquiries:

E: [email protected]  or visit www.takesolutionsmasters.com 

TAKE Solutions Enquiries:

Rajeswari P

M: +91 99400 64483

E: [email protected]

About TAKE Solutions

TAKE Solutions is a globally recognised domain expert offering end-to-end Life Sciences solutions and is committed to putting Indian golf and its players on the global map.  TAKE has been associated with golf for over 15 years in efforts to create better infrastructure and greater playing opportunities in India and internationally.  TAKE supports SSP Chawrasia, Khalin Joshi, and Chiragh Kumar.  Shubankar Sharma, the two-time European Tour winner and the first Indian to ever lead both the European and Asian Tour Orders of Merit at the same time and  Chikkarangappa S have also recently been supported by TAKE.

www.takesolutions.com @TAKEgolfing #TAKEgolfing

About Kreeda Events

Kreeda Events specialise in the delivery of world-class events and is the promoter and manager of the TAKE Solutions Masters.  Kreeda’s two principals, Andrew Wells and Rahul Singh have a combined international events experience of more than 55 years and have successfully delivered more than 100 professional golf tournaments worldwide and worked in more than 30 countries.  In the last 10 years, their team have also been responsible for delivering some of India’s most prestigious major golf tournaments.  Andrew is one of the most respected Sports Event Directors in the world and Rahul has a deep understanding of the Indian and international Events arena through his ownership of highly acclaimed, Choices Entertainment.  In India, Kreeda also manage the Panasonic Indian Open on behalf of the Asian Tour.

For Kreeda information please visit  www.kreedaevents.com 

For further information or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact [email protected]

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. 

About PGTI

Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India.  PGTI’s objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making in all aspects of the game.  Headed by Mr Gautam Thaper (President), PGTI’s governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals.  PGTI currently has over 300 members.  

Kuching, Malaysia, July 5: Paul Peterson of the United States maintained his lead at the US$300,000 Sarawak Championship by shooting a second round five-under-par 67 on Thursday. 

The 30-year-old Peterson, who is playing in his second Asian Tour event after taking a six-week break, stayed ahead of the chasing pack on 14-under-par 130 at the inaugural Asian Tour event.

The in-form Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand kept up his chase for a second successive victory after posting a 66 to share second place with John Catlin of the United States (65) and Kevin Lee of Korea (65) on 132.

Thai legend Thammanoon Sriroj produced the tournament’s first hole-in-one when he aced the par-three eighth hole with a pitching wedge from 137 yards. He ended the day on a 73 to make the cut on the number. A total of 72 players qualified for the last two rounds on 141.

A recharged Peterson fired six birdies against one bogey but the highlight of his round came when he holed a clutch 20-foot birdie putt on the eighth hole. He was delighted to rediscover his form after visiting his family in the United States.

Jazz is on track to become the first player to win back-to-back titles on the Asian Tour since Lee Westwood in 2011. The young Thai eagled the 17th hole from 24 feet to trail Peterson by two shots.  

Did you know? 

• Peterson dropped only one shot today on the par-three 15th hole. It is his only dropped shot in 36 holes.
• He missed only one green in regulation and found 12 out of 14 fairways in a round of six birdies.
• When Peterson held a share of the lead at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open in January, he went on to win his first Asian Tour title.
• A left-handed player, Peterson won his first European Tour title in 2016 at the Czech Masters.
• Peterson is currently ranked eighth on the Habitat for Humanity Standings. He is the second highest ranked player in the elite field.
• Lee of Korea is playing in his first season on the Asian Tour. He posted a bogey-free 65, which is also his lowest on the Asian Tour.
• At the age of 25, Lee is aiming to become the first Asian Tour rookie to win this year.
• Catlin won his first Asian Tour title at the Asia-Pacific Classic in China in May.
• Before his victory, Catlin was a regular on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) where he won two titles. He also played at the Damai course on the ADT last year where he finished in second place.
• Jazz holed a 24-foot eagle putt on the 17th hole to stay on track to win back-to-back titles. He produced four straight birdies from the ninth hole to trail the leader by two shots.
• The Sarawak Championship will be Jazz’s last tournament before he heads to The Open for his Major debut.
• Thammanoon produced his career’s second hole-in-one. He birdied the next hole to narrowly survive the halfway cut.

