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Shinhan Donghae Open: As a matter of fact


Published on September 4, 2024

Tournament Information

  • Tournament: Shinhan Donghae Open
  • Venue: Ocean Course at Club 72, Incheon, Korea
  • Date: September 5-8, 2024
  • Purse: KRW1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,043,646)
  • Asian Tour leg: 11th event of 2024 season
  • Edition of tournament: 40th
  • Total number of players: 138
  • Format: 72-hole stroke play with a cut made after two rounds. Leading 65 pros plus ties make it through to the weekend
  • Social Media Hashtags: #TimeToRise #ShinhanDonghaeOpen

Past champions and leading players this week gathered for a photo call yesterday.

Field Breakdown

  • Order of Merit winners: Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019)
  • Nationalities: 12
  • Past winners of tournament in the field: Guntaek Koh (2023), Kazuki Higa (2022), Yoseop Seo (2021), Hanbyeol Kim (2020), Jbe Kruger (2019), Sanghyun Park (2018), Richard T. Lee (2017), Gaganjeet Bhullar (2016), Hyunwoo Ryu (2009)
  • Defending champion: Guntaek Koh (KOR) [main picture]
  • Top contenders: Steve Lewton (ENG), Seungtaek Lee (KOR), Richard T. Lee (CAN), Minkyu Kim (KOR), Travis Smyth (AUS), Kensei Hirata (JPN), Guntaek Koh (KOR), Phachara Khongwatmai (THA), Ryo Ishikawa (JPN)
  • Highest ranked player on OWGR: Kensei Hirata (JPN) #181
  • Highest ranked player on 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Minkyu Kim (KOR) #6
  • No. of amateurs: 1
  • No. of Korean players in the field: 62

Last week’s winner Steve Lewton is here this week.

Tournament notes

  • Englishman Steve Lewton is fresh of his win in Jakarta last week, his second Asian Tour victory after a winless period since the 2014 Mercuries Taiwan Masters. He also has two other top 10s this season, finishing tied ninth at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open and tied 10th at the Kolon Korea Open.
  • Australian Travis Smyth again had a good tournament in Indonesia last week finishing tied fourth, his fourth top-10 of the season to go along with a tied fifth at the International Series Morocco, a tied ninth at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open and a tied 10th at the International Series Oman. Currently 11th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
  • Defending champion Guntaek Koh of Korea has already posted one win on the Korean PGA Tour this season after he won the KPGA Founders Cup in a play-off against fellow Korean Seungtaek Lee. Koh also finished runner up in the Gate Way To The Open Mizuno Open on the Japan Tour in late May, earning him a ticket to The Open at Royal Troon.
  • Seungtaek Lee from Korea won the Lexus Masters last week on the Korean PGA Tour and he also has a runner up, a tied third and three other top 10s on his home circuit to currently sit in third place in KPGA’s Gensis Point Rankings. The Asian Tour member has a tied 13th in the International Series England as his best result on the Asian Tour this season.
  • Japan’s Kensei Hirata also won the weather shortened (to 36 holes) Fujisankei Classic on his domestic tour, the Japan Golf Tour, last week and currently sits in fourth place on that tour’s Reward Ranking money list. It was the 2023 Japan PGA Championship winner’s second win of the season in Japan, and he has also posted four other top 10s during his 2024 campaign in Japan.
  • Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa is also here this week. He won the Japan Players’ Championship in June, for his 19th win on the Japan Golf Tour and first since in two years.

Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa is here chasing his second victory of 2024.

  • Richard T. Lee from Canada won the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2017, and he has been a consistent high performer on the Asian Tour in 2024. Lee narrowly missed the play-off at this year’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open and has one more top 10 on the Asian Tour this season, placing eighth at the International Series Macau presented by Wynns.  In six outings the Canadian has no missed cuts and a tied 22nd as his worst result.
  • Dual member (KPGA and Asian Tour) Minkyu Kim is the highest-ranking Asian Tour player in the field this week at sixth on the Order of Merit, mainly thanks to his Kolon Korean Open win in June. He’s also ranked second in the KPGA Tour’s Genesis Points list after the Kolon Korea Open win, plus his victory at the Descente Korea Matchplay in early June.
  • The event is tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Japan and Korean Tours.

