Defending champion Prayad is fit and ready to go #SingOpen2018

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On the eve of the first round of the 2018 SMBC Singapore Open, and to the delight of everyone involved with the tournament, SMBC revealed they will renew their relationship with the tournament from 2019 to 2021.

The Japanese financial institution first came on board in 2016 as part of a three-year deal and the tournament has prospered since it was held at Sentosa Golf Club and as an event jointly-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation.

“SMBC are very proud to be associated with one of the premier golf tournaments in Asia, so much so that we have taken the decision to continue on as title sponsor,” said Makoto Takashima, President and CEO, SMBC.

“Singapore continues to be a key component of our global strategies and the country’s National Open provides us with the perfect way to connect with our audience. Furthermore, we hope the tournament acts to further promote the popularity of golf throughout Asia, as well as inspiring a new generation of players.”

SMBC’s support of the Singapore Open was well and truly validated last season when the event was voted the “Best Tournament” by the members of the Asian Tour, and Sentosa’s Serapong layout was acknowledged as the “Best Course”.

The Singapore Golf Association, the proud guardians of the Singapore Open, welcomed the renewal and also announced they will extend their contract with Lagardère Sports, the event promoter, until 2021.

“The Singapore Golf Association is truly delighted that SMBC have committed to our tournament for an additional three years,” said Ross Tan, President, Singapore Golf Association.

“This year marks the 52nd staging of the Singapore Open and it is incredibly encouraging to see its future look so bright thanks to SMBC. They will help add to the Singapore Open’s long and storied history.”

The first round of the US$1 million SMBC Singapore Open tees-off tomorrow on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club boasting a stellar field including reigning Masters champion Sergio Garcia from Spain, South African Louis Oosthuizen, Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa and Pat Perez from the United States.

American Jordan Spieth, ranked number one in the world at the time, was the star attraction at the SMBC Singapore Open in 2016 and finished second in the tournament. Korean Younghan Song took the title while last year Prayad Marksaeng from Thailand triumphed.

“This is outstanding news for the Singapore Open,” said Patrick Feizal Joyce, Vice President, Golf – Asia, Lagardère Sports.

“SMBC have been a valuable and committed title sponsor and the fact that they have extended their partnership means we are in store for another three exciting years. They have been outstanding to work with and we look forward to promoting the tournament for them until 2021.”

Ends.

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Published on February 27, 2013

New Delhi, February 27: India’s rising stars Gaganjeet Bhullar and Anirban Lahiri will be targeting a home victory when they make their 2013 Asian Tour debuts at the US$300,000 SAIL-SBI Open next week.
The talented duo enjoyed memorable seasons last year with Bhullar securing two victories at the Venetian Macau Open and Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in Taipei en route to finishing a career high fifth on the Order of Merit while Lahiri won the SAIL-SBI Open and also produced an outstanding Major debut at the British Open where he tied for 31st place.
Lahiri, 25, hopes that time spent working on his putting and short game will produce the birdies when he defends his title at the venerable Delhi Golf Club from March 6-9 in what is the second tournament of the new Asian Tour season.
“I have had a good relaxing off-season. I worked especially hard on my putting and short game. I feel that it will help improve my scoring this season and get me into contention more consistently,” said Lahiri, who defeated Prom Meesawat of Thailand in a play-off for his triumph last year.
Lahiri is in a hurry to get his season off on a strong note as he is aiming to break into the world’s top-100 in 2013, the year which will see the Asian Tour celebrate its milestone 10th season.
“I would definitely want to get off to a good start with a win early in the season, like the last couple of years,” he said.
“I think as the Olympics approaches, all eyes will be on the world rankings. The Indians are doing well globally so I would definitely like to break into the top 100. I’ll then look to kick on from there. Obviously it would mean playing solidly in the bigger events,” added Lahiri, who is currently ranked 224th in the world.
Big-hitting Bhullar, a year younger than his close friend Lahiri, has already accumulated four career victories on the Asian Tour but has surprisingly not won in front of his fans.
He finished tied sixth in the SAIL-SBI Open and equal second in the Panasonic Open India last year at the Delhi Golf Club, results which will give him the confidence when he steps into his first tournament next week.
Bhullar hopes last season’s success will be the springboard to more victories in 2013. “It was a great season. I had a couple of top-10s, top-fives and two victories. There’re still a lot to learn but I have a lot of positives from last season,” he said.
He was especially pleased with his mental strength throughout 2012. “I’ve been trying to stay patient for a long time and I think I handled it well. Patience will definitely help me over the years,” he said.
The SAIL-SBI Open will be celebrating its sixth edition next week where it is one of four Asian Tour events which feature prominently in India.
Other leading Indians who will compete in the SAIL-SBI Open include C. Muniyappa, Himmat Rai, Digvijay Singh, Shiv Kapur and Jyoti Randhawa, all winners on the Asian Tour.
About the Asian Tour
In 2013, the Asian Tour will celebrate a momentous milestone with its 10th season. 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 Abacus (Official Apparel Partner), BlackBerry (Official Communications Partner), Canon (Official Imaging Partner), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Singha Beer (Official Beer), Srixon (Official Ball), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Official Hotels and Resorts) and Rolex (Official Timekeeper). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Also, visit us at www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com, www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf, www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf, www.youtube.com/theasiantour and www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf

Published on January 16, 2018

Sentosa, Singapore, 16 January: Gavin Green will be unfazed by the big names and the pressure of being the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion at the SMBC Singapore Open that starts on Thursday.