Player Quotes: 

Paul Peterson (Usa) – Second Round 67 (-5), Total 130 (-14) 

I was talking to my coaches after the round yesterday and the message was to stay patient. I came out to get off to a hot start again so that felt really good to get a couple of putts to fall early. That always helps you work your way into the round. It was nice to roll one in on 10 and made another unexpected one on 11.

Yes, I always try to talk to my coach after a round. That’s pretty much a routine to give them a review on how the golf ball is doing, on how under control or out of control it is. We got a pretty good system, they are not only coaches but they are people who I enjoy being with outside the golf course. It is easy to get on the phone and chat with them.

Physically and mentally I feel refresh as I’ve ever been in a long time. That part is the best it has been since I can remember. I’m in a good place, I feel healthy and feel fit. There are a lot of scoring opportunities out here so I’m going to keep it the same – keep the ball on the fairways and try to make birdies. I guess that’s the recipe to success out here.

I have two coaches who I work with right now. Patrick McGuire and Oscar Coetzee, who is more my mental coach.

Jazz Janewattannanond (Tha) – Second Round 66 (-6), Total 132 (-12)

It was another good day in office. I started off quite slowly but I hole some late birdies and an eagle so I’m really happy. I’m on the wrong side of the draw because yesterday morning it was windy and today I heard from my friends that it wasn’t windy so we got a bad draw there but I’m still happy with my score.

I know more about the course after playing three rounds here (including one practice round). I come here to play golf. It is all about the action on the course. I’m not thinking about another win yet.

(On the eagle on the 17th hole). I thought I was going to miss it but I had my two hands up in celebration when it went it. I really didn’t think it would go in!

Kevin Lee (Kor) – Second Round 65 (-7), Total 132 (-12)

It was a pretty good round. I made a lot of good putts but if anything, I felt like I should have hit my approach shots closer. Overall it was still a very good round. So far, yes this is my best score on the Asian Tour.

I drove the ball really the last two days and that obviously sets up my approach shots better. I felt really good over mid-range putts and that really helps when you hole those putts.

My experience has been good so far on the Asian Tour. There’s a lot of travelling but I guess the experience of playing in China (in 2017) has helped. I saw some of my friends enjoyed success on the Asian Tour so I decided to join Qualifying School earlier this year.

I grew up in the United States (California) so playing on the Asian Tour sorts of bring me back to my roots. I’ve not fully explored Korea yet but hopefully I’ll get to do that someday.

John Catlin (Usa) – Second Round 65 (-7), Total 132 (-12)

It is always nice to go bogey free and shoot seven birdies. I got hot with my putter on my homeward nine (started from hole 10) and holed birdies which I didn’t even tried to make. It was one of those kind of days where things just go your way.

You want to have a chance to win but we still have a long way more to go. You have to keep making birdies so I have to stay on the gas pedal. Things started to click and make more sense about a year and a half ago. It is just a continuation of that.

This is my second time in Sarawak. I played on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) here last year and finished second! So I have some good memories on this track. Anytime you can have a competitive round on a golf course is an added advantage. I was definitely excited to come back and improve on my good memories.

Scores after round 2 of the Sarawak Championship being played at the par 72, 6970 Yards Damai GC course (am – denotes amateur):

130 – Paul PETERSON (USA) 63-67.

132 – Kevin LEE (KOR) 67-65, John CATLIN (USA) 67-65, Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 66-66.

133 – Javi COLOMO (ESP) 66-67, Danthai BOONMA (THA) 67-66.

135 – Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 68-67, Himmat RAI (IND) 68-67, Peradol PANYATHANASEDH (THA) 66-69.

136 – John Michael O’TOOLE (USA) 68-68, Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 67-69, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 68-68, Yikeun CHANG (KOR) 69-67, Mark BROWN (NZL) 65-71.