Published on September 3, 2024

Phachara Khongwatmai competes in the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea this week saying he has fully recovered from the back injury that forced him to withdraw from the Olympics and the International Series England.

It’s a timely recovery for the brilliant Thai golfer who nearly won this event here last year at Ocean Course at Club72, near Incheon airport. Korean Guntaek Koh beat him on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off, after Phachara, playing in the seventh from last group out, had shot a remarkable nine-under-par 63 to set the target in the clubhouse.

Koh birdied the par-five 18th in regulation play to catch him, and then made birdie again on the last to take the title, after his Thai opponent found water with his second shot but still managed to make par after hitting his fourth to 12 feet.

It was a typically cavalier performance from Phachara, coming during an outstanding season when he was also third twice, fourth three times and recorded fifth and sixth place finishes.

Phachara Khongwatmai and Kiradech Aphibarnrat pictured at the Olympics. Picture by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR/IGF.

However, it was yet another season, like this year so far, that left him chasing that elusive second victory on the Asian Tour, to add to the Laguna Phuket Championship he claimed in December of 2021.

Opportunity knocks again this week on a course he likes and with his back back to normal.

“My back injury started because of the village at the Olympics,” he explained.

“On Wednesday I got food allergies, and I slept all day in the village, but the bed was not very good, that is when it started to hurt. But not too bad, just like tight and not hurt a lot. In Paris the course was quite narrow and the rough quite sticky, like really long rough.

“And I hit it in the rough almost every hole so then my back kept hurting. I had to stop after nine holes on the last day. Then I tried to play in the UK, but I only lasted the first round. But now it’s better, I don’t feel any pain anymore, now like back to normal.”

To make matters worse his driver cracked at the Olympics – effecting the strongest part of his game. He started using a new one at last week’s Mandiri Indonesia Open, where he put together four solid rounds to restore his confidence. He tied for 27th and is currently in 44th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and looking for a spark to ignite his season.

Phachara Khongwatmai. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He said: “Now, you know for me, it seems like my season is just starting. Hopefully my game will be back to normal soon.

“I like this week’s course; I like the greens. Putting is key this week because the greens have a lot of slope, and they are quite tricky. If I’m putting good I have a chance.”

It’s been 10 years since he turned professional – and 11 since he made global headlines by winning the Singha Hua Hin Open as a 14-year-old amateur – countless missed chances to win again have passed but at 25 years of age time is most definitely on the side for one of Thailand’s most precocious stars.

This week’s event is tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Japan and Korean Tours.


Published on September 1, 2024

England’s Steve Lewton [main picture] triumphantly ended a 10-year wait to claim his second title on the Asian Tour by winning the US$500,000 Mandiri Indonesia Open today in a captivating sudden-death play-off.

Experiencing the full gamut of emotions, he won with a birdie on the second extra hole against third-round leader Aaron Wilkin from Australia and Chinese rookie Sampson Zheng.

Lewton had looked on course to win in regulation play when he birdied 16 and 17 for a two-shot lead but he made a ruinous double-bogey on the par-fourth 18th, where his tee-shot landed in a hazard left of the tee.

He returned a three-under-par 68 for a tournament total of 16-under, while Zheng shot the same score and Wilkin a 69, here at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course, just north of Jakarta.

When they returned to 18 they all made bogey, with Lewton coming closest to making a par, missing a four footer.

Steve Lewton. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Lewton nearly found the hazard again on second extra-hole, but his ball stopped on a cart path. He capitalised on that good fortune and hit his second to eight feet which he duly made to register one of the year’s most popular wins. Zheng nearly chipped in for a birdie, while Wilkin missed his three from 12 feet.

It was just reward for Lewton, who tied for second in this event the past two years, when on both occasions it was played at Pondok Indah Golf Course.

Said an ecstatic and relieved Lewton: “It’s just been a long, long time, and I feel like in the last three years, I’ve been playing quite good. So, it’s just nice to get over the line and win a tournament again. Because it’s been a long time since I had that feeling.”