The big-hitting Malaysian had a very successful 2017 on the Asian Tour, evident from his number one position on the merit list. The 24-year-old enjoyed three second-place finishes and a win, at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

During the year, he also had the chance to play alongside elite players such as major champion Justin Thomas and 13-time European Tour winner Paul Casey. Last week, he was up against the best golfers from Europe at the biennial EurAsia Cup.

The experiences on Tour have helped shaped Green into a better golfer and he’ll be looking to use the things that he has learned in 2017 to excel this year, starting at the SMBC Singapore Open.

Quincy Quek of Singapore will also be teeing up at this year’s SMBC Singapore Open, a tournament that will always remain close to his heart. Last year, his daughter was born just a few days prior to the event. He will look forward to playing in front of the home crowd again.

Pat Perez is enjoying a career revival after recovering from his shoulder injury. Perez, who won in Malaysia last year, will be competing on Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course for the first time. He gives the layout a seal of approval after practicing on it on Monday.

The Asian Tour season opener features a US$1 million prize purse and it is jointly-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO). Apart from Perez, other marquee names such as Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and Ryo Ishikawa will also be competing at the SMBC Singapore Open.

Did you know:

Gavin Green is the second youngest Order of Merit champion in Asian Tour history. Korean Noh Seung-yul was 19 years old when he won the merit race in 2010.
He is the first Malaysian to win the Order of Merit.
Green is ranked first in driving distance in 2017, averaging 314.08 yards off the tee.
Quincy Quek’s tied-26th finish at the SMBC Singapore Open was his best on the Asian Tour in 2017.
He won once on the Asian Development Tour, at the 2012 Orchard Golf Championship.
The SMBC Singapore Open will be part of The Open Qualifying Series for 2018. The leading four places (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties will secure their spots at The 147th Open at Carnoustie from July 19 to 22.
This year marks the 52nd edition of Singapore’s National Open.
The SMBC Singapore Open is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the JGTO for the third consecutive year.

Player Interviews:

Gavin Green (Mas)

It’s fun. I enjoy it (being an Order of Merit winner). But I still had to perform and play well. There are obviously more expectations and pressure. I have to practice harder and step up my mind game as well.

I am going to play in two Tours, as I also have my European Tour card this year. Adjusting to European weather and atmosphere is going to be a challenge for me. Goal-wise, being in the world top-100 is one of them and winning a European Tour event is also one of them. The rest are more detailed which I’m still trying to figure out. I’m going to take it event by event and enjoy the game as much as I can as it’s not that often that I can get to play on two Tours. However, Asia will always be home no matter what.

2017 has taught me that I can do it. It has showed in my results. It was tough at first as I was learning about the Tour and the players. But now, I’ve got to know the professional game a lot better. Things change very quickly at a tournament and results switch really fast. I’m thankful for the things that happened during the year and I’m grateful to be able to get the experience. I’m going to use it to my full potential and become a better player. Winning the Order of Merit again will be great, but I’ll just go out there, play my best and see what happens.

I’ve played here (on the Serapong course) a few times. I was leading at some point too. I think it suits me well as I can hit the longer irons. Some holes are really long and I have no problem with that, too. The breeze makes it tougher for everyone. Those who control their ball flight and manage the course well will win the event.

Quincy Quek (Sgp)

When SMBC are the title sponsors of the tournament, the event has been done really well and the turnout has been really good. I look forward to playing in front of the home crowd.

Last year was memorable for me. My daughter was born a few days before the event started. It was quite a messy few days for me leading up to the event. I was sleeping in the hospital ward with my wife and baby. It was different and I guess it will be something I will never experience again. It is always nice to play in this event and the course is in great shape.

I’m just looking to go out there and play well just like every other week. If I can keep it on the fairways, hit the greens and create birdie chances, then the score will inevitably be a good one.

Pat Perez (Usa)

I actually love it (Singapore). I have come to Asia a bunch now. I was in KL a few months ago. I do like it though. I can’t believe how awesome that city is over there. Clean, nice, people are fantastic here. And it has been a great experience so far.

I have been playing well for about 15 months now. I have a lot of confidence in what I am doing and I am very excited to be playing so well.

I had surgery and I was out for eight months. It was a lot of motivation to come back. I wanted to continue my career and not be one of those guys who has surgery and disappeared. The work I put in, I didn’t really think I was going to get some success out of it. It has been amazing and I am just enjoying the ride.

I don’t really worry about it (being himself) at all. I have a lot of friends out here and I have been around a long time. I have found myself and just my way of life, being 41 now and I have been through a lot of things. 17 years on the PGA Tour. It is like anything, you grow, and what works and what doesn’t work.

I don’t worry about outside opinions or comments. I think that has really helped me in the last 16 months. It is not trying to impress everybody and fit in. I fit in because I am three-time winner on the PGA Tour and I have never lost my Tour card. I just do me, that’s it.

Ends.

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Published on January 15, 2018

Sentosa, Singapore, January 15: American Kurt Kitayama earned a spot at the SMBC Singapore Open after carding a six-under-par 65 at the Qualifying Tournament today.

It has been a great start to 2018 and a fruitful venture to Asia so far for the 25-year-old golfer. Yesterday, he celebrated his birthday by finishing tied-third at the Asian Tour Qualifying School to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour.