137 – Quincy QUEK (SIN) 70-67, Shohei HASEGAWA (JPN) 71-66, Sukree OTHMAN (MAS) 69-68, Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 70-67, LU Wei-chih (TPE) 69-68, James MARCHESANI (AUS) 69-68, Johannes VEERMAN (USA) 67-70, Chikkarangappa S. (IND) 70-67, Sihwan KIM (USA) 67-70.

138 – Sam CHIEN (USA) 73-65, M. SASIDARAN (MAS) 69-69, Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) 68-70, Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 68-70, LIU Yanwei (CHN) 67-71, Gareth PADDISON (NZL) 68-70, Settee PRAKONGVECH (THA) 69-69, Matt STIEGER (AUS) 71-67, Aman RAJ (IND) 71-67, Danny MASRIN (INA) 71-67, Maverick ANTCLIFF (AUS) 69-69, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 69-69, Khalin JOSHI (IND) 68-70.

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, July 5: Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat is hopeful of another good run when the US$500,000 Bank BRI Indonesia Open tees off next week.

The 25-year-old is looking forward to returning to familiar winning ground as he has always enjoyed a good track record at the Pondok Indah Golf Course which will be the host venue of Indonesia’s National Open for the third consecutive year.

“I always love going back to the golf course. I finished second the first time I played there in 2016 and I won last year. So I’m really excited to go back there and defend my title next week,” said Panuphol, who also goes by his nickname ‘Coconut’.

The Thai made some tweaks to his swing after his dominant five-shot victory in 2017. While some results did not go his way, his hard work paid off when he won his second Asian Tour title in Thailand last month. 

“Since winning the Indonesia Open, my game has been on and off. I’ve been working on some swing changes and I try to improve the different aspects of my game every day. Winning the Thailand Open last month definitely took the monkey off my back.

“I don’t have to worry about keeping my card now, so I’ll just go out there, have fun and aim for another win,” added Panuphol, who will attempt to be the second golfer in history to win back-to-back Indonesia Open titles.

Panuphol will defend his title against an elite field that comprises of more than 35 Asian Tour champions.

Leading contenders include India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, a two-time winner of the Indonesia Open, and Shiv Kapur, the only golfer to win three Asian Tour tournaments in 2017.

Danny Masrin, who started his season commendably with a tied-12th finish in Singapore earlier in January, will fly the flag for Indonesia alongside George Gandranata, a one-time Asian Development Tour (ADT) winner and a prolific champion on the local circuit.

Other notable names to feature in the Bank BRI Indonesia Open include John Catlin of the United States, Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden and Daniel Nisbet of Australia, who have all won on the Asian Tour this season.

Bank BRI, one of Indonesia’s leading commercial banks, will title sponsor the 2018 Indonesia Open which gets underway from July 12 to 15. The prestigious tournament, which offered a prize purse of US$300,000 last year, received a prize boost of US$200,000 for the 2018 edition.

The Indonesia Open is the longest-running golf tournament in the country. The storied tournament, inaugurated in 1974, has been won by some of golf’s most illustrious names such as the late Payne Stewart, major champion Padraig Harrington and Asian Tour legend Thongchai Jaidee.

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.

Kuching, Malaysia, July 4: A recharged Paul Peterson of the United States fired a superb nine-under-par 63 to take a two-shot lead in the opening round of the Sarawak Championship on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old is playing in his second event since taking a six-week break from golf and produced his low round score on the Asian Tour highlighted by nine birdies at the picturesque Damai Golf and Country Club.

Mark Brown of New Zealand, who won back-to-back Asian Tour titles in 2008, trailed in second place following a 65 at the inaugural US$300,000 Asian Tour event.

The in-form Jazz Janewattananond, winner of last week’s Queen’s Cup, was a further shot back in third place alongside countryman Peradol Panyathanasedh, Mitchell Slorach of Singapore, Javi Colomo of Spain and Berry Henson of the United States.

Peterson, ranked eighth on the Asian Tour’s Habitat for Humanity Standings, won his first Asian Tour title at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open in January but struggled to repeat his winning form after feeling burned out from playing too much golf.