His first win came at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2014, two years after he first started playing on the Asian Tour.

He added: “Yeah, I thought I got through 10 holes, and I felt like I was kind of coasting. And then I made it difficult again through 14 holes, and then I birdied 16 and 17, and then I had a mini disaster on 18. I was just very happy to get it done the second time of asking in the play-off.”

He’d started the day one back of Wilkin, and playing in the penultimate pairing with Zheng and another Chinese golfer Liu Yanwei, he made seven birdies, one double and two bogeys. His bid for glory started with three birdies in a row from the fifth and another on nine to go out in four under. Another birdie followed on 10, before the drama started with bogeys on 13 and 14.

“I am very happy not to finish second again,” joked the 41-year-old at the prize presentation.

Wilkin, a graduate from last year’s Asian Development Tour, and Zheng, who turned professional in June, were both trying to win for the first time on the Asian Tour.

Aaron Wilkin. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

“I thought I handled myself pretty well to be honest. I just didn’t play well enough to be fair,” said the Australian, who also led after day one with a staggering course record 61.

“I controlled my emotions pretty well until probably the play-off, but I reckon that was just poor swings. I still felt pretty good. I’m happy, it’s all good. Like, I mean, I would have loved to win, it would have wrapped up my card for the year, or a couple years, but I feel like the game is going in the right direction.”

Zheng, who graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, last year, that year he also finished runner-up at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, said: “You know, I kept myself in it the entire day. Had my first three putt of the tournament on nine, which kind of sucked a little bit. But I bounced back nicely with a birdie on 10, and there were a couple of putts that just didn’t quite fall my way on the back nine. Yeah, gave myself opportunities all day, and that’s what I wanted to do, and I did that. So overall, happy with the performance.”

Australian Travis Smyth (67) and Liu (68) missed making the play-off by one shot and tied for fourth, with the latter frustratingly missing a short par putt on the last.

Malaysian Ervin Chang recorded his best finish on the Asian Tour by tying for sixth, three shots back, but it could have been so much better as he also made a double on 18. He finished in a tie with American Austen Truslow (63), Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut (67), Suteepat Prateeptienchai (68) and Poosit Supupramai (68), plus Ian Snyman (67) from South Africa, and Indian Saptak Talwar (68).

Sampson Zheng. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

The Asian Tour is in Korea next week for the Shinhan Donghae Open. The event, won last year by Korean Guntaek Koh , who beat Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai in a play-off, will be played at Ocean Course at Club72, near Incheon airport, from September 5-8. It’s tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan Tours.


Published on August 31, 2024

Aaron Wilkin kept up his hopes of claiming his maiden title on the Asian Tour by edging ahead of a stacked leaderboard today to finish with a one-shot lead after round three.

The Australian, the first-round leader after a sensational course record 10-under-par 61, carded a 67 for a tournament total of 14-under, here at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course, North Jakarta.

Four players are one shot back: Chinese-Taipei’s Ho Yu-Cheng (65), Malaysian Ervin Chang (66), Steve Lewton (66) from England and China’s Sampson Zheng (72) – who had a four-shot lead at the start of the day, over Wilkin.

Eighteen players are within five shots of Wilkin, setting up a brilliant final day of golf with the tournament wide open.

Wilkin, a graduate from last year’s Asian Development Tour (ADT), carded a 71 yesterday after his first-round fireworks, and was equally resilient today when moving day truly came alive.

Sampson Zheng. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Playing in the final pairing he made six birdies and two bogies, with his final birdie on the par-five 17th proving the difference.

“I’m happy with that,” said the 31-year-old, playing his first full season on the Asian Tour.

“Sort of stayed behind yesterday which I don’t normally do and did a little bit of practice on the putting, which sort of deserted me a little bit yesterday. So yeah, I felt like the putting was better. I didn’t hit it any better than the last few days, I just holed a few extra putts. Sort of stayed in the round for longer.”