After topping the Qualifying Tournament, he’ll be looking forward to playing alongside the best players from the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour at the US$1 million event.

“The greens were really smooth and I made some really good putts. I adjusted to the speed early and I felt that I was in control for the rest of the day,” said Kitayama, who has plied his trade mainly in America.

Kitayama scored seven birdies at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong course and his scorecard would have been flawless if not for a bogey on the 12th.

Gunn Charoenkul of Thailand also qualified for the SMBC Singapore Open after finishing in second place, one shot behind Kitayama. Gunn, also 25 years old, attributed his good round to his excellent driving and he’ll be looking to do better this year, after finishing tied-71st in Singapore last year.

“I have good memories of playing here. In the 2012 tournament, I finished tied-24th. But last year, I was just a few shots from being in the last place! My putting wasn’t great then, but I’m putting better this week!” he said.

Wolmer Murillo of Venezuela took the third and final spot after beating Puk Pradittan of Thailand and Narutoshi Yamaoka of Japan in a playoff, which was contested at Tanjong’s par-four 18th. The trio finished with matching 67s.

Yamaoka was first to go after faltering at the first playoff hole. At the third playoff hole, Puk carded a bogey after his approach shot landed into the greenside bunker. Murillo tapped in for par, and a spot at the SMBC Singapore Open.

“The greens here inspire you to play good golf and they give you an opportunity to assess your game. The ball listens to you because the greens are pure. They are lovely to play on,” said Murillo, who recovered brilliantly from the disappointment of missing the mark at Qualifying School the previous week.

“I can’t wait to play on the Serapong. I heard it’s a great golf course!” he added.

Ends.

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Published on January 14, 2018

Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 14: Team Europe, captained by Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, dominated the Singles matches to earn a hard-fought win over Team Asia with a 14-10 victory to retain the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM on Sunday.

After trailing Team Asia over the last two days, Europe surmounted a gallant fightback to win eight out of 12 matches in the Singles format at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

“It was a great performance today from every single one of them, they came off the golf course yesterday and there was a determination and a will of wanting to win this,” said Bjorn.

“From there, to then go out and do the job the way they did today shows a lot about the character of these 12 guys and it shows a lot about the character of European golf and it shows a lot about what we are,” added the Dane.

Alex Noren of Sweden delivered the day’s first point with a convincing 4&2 win over Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung. Asia’s number one Gavin Green of Malaysia then fell victim to Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello 4&3

Europe’s number one Tommy Fleetwood earned another point for his team when he brought down India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia 2&1 before Thailand’s Poom Saksansin gave Asia a brief reprieve, beating England’s Paul Casey by one hole.

Major winner Henrik Stenson put another point on the board for Europe when he won 2&1 against Japan’s Hideto Tanihara before Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger took them three clear with a 2&1 victory over Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai.

France’s Alexander Levy then brought Europe to within a point of retaining the EurAsia Cup when he defeated Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat 3&1.

The winning moment for Europe came on the 18th hole when Belgium’s Thomas Pieters beat Korea’s Byeonghun An by one hole.

“It always nice to get the winning point. We all have to do our own part today. We knew that and we knew what we had to do. You can see early on that we wanted it badly because the board was pretty blue,” said Pieters.

England’s Tyrrell Hatton then won 2&1 against India’s Anirban Lahiri to make it 13 ½ -7 ½ with three matches remaining.

Korea’s Sunghoon Kang and England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick shared the spoils before Japan’s Yuta Ikeda and China’s Li Haotong salvaged some pride for Team Asia by beating England’s Ross Fisher (1 hole) and Ireland’s Paul Dunne (3&1) respectively.

“These kind of events always become closer than you think sometimes, and that’s always good to know. When you go out there as a team, you’ve got to play. You play for very few points the first two days and then you play for a lot of points on Sunday, and that’s the way these events are.

“It can swing very much on the last day and we showed today that if you are good and strong on Sundays, you can win these things,” said Bjorn.

Ends.

About DRB-HICOM

DRB-HICOM Berhad (“DRB-HICOM”) is one of Malaysia’s leading conglomerates with core businesses in the Automotive, Services & Education, as well as Property sectors. With more than 90 active companies in its stable and over 59,000 employees group-wide, DRB-HICOM’s aim is to continue adding value and propelling the nation’s development. In the Automotive sector, DRB-HICOM is involved in the manufacturing, assembly and distribution of passenger and commercial vehicles, including the national motorcycle. In Services & Education, DRB-HICOM is involved in various businesses, including concession and financial-related services. In Property, DRB-HICOM is involved in residential and commercial developments.

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About the European Tour

The European Tour celebrates men’s professional golf on a global stage. In 2017, the European Tour International Schedule features a minimum of 47 tournaments in 26 countries, including eight Rolex Series events, all part of the Race to Dubai.Celebrating the global connectivity of the European Tour and Dubai, the Race to Dubai is a season-long competition to crown the European Tour’s Number One player, an honour which in 2016 went to Sweden’s Henrik Stenson for the second time, and which since 2009 has also been achieved three times by Rory McIlroy, as well as by Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald. Formerly known as the Order of Merit, points are accumulated based on prize money won, with the top 10 ranked players at the end of the season sharing a $5million Race to Dubai bonus pool.Since its formation in 1972, the European Tour has witnessed 26 Members celebrate a total of 52 Major Championship titles between them, enjoyed ten Members attaining the pinnacle of World Number One and has celebrated its diversity as players from 36 different countries have won on the Tour.The European Tour also manages the Challenge Tour, which featured 28 tournaments in 22 countries in 2016, and the Senior Tour, which featured 13 tournaments in nine countries in 2016. It is also the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe, the body which, alongside the PGA of America, administers golf’s greatest team contest, The Ryder Cup.The European Tour broadcasts live coverage of its tournaments to more than 490 million homes in more than 150 countries every week, generating in excess of 2,200 global broadcast hours for each event. It also enjoys the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with Rolex, BMW, Emirates and Titleist as Official Partners.