Playing on a sponsor’s invitation, the 43-year-old Brown, whose wife Mikayla was on his bag, did not miss a single green in regulation as he stayed within striking distance of Peterson.

Thai rising star Jazz continued his fine form by returning with a bogey-free round to stay on track for a second successive Asian Tour victory.

Did you know?

• Peterson fired his personal best score on the Asian Tour with his round of 63. In relation to par, it also matches the low 18-hole score this year on the Asian Tour.
• He struggled with the driver last week but found 14 out 14 fairways today. He only missed one green in regulation while totalling 26 putts.
• He took time off from golf following the Volvo China Open and returned to the United States to spend time with family and friends. It was a much needed break for him after a busy stretch at the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018.
• Peterson holed a monster 35-foot birdie putt on the fifth hole.
• He is among five Americans currently ranked inside the top-10 on the Sarawak Championship leaderboard.
• Brown enjoyed a 100% strike rate in the greens in regulation category. He is playing on a sponsor’s invitation this week.
• After winning the 2008 SAIL Open and Johnnie Walker Classic, which was sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour in India, Brown played mostly in Europe before shifting his focus to the Australasia Tour.
• Before his win on the Asian Tour in 2008, Brown took a sabbatical from golf before reviving his golf career.
• Jazz, who started from the 10th tee, was also bogey-free and the highlight of his round came when he holed three straight birdies from hole one.
• He will make his Major debut at The Open later this month. The Sarawak Championship will be his final preparation before he heads to Carnoustie.

Paul Peterson (USA) – First Round 63 (-9)

I hit every fairway today which is nice compared to last week. I seemed to get the driver sorted out and that always builds my confidence. I started to get into a rhythm and by the time I made the turn, I was going at more flags. It is nice to see some putts go in. I felt like I got into the zone. It was a really good day.

I was hoping to putt on hole five (35 feet) but for that to go in, it was really cool. Lu Wei-chih made one right in front of me and I holed mine so it was nice to see two long putts go in.

I played a lot of golf at the end of last year and a lot at the beginning of the season. I’ve only missed the cut by a shot on the Asian Tour. I felt like I was playing decent enough but after the Volvo China Open, I decided to take some time off.

I felt like I played too much golf and stretched myself a bit too thin on my energy. I lost the fight to want to be on the course competing. I said I wasn’t going to return until I got the fire back in my belly. It feels like my game is starting to come around.

(On what he did during the break) My brother had a baby which I haven’t seen so I went home to see my niece. I kind of shut things down and gained some perspective on things. We make a lot of sacrifices by not being there on holidays, birthdays so I thought visiting my family and friends will give me some balance in my life. I feel good now and I feel that my energy is back.

Mark Brown (NZL) – First Round 65 (-7)

It was good and nice to get out early even though there was a little bit of wind on the first 12 holes. It was nice to get a good round in the morning.

I played in Europe after my victories in 2008 and since then I’ve been playing on the Australasia Tour. I haven’t been playing much but I still enjoy it. It’s great to receive a sponsor’s invitation this week to see old friends, staff and players. It is a real thrill to see everyone.

I’ve been wanting to come back to the Asian Tour for a while so it was nice to get an invite this week.

I played two weeks in Fiji in smaller tournaments and getting used to the heat. I always played well in Asia. I enjoy the heat here and it suits me. My wife (Mikayla) has caddied a lot for me over the last few years. She is a teaching professional so she knows what she is doing. She gives me a telling off from time to time which is what I need.

My game was solid. I don’t think I missed the green and holed a few good putts. It will be tougher tomorrow afternoon but I’m looking forward to it.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) – First Round 66 (-6)

It is a new course and it took me a while to get used to the course and greens. I did well with only one practice round. It was weird because other golf courses which we play on it will be windy in the afternoon but it is the opposite here.

The view here is great and it is nice to play next to the beach. This is a new golf course for everyone and not everybody had the chance to have two practice days because of the Wednesday start. Overall, it was still a good start.

Amir Nazrin (Mas) – First Round 68 (-4)

I kept the momentum going today. I haven’t been feeling well (fever and flu) the last two weeks so I think that’s what kept me calm. I need to play well on the Asian Tour when I’m given the opportunity.