He won the Queensland PGA Championship in 2022 and the BRG Open in Vietnam last year on the ADT – both experiences he can draw upon as he attempts to claim the biggest title of his career tomorrow.

“I was happy with the way I controlled my emotions today, sort of just didn’t really let much get to me. I missed a few putts which I probably expected to hole, hit a few poor shots, but I just sort of just accepted it and moved on. I’m gonna have to do the same tomorrow, I just had a quick look at the leaderboard and there’s so many guys behind me. So yeah, I’m just gonna have to knuckle down and play my own game.”

Zheng, in his rookie season as a professional, had been expected to build on his opening two rounds of 65 and 63.

However, he made the turn in one over for his round, after a double, a bogey, and two birdies before a level par back nine, with one birdie and one bogey.

Steve Lewton. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

He said: “It was playing pretty tough today. I felt like my iron play wasn’t sharp enough, and I missed in a few spots where I shouldn’t have. That cost me a few shots, but I am one back and in position to make a good push tomorrow. I just need to fall back on my strengths and go back to the basics.”

Lewton finished joint second in this event last year and the season before, although at a different venue, and after one of the strongest seasons of his career is attempting to win his first Asian Tour title since his 2014 Mercuries Taiwan Masters victory.

“Played really steady, one silly error which was kind of my fault and not, so apart from that I played really good golf,” said Lewton.

Remarkably, after making a double-bogey par-four 13th, he eagled the following par-four.

He added: “Yeah, I hit a good drive [on 14). I had 40 yards from the fairway to the flag and then pitched in, so that more than made amends for the previous hole, which was a nightmare, from the middle of the fairway making double.”

Like Wilkin, both Ho and Chang are enjoying one of their finest tournaments, chasing their first Asian Tour title.

They also both came through the ADT last year, with the former winning the PKNS Selangor Masters, and the latter also performing with distinction as the recipient of The Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Award – an initiative that sees worthy players selected by the Han family and the Asian Tour, to receive funding to help with the costs of their debut season on the Asian Tour.

Said Chang: “It’s not over until the last ball drops. It’s a great challenge, so far my best performance on the Asian Tour. I’ll keep doing what I am doing, looking forward to tomorrow.”

Ervin Chang. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

China’s Liu Yanwei fired a 67 and is solo sixth, two off top spot, with Travis Smyth from Australia and Filipino Miguel Tabuena, one stroke further back after rounds of 64 and 65 respectively.

Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai was 12 under for the tournament playing the par-four 18th, but made a costly triple, to slip back into a tie for 13th on nine under.


Published on August 30, 2024

China’s rookie professional Sampson Zheng [main picture] showed just why he is so highly regarded today when he fired a bogey-free eight-under-par 63 to charge into the second-round lead at the US$500,000 Mandiri Indonesia Open.

After his opening day 65, it means he is 14-under for the Asian Tour event, with a healthy four-shot cushion over first-round leader Aaron Wilkin from Australia.

Wilkin, who broke the course record yesterday with a phenomenal 61, returned a 71, and is two in front of Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand, China’s Liu Yanwei and Malaysian Ervin Chang, who all carded 66s, plus England’s Steve Lewton, who was joint second last year and came in with a 67.

The tournament is being played at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course for the first time in 10 years.

Aaron Wilkin. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Zheng, aged 23 and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, is playing in just his third Asian Tour event as a professional having turned professional earlier this year.

He tied for fourth in the International Series England three weeks ago and despite now being on the other side of the world is clearly still bang in form.

“You know, coming into the round today, I just wanted to repeat what I did yesterday, and I did two better. So, yeah, feels great,” said Zheng, who is playing in Indonesia for the first time and arrived last Friday in order to fully prepare.

Of his transition to the play for pay game, he said: “It’s a little different. In college we play three rounds, and obviously after turning professional, we play four, so the days are a bit longer, and everybody prepares really differently. And I think because golf is my job now, I’ve taken it seriously too.”

He made the turn in three-under with birdies on two, seven and nine, and then crushed the back nine with a hattrick of birdies from 11, and two more on 16 and 17.