About MMC Corporation Berhad

MMC Corporation Berhad (MMC) is a leading utilities and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under three divisions, namely ports & logistics, energy & utilities and engineering & construction.Its key businesses under the Ports and Logistics division include the operations of Port of Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Kontena Nasional Berhad and JP Logistics. Internationally, MMC has an associate stake in Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company Limited, a container port terminal within the Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Arabia.Under the Energy & Utilities division, MMC is the single largest shareholder of both Malakoff Corporation Berhad and Gas Malaysia Berhad.MMC’s Engineering & Construction division has further established itself in the sector with a leading role as the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) and underground works package contractor for the 51km Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project (Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) and Line 2 project (Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line). Prior to this, MMC has successfully completed the 329km Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Tracking Project as well as the innovative Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) motorway, the first-of-its-kind dual-purpose tunnel in the world.MMC continues to make inroads in the construction industry, securing key civil and infrastructure projects in the country namely Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant, Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant, civil and infrastructure works for RAPID Pengerang Cogeneration Plant. Additionally, MMC has a 20% effective interest in Borneo Highway PDP Sdn Bhd (BHP) which has been appointed as PDP for the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Project.In other businesses, MMC owns Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, a water treatment plant operator and Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd, the operator of Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru; a major aviation hub and the main air transportation gateway to Iskandar Malaysia. Additionally, MMC’s Group Property arm manages close to 6,000 acres of industrial developments in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor and Kulim, Kedah, namely Senai Airport City, Tanjung Bin Petrochemical & Maritime Industrial Centre (TBPMIC) and Northern Technocity in Kulim. The Senai Airport City, TBPMIC and NTC (NTC) developments come under the ambit of Group Property’s three operating companies – Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Northern Technocity Sdn Bhd respectively.

Published on February 26, 2013

New Delhi, February 26: Colin Montgomerie, the most prolific British winner in European Tour history, will make his first appearance in the Avantha Masters when the €1.8million event takes place from March 14-17.
The Scot, who captained Europe to Ryder Cup glory in 2010, has won 31 European Tour titles – two of them in Asia – in an illustrious career, and will now hope to add to his impressive tally when the fourth edition of the Avantha Masters is held at a new venue, Jaypee Greens Golf Course, Greater Noida, India.
Montgomerie’s title ambitions at the Avantha Masters, which is tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), will be put to test by a stellar field that includes Three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, a three-time Asian Tour winner and Australia’s Scott Hend.
The local charge will be spearheaded by Jeev Milkha Singh, Asia’s number one in 2006 and 2008 as well as Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar who have a combined total of six Asian Tour victories.
Montgomerie said: “India is unquestionably one of the world’s biggest growth areas for golf, so I’m really looking forward to teeing up in the Avantha Masters. Having recently added a project in Goa to my golf course design portfolio, I hope to play my part in the development of the game in India.
“Whenever I have visited this fascinating country in the past, I have always found the people to be both very friendly and enthusiastic about golf. Hopefully the crowds will come along to support the tournament, and show that golf in India is enjoying a real popularity boom.”
Montgomerie is the latest in a long line of European Tour champions to confirm their attendance in the Avantha Masters.
The eight-time winner of Europe’s Money List will be joined in New Delhi by England’s Simon Dyson, Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen and Frenchman Thomas Levet, who between them have captured a total of 15 European Tour titles.
Padamjit Singh Sandhu, Director of the PGTI, said: “The presence of a legend like Colin Montgomerie is an affirmation that Indian golf is going in the right direction. The Avantha Masters has established itself as a premium event on The European Tour International Schedule, and the new dates have enabled leading players to add the tournament to their schedules.
“I am sure more big names will confirm in the next few days. We are looking forward to one of the strongest fields ever assembled for a tournament in India, and that should provide for a great week of golf.”
About the Asian Tour
In 2013, the Asian Tour will celebrate a momentous milestone with its 10th season. 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 Abacus (Official Apparel Partner), BlackBerry (Official Communications Partner), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Singha Beer (Official Beer), Srixon (Official Ball), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Official Hotels and Resorts) and Rolex (Official Timekeeper). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Also, visit us at www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com, www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf, www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf, www.youtube.com/theasiantour and www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf

Published on January 14, 2018

Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 14: Team Asia’s captain Arjun Atwal praised his charges despite falling 10-14 to Team Europe at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM on Sunday.

Atwal’s team had led for two days after the Fourball and Foursomes matches but were outplayed by Team Europe in the Singles matches at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

“I’m very proud of these guys. They are all awesome players and it’s just unfortunate we lost today. We just didn’t make enough putts and they, on the other hand, made a lot more putts than us,” said Atwal.

While his team fell short on the final day, Atwal was delighted to witness the talent on display, particularly from the young Thai duo of Poom Saksansin and Phachara Khongwatmai.