I’ve taken up membership on the Asian Tour so I’m really trying to finish inside the top-60. I need to stay patient on the golf course. That’s something which I’ve learnt while playing on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) and on the local tour.

I want to play like how I played today for the rest of the week. I made two really long putts on holes seven (45 feet) and nine (50 feet). Those birdies gave me more confidence. My putter was really my best friend today.

Scores after round 1 of the Sarawak Championship being played at the par 72, 6970 Yards Damai GC course (am – denotes amateur):

63 – Paul PETERSON (USA).

65 – Mark BROWN (NZL).

66 – Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA), Peradol PANYATHANASEDH (THA), Mitchell SLORACH (SIN), Javi COLOMO (ESP), Berry HENSON (USA).

67 – Johannes VEERMAN (USA), Sihwan KIM (USA), Kevin LEE (KOR), Scott VINCENT (ZIM), John CATLIN (USA), Danthai BOONMA (THA), LIU Yanwei (CHN).

68 – Himmat RAI (IND), Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE), Khalin JOSHI (IND), Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND), Amir NAZRIN (MAS), Arie IRAWAN (MAS), Daniel FOX (AUS), John Michael O’TOOLE (USA), Michael TRAN (VNM), Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA), Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN), Nicholas FUNG (MAS), Natipong SRITHONG (THA), Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND), Gareth PADDISON (NZL), Jason KNUTZON (USA), Thammanoon SRIROJ (THA). 

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, July 4: Bank BRI, one of Indonesia’s leading commercial banks, will title sponsor the prestigious Indonesia Open, which will now boast an increased prize money of US$500,000 when it gets underway from July 12 to 15.

The Indonesia Open, which offered a prize purse of US$300,000 in 2017, received a US$200,000 shot in the arm prior to its return to the popular Pondok Indah Golf Course, home of the country’s longest-running golf tournament since 2016.

Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat, who broke into the world’s top-200 after claiming his second Asian Tour title at his National Open earlier this month, will return to defend his title at the storied event, which was inaugurated in 1974.

Panuphol, hailed as one of the most consistent players on Tour having secured his card successfully every year since in 2011, broke through for his maiden title at the Indonesia Open, where he claimed a commanding five-shot victory last October.

The 25-year-old Thai will headline the elite field alongside Gaganjeet Bhullar, an eight-time Asian Tour winner who has won the Indonesia Open twice in 2013 and 2016. Bhullar, who enjoyed a joint runner-up finish in Korea in May, will aim to lift the trophy for a record third time this July.

Suprajarto, CEO of Bank BRI said: “The Indonesia Open is one of the most prestigious National championships in Asia and Bank BRI is truly honoured to title sponsor the tournament once again."

“We hope to inspire the local golfers to play their best and hopefully win the event through our sponsorship as that will be a fantastic development for the game in the country,” Suprajarto said.

Asian Tour CEO Josh Burack is confident that the Indonesia Open will attain greater heights with the outstanding support from Bank BRI, the oldest bank in Indonesia.

“On behalf of the Asian Tour, I would like to thank Bank BRI for its great commitment and support in developing the game in the country. The Indonesia Open has grown from strength to strength over the years and this is a clear indication of golf’s growing influence in the country as well as the region,” said Burack.

The local golfers will be vying to become the first Indonesian champion of their National Open since 1989. Kasiadi remains the only Indonesian golfer to win the prestigious event.

Other notable players set to feature in the elite 150-man field include Shiv Kapur of India, American duo Paul Peterson and Berry Henson, as well as Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, all winners on the region’s premier Tour.

The winner of the Bank BRI Indonesia Open 2018 will take home a winner’s cheque of US$90,000 and receive a two-year exemption on the Asian Tour.

The co-sponsors of the tournament include PLN, PERTAMINA, TELKOM Indonesia, Batik Air, WIKA, BRILife, BRIAgro, BRISyariah and BRINS. Bank BRI first came on board at the title sponsor of the Indonesia Open in 2014. It returned as joint title sponsor in 2016 and was one of the presenting sponsors in the last edition.

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.