The rising star has something of a cosmopolitan background. He lived in Japan for a couple of years growing up and then moved to the United States, where his golf career flourished.

Sarit Suwannarut. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

He was runner-up at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne last year, losing in a play-off to Australian Jasper Stubbs.

Wilkin overcame the nerves commonly associated with playing after having shot a super-low round to be perfectly placed going into the weekend.

“I can’t swear in this interview can I,” joked Wilkin when asked about his round

“It was pretty frustrating. Probably had a good opportunity to sort of push my lead out, just missed a few short putts. I struck it really well off the tee, probably hit it better off the tee today than I did yesterday.

“Hit more fairways, I know that I only missed a couple. My irons weren’t as good, probably chose the wrong shot at some wrong times, and yeah, I just need to clean the putting up. Yesterday, to be honest, I didn’t have that many putts over five feet, I hit it that close.”

He bogeyed his first two holes, but then bounced back with three successive birdies from the fifth, before dropping a shot on nine to turn in even. A birdie and a bogey on the back nine meant he finished as he started on 10 under.

All things considering it was a good performance, particularly because of the pressure he was under after his first round, which broke New Zealander Frank Nobilo’s course record set in 1994.

He added: “I wish I wasn’t feeling like I was this morning. I was trying to control my nerves a little bit, but yeah, I was definitely a little bit edgy. Started bogey, bogey, so the score probably showed that.”

Wilkin finished fifth on the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit last year which earned him his Asian Tour card for 2024, as the top 10 make it through.

Liu Yanwei. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Success has been hard to come by in what is his first full season on the Asian Tour, with his best performance coming at the Saudi Open presented by PIF, where he tied for 17th. He’s currently in 72nd place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit but now has a great chance to drastically improve his ranking.

Contrastingly, Sarit is no stranger to being in contention, with two Asian Tour wins under his belt: last year’s Volvo China Open, and the BNI Indonesian Masters, the year before.

He began on 10, playing that nine in even but showed the kind of golf he is capable of when he birdied five holes on the second half and didn’t drop a shot.

He said: “It was quite a slow start. I mean I made a lot of mistakes on my front nine, but luckily my putter was on fire on the back nine. So, nothing to complain about on the back nine, but tomorrow I need to fire it up earlier.”

The Thai star revealed he has been spending a lot of time in Indonesia in-between tournaments and that appears to be helping this week.

“I have a lot of friends here and it’s quite easy to find a good Airbnb and nice room,” he explained.

“So quite similar to home, like, Damai Indah, Pondok Indah and Gunung Gilis, everywhere. The weather is the same, so that’s why I pick here, I enjoy it here.”

Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, a three-time winner of his event who has a tremendous record in Indonesia with five of his 11 Asian Tour victories coming here, rallied with a 68 to finish one under, which was the cut line.

Nitithorn Thippong’s poor form continued with the defending champion carding a 76. The Thai golfer finished three over and will be disappointed to have not made the cut.

 


Published on August 29, 2024

Australian Aaron Wilkin sensationally broke Frank Nobilo’s 30-year course record at Damai Indah Golf – PIK Course today to take the first-round lead in the US$500,000 Mandiri Indonesia Open.

His blemish-free 10-under-par 61, one better than New Zealander Nobilo’s – which he carded at this event in 1994 – was made up of 10 birdies and gave him a three-shot lead over Australian Andrew Dodt, in with a 64.

Rookie professional Sampson Zheng from China is next best placed after a 65, along with Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai.

Wilkin, a graduate from last year’s Asian Development Tour, where he won the  BRG Open Golf Championship – which is actually being played this week in Vietnam – started on 10 and had a stunning run of holes making five birdies in his last six on the back nine, including three in a row from 13.

“Not much went wrong today,” said the 31-year-old, whose other big career win came at the 2022 Queensland PGA Championship.

Andrew Dodt. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

“It was one of those days. I hit it close on four or five holes. I had a couple of easy tap ins, then holed a few nice putts and didn’t make any mistakes. Yeah, I will take that for sure. There was some lucky stuff today, which I am going to take and run with it.”