“The sky’s the limit for them. It’s unbelievable. They are all fantastic players. I got to know some of these guys a lot better this week and by just watching them play, I know they can achieve anything they want. They can win majors. They can win big tournaments on big tours. There’s no limit,” added the Indian.

Poom, who was making his debut at the EurAsia Cup, showed no fear as he brought down seasoned Ryder Cup campaigner Paul Casey in the Singles match by one hole. Together with Korea’s Sunghoon Kang, the 24-year-old also created the biggest upset on the opening Fourballs when they won 5&4 over Henrik Stenson and Alexander Levy.

Phachara proved to be another star in the making when he put up a masterclass in putting in the first two days. The young Thai put two points on the board for Team Asia and showed he can be the man for the big occasion.

“Look at the way he (Phachara) handled himself under pressure. If I was 18, I don’t know if I would be able to do what he did this week by playing in this type of pressure,” said Atwal.

With the conclusion of the third edition of the EurAsia Cup, Atwal hopes to revive his memories and stand proud as a captain one day again.

“I had a lot of fun and I had an absolute blast this week. Even though we didn’t win, they are all champions and for me personally, I would do this in a heartbeat again,” said Atwal.

Ends.

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About MMC Corporation Berhad

Published on

Rayong, Thailand, January 14: Korea’s Seungtaek Lee outclassed the field by closing with a second straight four-under-par 67 to claim a one-shot victory at the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage presented by Sports Authority of Thailand on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Lee, playing his first attempt at the Asian Tour Qualifying School, fired three birdies in his closing four holes to top the 243-man field with a five-day total of 14-under-par 341 at the Rayong Green Valley Country Club.

Lee is among the 44 players, including former winners Australian David Gleeson, India’s Himmat Rai, Thailand’s Thammanoon Sriroj and Udorn Duangdecha, who secured their Tour cards for the new season after finishing inside top-35 and ties following the 90-hole battle.

Overnight co-leader Sorachut Hansapiban of Thailand stumbled with a bogey on the last to sign for a 68 and finish second on his own. The 27-year-old Thai took solace with his runner-up finish as he finally earned his Tour card after missing out in his last two consecutive attempts.

American Kurt Kitayama, who turns 25 today, gave himself the perfect birthday present when he closed with a 66 to finish three shots back in third place alongside Thailand’s Jakraphan Premsirigorn (66), Australian duo Travis Smyth (68) and Steven Jeffress (70).

The 2018 Asian Tour Qualifying School Final stage saw 243 hopefuls from over 30 countries vying for their playing rights at the start of the week. The first cut was made after 36 holes and a total of 153 players made it into the third and fourth round.

A further cut was made after 72 holes and 78 players progressed into the fifth and final round where a total of 44 players from 12 countries securing their Tour cards for the 2018 season after making the cut-off mark set at two-under-par 353.

Players who missed the grade are eligible to play on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), which was launched as a gateway to the region’s premier Tour in 2010. The top-five finishers on the ADT Order of Merit at the end of the season will be awarded with playing rights on the Asian Tour for the following season.

Did you know?

Seungtaek Lee topped the class in his first attempt at the Asian Tour Qualifying School. He became the second Korean following Yikeun Chang in 2016 to win the Asian Tour Qualifying School.
Lee earns an elusive spot at the prestigious SMBC Singapore Open next week, thanks to his victory at the Qualifying School.
The 22-year-old Lee had enjoyed a tied-13th place finish previously at the 2017 Shinhan Donghae Open on home soil.
Lee turned professional three years ago and has been plying his trade on his domestic circuit prior to his campaign at the Asian Tour Qualifying School this week.
Lee opened his campaign with three consecutive 69s before closing with two straight 67s to top the field.
Sorachut Hansapiban secured his Asian Tour card in his third attempt at the Qualifying School this week. He missed the grade in his last two attempts in 2016 and 2017.
The 27-year-old Sorachut has been plying his trade on the ADT since 2016 and has come close to winning on several occasions.
Kurt Kitayama, a former University of Nevada-Las Vegas standout, turned professional in 2015 and has played on the Web.com Tour for the past two years. He is currently based in Las Vegas.
Kitayama, who secured his Asian Tour card in his first attempt at the Qualifying School this week, is celebrating his 25th birthday today.
Jakraphan Premsirigorn finally secured his Asian Tour card for the first time in his fifth attempt at the Qualifying School. He had missed out in his previous attempts in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Jakraphan is a one-time winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2013. He claimed his best result on the Asian Tour following a tied-ninth finish at the 2014 King’s Cup.
The 26-year-old Jakraphan notched seven top-10 finishes on the ADT last year to end the season in 10th place on the final ADT Order of Merit, missing out on his 2018 Asian Tour card by five rungs.
A total of 44 players from 12 countries earn their Asian Tour cards for the 2018 season. The countries represented are Australia (11), Korea (10), Thailand (7), United States (3), Japan (3), England (2), New Zealand (2), India (2), Spain (1), Sri Lanka (1), Argentina (1) and South Africa (1).
Former Tour champions Thammanoon Sriroj and Udorn Duangdecha of Thailand, Himmat Rai of India and Australian David Gleeson, successfuly regained their playing rights on the Asian Tour for the 2018 season. Thammanoon signed for a 69 to finish tied-11th on 347 while Gleeson (69), Rai (74) and Udorn (67) were amongst those bunched in 34th place on 353.

Players’ quotes:

Seungtaek Lee (Kor) – Final round 67 (-4), Total 341 (-14)

I am really happy to win the Asian Tour Qualifying School. This is my first attempt and I have played really well all week. I was a little nervous at the start of the week because of the big field and I know there are a lot of good players here.

I just played my own game out there and not think about anything else. After the three consecutive birdies from 15, I was trying to go for the win. I think I was being too aggressive coming down the 18th hole as I misjudged the distance with my approach shot and hit the roof of the marquee.

Luckily the ball dropped down and rolled back on to the green. I was very lucky there. I didn’t get off to a good start. I made a double-bogey on the fourth but bounced back with an eagle-two on sixth. From there, I just played my own game.

I made a long birdie putt from about 14 metres on 16 and I knocked it down with my second shot on 17 to about two metres before sinking that putt. I had a good run coming home and it gave me a lot of confidence.

It’s been a great week for me. I have a good friend Giwhan Kim who is playing on Tour so I am looking forward to joining him now. I am thrilled to earn a spot at the SMBC Singapore Open next week. I am very excited now because it’s a big tournament.

Sorachut Hansapiban (Tha) – Final round 68 (-3), Total 342 (-13)

I am pretty disappointed with the bogey on the last as it costed me a spot at the Singapore Open next week. But overall, I am pleased with how I played, not just today but the entire week. It has been a grueling test playing 90 holes this week so to finish second, I can’t complain.

This is my third time attempting to get my Asian Tour card at the Qualifying School. I am glad I finally made it. I tried my best this week. I have a lot of positives to take into the new season.

Kurt Kitayama (Usa) – Final round 66 (-5), Total 344 (-11)

I hit a lot better today and I sank more putts. I made a few up and downs as well. I had four birdies in a row today. I know those holes are pretty scorable so I just took advantage of my solid wedge-play today.

I hit the pin on the sixth hole with my wedge shot today before tapping in for birdie. I came through the first stage of the Qualifying School last week. It was quite a grind and I finally got used to everything. It was a lot better this week.

This is my first attempt at the Asian Tour Qualifying School. It was a good experience. I came from Chigo, California and I went to school at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. I have heard about the Asian Tour from my friends before so I thought it will be a good opportunity for me to travel around the world if I can come and try out here.

Jakraphan Premsirigorn (Tha) – Final round 66 (-5), Total 344 (-11)

I putted really good today. I started the week with a four-over 75 so to finish with three straight 66s, I am really happy with the way I played. I made a long putt from about 20 feet to save par on the 14th hole.

This is my sixth time trying out at the Qualifying School. I missed out in all my previous attempts so I am very glad that I finally earn my Asian Tour card this week. I tried to play my way onto the Asian Tour through the ADT last couple of years.

I came close last year but unfortunately didn’t manage to finish inside top-five on the ADT Order of Merit. This week’s result will make up for the disappointments over the years.

Ends.

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Published on January 13, 2018

(Team Europe first)

Match 1: 9.35AM Tommy Fleetwood & Henrik Stenson vs S.S.P. Chawrasia & Anirban Lahiri.

Match 2: 9.45AM Paul Casey & Tyrrell Hatton vs Kiradech Aphibarnrat & Byeonghun An.

Match 3: 9.55AM Rafa Cabrera Bello & Alexander Levy vs Gavin Green & Yuta Ikeda

Match 4: 10.05AM Matthew Fitzpatrick & Thomas Pieters vs Sunghoon Kang & Poom Saksansin.

Match 5: 10.15AM Paul Dunne & Alex Noren vs Phachara Khongwatmai & Hideto Tanihara.

Match 6: 10.25AM Ross Fisher & Bernd Wiesberger vs Li Haotong & Nicholas Fung.

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Sentosa, Singapore, January 17: Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand is feeling physically fantastic and he is ready to defend his title at the US$1 million SMBC Singapore Open that starts tomorrow. Last year, the 51-year-old held off the challenge of the likes of compatriot Phachara Khongwatmai and Korea’s Younghan Song, golfers who are a fraction of […]

Sentosa, Singapore, January 17: Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand is feeling physically fantastic and he is ready to defend his title at the US$1 million SMBC Singapore Open that starts tomorrow.

The affable golfer attributed his good form to a clean and healthy lifestyle. He sleeps early, exercises regularly and refrains from smoking as well as drinking.

Marquee golfers Sergio Garcia of Spain and Ryo Ishikawa of Japan will also be teeing off at the Sentosa Golf Club.

The SMBC Singapore Open is jointly-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organization.

Did you know:

Prayad Marksaeng was never in the top-10 in the first three rounds of the 2017 SMBC Singapore Open. He was four shots off the leader, Adam Scott, going into Sunday.
He waited for two hours before he was confirmed as the champion. Prayad was in the earlier groupings and he had the privilege of enjoying his lunch while seeing the leading pack falter.
Prayad will be teeing off on Thursday with 2016 SMBC Singapore Open champion Younghan Song and Japan Golf Tour Organization 2017 prize money list leader Yusaku Miyazato.
Apart from his win in 2017, Prayad’s best performance at the Singapore Open was tied-10th in 2010.
Sergio Garcia is competing at the SMBC Singapore Open for the second consecutive year. In 2017, he carded a five-under-par 279 total and finished tied-11th.
The Spaniard has been very successful in the region. He won the 2012 Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia, 2013 Thailand Golf Championship in Thailand and the 2015 Ho Tram Open in Vietnam.
Garcia is nominated for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award this year for his Masters triumph in 2017.
Ryo Ishikawa is the youngest player to win on any of the major tours worldwide. He was 15 years old when he won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup.
He turned professional when he was 16 years old and has won 14 times on the Japan Golf Tour so far.
Ishikawa received a special exemption to the Masters in 2013. That year, he finished tied-38th.