Dodt is a three-time champion on the Asian Tour, his most recent the Sarawak Championship in 2019, but his game has been out of sorts of late, so today’s round gave him a huge lift.

Commented the Australian: “It was pretty good, better than what it has been. I feel like I have found something in my swing last week. I have really struggled with my swing last 12 months. Hopefully I have turned the corner with that. Had some luck. Hit some good shots. Hit some bad shots.”

He had an eagle, six birdies and dropped one shot. His eagle came on the par five 17th where his second shot with a three-wood landed just short of the green from where he holed out from five metres.

“I missed the green on the par-three seventh. It was a pretty ordinary lie, and I used a rescue club from off the green and it went in. That was a bonus,” he added.

Sampson Zheng. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Zheng’s fine round was just reward for arriving early to practice for the event.

Aged 23 and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, he has been quick to impress this year. He tied for fourth in the International Series England three weeks ago and made light work of the course today with eight birdies and two bogeys.

“It was good. I did what I wanted to do for the best part. I kept my ball under control and made a few putts,” said Zheng, who was runner-up at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Royal Melbourne last year, losing in a play-off to Australian Jasper Stubbs.

“It is my first time Indonesia. It’s hot, it’s humid. It’s very different from England, where we played last.

“I got here Friday night, a bit earlier than everyone else. Practiced on the range at the weekend, just getting used to the weather.”

This is only his fourth start on the Asian Tour. He was still an amateur for his first two appearances.

Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Danthai Boonma, Poosit Supupramai and Suradit Yongcharoenchai, Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun plus Denzel Ieremia from New Zealand returned 66s.

Thailand’s Panuphol ‘Coconut’ Pittayarat, the winner of this event in 2017, at a different venue, plus Steve Lewton from England, joint runner-up last year, are in a group on 67.

Suteepat Prateeptienchai. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Defending champion Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand shot a 69.

Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, the record three time winner of this event, needs to make up ground after a 73.


Published on August 28, 2024

Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong begins the defence of his Mandiri Indonesia Open title tomorrow at Damai Indah Golf, PIK Course, low on confidence, after a poor start to the season, but drawing on inspiration from his win 12 months ago when he was in a similar situation.

“Here we are again,” said the young hotshot, whose nickname is “Fever”.

“My game is not in great shape. The short game is great but tee to green I have got some problems with that. I am still working on it.

“Last year was the same but I found something before I came to this event, so who knows what will happen.”

He also faces a different golf course this year as last season Pondok Indah Golf Course was the host venue – where he recorded his third victory on the Asian Tour, after wins in The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in 2022, and the International Series Singapore the same year.

Nitithorn Thippong’s win last year was his third on the Asian Tour. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

The 27-year-old has only made four cuts in eight starts this year, a disappointing run for the talented golfer but a glimmer of hope was offered at the International Series England three weeks ago.

He tied for 13th there, at Foxhills in Surrey, and is hoping that will help kickstart his season.

He said: “This year has been a lot of ups and downs. I played really good in England but before that I didn’t play well. I got some good feelings from England so hope that helps get me on track for the rest of the year.”

He was languishing in 51st position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit on the eve of last year’s event, and this season he sits in 79th place.

“I have got a lot of things to work on with my swing now which I am trying to get used to,” said Nitithorn, who played on the Asian Development Tour from 2015 to 2019 before finding feet on the main tour post the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s great to be in this position as defending champion. It feels really good to have this chance.”

He won by two shots last year from Australian Scott Hend, England’s Steve Lewton and Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po, having been pushed all the way after starting the last day with a five-shot cushion.

Nitithorn pictured winning last year. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.

That win literally came together at the last minute as something in his swing clicked when he was playing a practice round with his girlfriend the week before.

He tees-off tomorrow at 11.50am with Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho and local star Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra once more looking for that self-belief that has made him one of the Asian Tour’s most exciting young golfers.