Player interviews:

Prayad Marksaeng (Tha)

I play at the end of the year at the Royal Cup and practiced a lot to prepare for this tournament and hopefully, play even better than last year and defend my title.

I’m in good shape and am ready to play against the younger players. I take care of myself quite well – I sleep early, don’t drink or smoke, exercise and practice a lot to prepare myself.

I want to perform my best for the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and Japan Senior Tour and hope to be the champion for Japan Golf Tour.

Sergio Garcia (Esp)

Last year was amazing but it definitely went by fast. It doesn’t feel like it’s been a year, and we’re back here again. Usually when it goes quickly it’s because it’s fun.

Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn)

The people (in Singapore) are so kind. The weather looks like it is going to be alright. Today, I played in the pro-am, which had nice weather. My flight mates are nice and I enjoyed the round.

There are so many Japanese here in Singapore. I was in Orchard Road, my countrymen were greeting me. I’m happy to be here. I want to show my best golf to my fans here.

I’ve managed to win four times in 2009. That’s my record. I just want to beat that record. I’m just going one step at a time and hopefully, start with win here.

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Sentosa, Singapore, January 17: In a tremendous development for golf in Singapore and the region, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) announced today they will title sponsor Singapore’s National Open for three more years. On the eve of the first round of the 2018 SMBC Singapore Open, and to the delight of everyone involved with the tournament, […]

“The Singapore Golf Association is truly delighted that SMBC have committed to our tournament for an additional three years,” said Ross Tan, President, Singapore Golf Association.

“This is outstanding news for the Singapore Open,” said Patrick Feizal Joyce, Vice President, Golf – Asia, Lagardère Sports.

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New Delhi, February 27: India’s rising stars Gaganjeet Bhullar and Anirban Lahiri will be targeting a home victory when they make their 2013 Asian Tour debuts at the US$300,000 SAIL-SBI Open next week.The talented duo enjoyed memorable seasons last year with Bhullar securing two victories at the Venetian Macau Open and Yeangder Tournament Players Championship […]

Sentosa, Singapore, 16 January: Gavin Green will be unfazed by the big names and the pressure of being the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion at the SMBC Singapore Open that starts on Thursday. The big-hitting Malaysian had a very successful 2017 on the Asian Tour, evident from his number one position on the merit […]

Sentosa, Singapore, 16 January: Gavin Green will be unfazed by the big names and the pressure of being the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion at the SMBC Singapore Open that starts on Thursday.

The experiences on Tour have helped shaped Green into a better golfer and he’ll be looking to use the things that he has learned in 2017 to excel this year, starting at the SMBC Singapore Open.

Did you know:

Gavin Green is the second youngest Order of Merit champion in Asian Tour history. Korean Noh Seung-yul was 19 years old when he won the merit race in 2010.
He is the first Malaysian to win the Order of Merit.
Green is ranked first in driving distance in 2017, averaging 314.08 yards off the tee.
Quincy Quek’s tied-26th finish at the SMBC Singapore Open was his best on the Asian Tour in 2017.
He won once on the Asian Development Tour, at the 2012 Orchard Golf Championship.
The SMBC Singapore Open will be part of The Open Qualifying Series for 2018. The leading four places (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties will secure their spots at The 147th Open at Carnoustie from July 19 to 22.
This year marks the 52nd edition of Singapore’s National Open.
The SMBC Singapore Open is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the JGTO for the third consecutive year.

Player Interviews:

Gavin Green (Mas)

Quincy Quek (Sgp)

When SMBC are the title sponsors of the tournament, the event has been done really well and the turnout has been really good. I look forward to playing in front of the home crowd.

I’m just looking to go out there and play well just like every other week. If I can keep it on the fairways, hit the greens and create birdie chances, then the score will inevitably be a good one.

Pat Perez (Usa)

I have been playing well for about 15 months now. I have a lot of confidence in what I am doing and I am very excited to be playing so well.

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Sentosa, Singapore, January 15: American Kurt Kitayama earned a spot at the SMBC Singapore Open after carding a six-under-par 65 at the Qualifying Tournament today. It has been a great start to 2018 and a fruitful venture to Asia so far for the 25-year-old golfer. Yesterday, he celebrated his birthday by finishing tied-third at the […]

Sentosa, Singapore, January 15: American Kurt Kitayama earned a spot at the SMBC Singapore Open after carding a six-under-par 65 at the Qualifying Tournament today.

After topping the Qualifying Tournament, he’ll be looking forward to playing alongside the best players from the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour at the US$1 million event.

Kitayama scored seven birdies at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong course and his scorecard would have been flawless if not for a bogey on the 12th.

“I can’t wait to play on the Serapong. I heard it’s a great golf course!” he added.

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Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 14: Team Europe, captained by Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, dominated the Singles matches to earn a hard-fought win over Team Asia with a 14-10 victory to retain the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM on Sunday. After trailing Team Asia over the last two days, Europe surmounted a gallant fightback to win eight […]

After trailing Team Asia over the last two days, Europe surmounted a gallant fightback to win eight out of 12 matches in the Singles format at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

“It was a great performance today from every single one of them, they came off the golf course yesterday and there was a determination and a will of wanting to win this,” said Bjorn.

France’s Alexander Levy then brought Europe to within a point of retaining the EurAsia Cup when he defeated Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat 3&1.

The winning moment for Europe came on the 18th hole when Belgium’s Thomas Pieters beat Korea’s Byeonghun An by one hole.

England’s Tyrrell Hatton then won 2&1 against India’s Anirban Lahiri to make it 13 ½ -7 ½ with three matches remaining.

“It can swing very much on the last day and we showed today that if you are good and strong on Sundays, you can win these things,” said Bjorn.

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New Delhi, February 26: Colin Montgomerie, the most prolific British winner in European Tour history, will make his first appearance in the Avantha Masters when the €1.8million event takes place from March 14-17.The Scot, who captained Europe to Ryder Cup glory in 2010, has won 31 European Tour titles – two of them in Asia […]

Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 14: Team Asia’s captain Arjun Atwal praised his charges despite falling 10-14 to Team Europe at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM on Sunday. Atwal’s team had led for two days after the Fourball and Foursomes matches but were outplayed by Team Europe in the Singles matches at the Glenmarie Golf […]

Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 14: Team Asia’s captain Arjun Atwal praised his charges despite falling 10-14 to Team Europe at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM on Sunday.

Atwal’s team had led for two days after the Fourball and Foursomes matches but were outplayed by Team Europe in the Singles matches at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

While his team fell short on the final day, Atwal was delighted to witness the talent on display, particularly from the young Thai duo of Poom Saksansin and Phachara Khongwatmai.

“Look at the way he (Phachara) handled himself under pressure. If I was 18, I don’t know if I would be able to do what he did this week by playing in this type of pressure,” said Atwal.

With the conclusion of the third edition of the EurAsia Cup, Atwal hopes to revive his memories and stand proud as a captain one day again.

“I had a lot of fun and I had an absolute blast this week. Even though we didn’t win, they are all champions and for me personally, I would do this in a heartbeat again,” said Atwal.

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Rayong, Thailand, January 14: Korea’s Seungtaek Lee outclassed the field by closing with a second straight four-under-par 67 to claim a one-shot victory at the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage presented by Sports Authority of Thailand on Sunday. The 22-year-old Lee, playing his first attempt at the Asian Tour Qualifying School, fired three birdies […]

Did you know?

Seungtaek Lee topped the class in his first attempt at the Asian Tour Qualifying School. He became the second Korean following Yikeun Chang in 2016 to win the Asian Tour Qualifying School.
Lee earns an elusive spot at the prestigious SMBC Singapore Open next week, thanks to his victory at the Qualifying School.
The 22-year-old Lee had enjoyed a tied-13th place finish previously at the 2017 Shinhan Donghae Open on home soil.
Lee turned professional three years ago and has been plying his trade on his domestic circuit prior to his campaign at the Asian Tour Qualifying School this week.
Lee opened his campaign with three consecutive 69s before closing with two straight 67s to top the field.
Sorachut Hansapiban secured his Asian Tour card in his third attempt at the Qualifying School this week. He missed the grade in his last two attempts in 2016 and 2017.
The 27-year-old Sorachut has been plying his trade on the ADT since 2016 and has come close to winning on several occasions.
Kurt Kitayama, a former University of Nevada-Las Vegas standout, turned professional in 2015 and has played on the Web.com Tour for the past two years. He is currently based in Las Vegas.
Kitayama, who secured his Asian Tour card in his first attempt at the Qualifying School this week, is celebrating his 25th birthday today.
Jakraphan Premsirigorn finally secured his Asian Tour card for the first time in his fifth attempt at the Qualifying School. He had missed out in his previous attempts in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Jakraphan is a one-time winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2013. He claimed his best result on the Asian Tour following a tied-ninth finish at the 2014 King’s Cup.
The 26-year-old Jakraphan notched seven top-10 finishes on the ADT last year to end the season in 10th place on the final ADT Order of Merit, missing out on his 2018 Asian Tour card by five rungs.
A total of 44 players from 12 countries earn their Asian Tour cards for the 2018 season. The countries represented are Australia (11), Korea (10), Thailand (7), United States (3), Japan (3), England (2), New Zealand (2), India (2), Spain (1), Sri Lanka (1), Argentina (1) and South Africa (1).
Former Tour champions Thammanoon Sriroj and Udorn Duangdecha of Thailand, Himmat Rai of India and Australian David Gleeson, successfuly regained their playing rights on the Asian Tour for the 2018 season. Thammanoon signed for a 69 to finish tied-11th on 347 while Gleeson (69), Rai (74) and Udorn (67) were amongst those bunched in 34th place on 353.

Players’ quotes:

Seungtaek Lee (Kor) – Final round 67 (-4), Total 341 (-14)

Sorachut Hansapiban (Tha) – Final round 68 (-3), Total 342 (-13)

This is my third time attempting to get my Asian Tour card at the Qualifying School. I am glad I finally made it. I tried my best this week. I have a lot of positives to take into the new season.

Kurt Kitayama (Usa) – Final round 66 (-5), Total 344 (-11)

Jakraphan Premsirigorn (Tha) – Final round 66 (-5), Total 344 (-11)

I came close last year but unfortunately didn’t manage to finish inside top-five on the ADT Order of Merit. This week’s result will make up for the disappointments over the years.

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