Published on August 27, 2024

Tournament Information

  • Tournament: Mandiri Indonesia Open
  • Venue: Damai Indah Golf, PIK Course
  • Date: August 29 – September 1, 2024
  • Purse: US$500,000 (winner US$90,000)
  • Asian Tour leg: 10th event of 2024 season
  • Course Par/Yards: 71 / 7,100 yards
  • Total number of players: 150
  • Format: 72-hole stroke play with a cut made after two rounds. Leading 65 pros plus ties make it through to the weekend
  • Social Media Hashtags: #MIO2024 #TimeToRise

Nitithorn Thippong is this week’s defending champion. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Field Breakdown

  • Order of Merit winners: Scott Hend (2016)
  • Number of Nationalities: 24
  • Past winners in field: Nitithorn Thippong (THA) 2023, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 2022, 2016 & 2013, Miguel Carballo (ARG) 2019, Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 2017
  • Defending champion: Nitithorn Thippong (THA)
  • Top contenders: Nitithorn Thippong (THA), Travis Smyth (AUS) Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND), Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA), Sampson Zheng (CHN), Taichi Kho (HKG), Miguel Tabuena (PHI)
  • Highest ranked player on OWGR: Travis Smyth (AUS) #315
  • Highest ranked player on 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Travis Smyth (AUS) #12
  • Number of amateurs: 13
  • Number of Indonesian players in the field: 41

Sadom Kaewkanjana has arrived in Indonesia in-form having tied for fourth in England. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

 Tournament Notes

  • Australian Travis Smyth is having a good season with three top 10s so far, with a T5 at the International Series Morocco as his best result. The winner of the 2022 Yeangder TPC has finished fourth and seventh on the Asian Tour Order of Merit in the last two seasons and will be looking for a return to the winner’s circle this week to boost him up the rankings. He is the highest ranked player in the field.
  • Gaganjeet Bhullar of India is always dangerous in Indonesia, having won five of his 11 Asian Tour titles in the country. In addition to winning the Mandiri Indonesia Open three times in his career, he also won the 2023 BNI Indonesian Masters and the 2009 Indonesia President Invitational. The latter his first Asian Tour victory.
  • Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana did not have the best start to his 2024 season but looks like he’s back on track after finishing T4 in the International Series England at Foxhills three weeks ago. Sadom is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, having claimed the 2022 SMBC Singapore Open and the 2019 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open.
  • Sampson Zheng from China was a highly ranked amateur before he turned pro earlier this summer, and the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship runner up. He was ranked 13th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Zheng posted his best finish so far as a pro with a T4 at the recent International Series England and will be aiming to top that result this week in Jakarta.
  • Australian Scott Hend posted the first of his 10 Asian Tour victories at Damai Indah Golf PIK course in the 2008 Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational, and he is having a solid season so far with a solo second in the New Zealand Open and a T8 at the Saudi Open presented by PIF as his best results.
  • The last time the Mandiri Indonesia Open was held at Damai Indah Golf PIK Course was in 2014, and it was three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland who came out victorious by two shots over Thailand’s Thanyakon Khrongpha. Gaganjeet Bhullar won the first of his Indonesia Open tiles at Damai Indah Golf PIK Course the year before.
  • Up-and-coming Indonesian star Jonathan Wijono will lead the local challenge following a sparkling performance in the recent International Series England. He shot a scorching nine-under-par 64 in the final round in England enroute to finishing ninth and will be hoping his putter will be equally as hot as he tries to become only the second Indonesian to win his country’s National Open, after Kasiadi in 1989. Wijono is among an exciting crop of young Indonesia golfers starting to make their name in the game who are also competing this week. They include Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra and Kevin Akbar – both winners on the Asian Development Tour – plus amateur Gabriel Hansel Hari, who tied ninth last year.

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Defending champion Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand and Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, a record three-time winner of the event, headline a formidable field at this week’s US$500,000 Mandiri Indonesia Open.

The tournament starts Thursday at Damai Indah Golf, PIK Course – which last hosted the tournament in 2014, when Ireland’s Padraig Harrington triumphed – and is the 10th event of the season on the Asian Tour, helping to mark the turn into the second half of the season.

Nitithorn (main picture) was victorious at Pondok Indah Golf Course 12 months ago, where Bhullar won the year before and also in 2016. The Indian has the significant advantage of having triumphed at Damai Indah Golf, PIK Course in 2013, plus boasts an unrivalled record in Indonesia with five of his 11 wins on the Asian Tour coming here. Malaysian Nicholas Fung and Chapchai Nirat from Thailand, both second to Bhullar in 2013, are also in the field this week and will look to try and turn back the clock with strong performances.

A number of players who excelled in the most recent Asian Tour event, the International Series England three weeks ago, are also here looking to build on those performances.

Gaganjeet Bhullar pictured winning in 2022 for a record third time. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.

Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana and Chinese rookie Sampson Zheng, who tied for fourth in England, and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, who was 10th, have made the trip to Indonesia, as has Filipino Miguel Tabuena, who has shown signs of returning to form lately with top-10 finishes in the International Series Morocco and the Kolon Korea Open.

Other past champions in the field at Argentina’s Miguel Carballo, the 2019 champion, and Panuphol ‘Coconut’ Pittarayat from Thailand, the winner in 2017. Both their wins came at Pondok Indah Golf Course.

Another player who caught the eye in England and who will lead the local challenge this week is Jonathan Wijono. The up-and-coming golfer shot a scorching nine-under-par 64 in the final round in England enroute to finishing ninth and will be hoping his putter will be equally as hot as he tries to become only the second Indonesian to win his country’s National Open, after Kasiadi in 1989. The event was played at Jakarta Golf Club that year.

Wijono is among an exciting crop of young Indonesia golfers starting to make their name in the game who are also competing this week. They include Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra and Kevin Akbar – both winners on the Asian Development Tour – plus amateur Gabriel Hansel Hari, who tied ninth last year.

Also teeing off this week are Australian Scott Hend, Steve Lewton from England and Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po, all looking to go one better after tying for second last August.

A top-10 finish in the International Series England is the perfect warm up for Jonathan Wijono. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

This year marks the third successive time Mandiri have title sponsored the Indonesia Open.

The host venue’s course is known locally as “The Spirit of the Sea” as it lies close to the coastline of the Java Sea, in North Jakarta and was designed by legendary golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones Jr.


Published on August 26, 2024

Asian Tour member Jinichiro Kozuma made it win number three on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation by winning the Sansan KBC Augusta yesterday at Keya Golf Club, Fukuoka.

The Japanese golfer, who has also been playing on the LIV Golf League this season, beat countryman Yuwa Kosaihira on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off.

Kozuma looked to be cruising to victory in normal time with a two-shot lead with two to play but surprisingly bogeyed the last two holes, while Kosaihira sensationally draw level with two closing birdies.

However, the wheels came off for Kosaihira as he drove out of bounds on the second play-off hole, where Kozuma made par.

The pair had finished tied on 19-under, with Kozuma shooting a 69 and Kosaihira a 65.

Jinchiro Kozuma (right) triumphant after finishing top-three at LIV Golf Promotions. Picture by Paul Lakatos /Asian Tour.

“After the bogey on 17, I thought I could win if I could make par on 18. But I couldn’t swing fully with my tee shot and the ball ended up in the right bunker. The resulting par putt wasn’t an easy line, but I hit it where I wanted. However, I misread the line,” said Kozuma.

“This is the first time my family is watching me in contention on the final day. I wanted to win it so badly for them. Winning in front of my family has always been a goal and I’m glad I achieved it today.”

He also claimed one of his other titles in Japan, the Token Homemate Cup in 2022, in a play-off.

The 30-year-old has yet to win on the Asian Tour. He’s played a handful of events over the past few seasons, with his best result coming in last year’s season-ending Saudi Open presented by PIF, where he tied fourth.

He made headlines in last year’s LIV Golf Promotions event where he again prevailed in extra time to claim one of the three spots available on this year’s LIV Golf League.

He plays for the league’s Iron Heads GC team with fellow Asian Tour player Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, Danny Lee from New Zealand, and American Kevin Na – their captain.

He was ninth individually in Adelaide for his highest finish on the multi-million dollar franchise this year.