Kuala Lumpur, February 1: England’s Chris Paisley seized the clubhouse lead at the weather-disrupted US$3 million Maybank Championship on Thursday as former Asian Tour number ones David Lipsky and Arjun Atwal trail closely behind.

The 31-year-old Paisley fired a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 at the Saujana Golf and Country Club to continue his fine form where he won and finished fifth twice in his last three European Tour events in 2018.

The Englishman carded seven birdies to hold a one-shot advantage over countryman David Horsey while Frenchman Mike Lorenzo-Vera was six-under with two holes to play before fading light forced officials to stop play at 7.30 pm local time. The event was suspended earlier by 1 hour and 50 minutes due to lightning.

India’s Arjun Atwal, who is aiming for a third victory in Malaysia, last year’s runner-up and 2014 Asian Tour number one David Lipsky of the United States, Andrew Johnston of England, Korea’s rising star Soomin Lee and Frenchmen Romain Wattel and Alexander Levy were a further two shots back of Paisley.

Paisley won the South African Open in January and followed up on that victory by finishing tied fifth and fifth in Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. He returned with seven birdies thanks to his sharp-shooting game where he hit 17 out of 18 greens in regulation.

Atwal, a former Asian Tour number one, traded seven birdies against two bogeys to trail the clubhouse leader by two shots while Lipsky, a two-time Asian Tour winner, was in position to redeem himself after finishing second last year.

A total of 40 players will return at 7.50am on Friday to complete round one. The morning round two tee times are delayed by 10 minutes but the afternoon tee times will remain unchanged.

Did you know?

• Paisley is enjoying a good run of form in 2018. He won the South African Open in January and finished tied fifth and fifth in Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively.
• His 65 matched his low opening round in 2018. He also shot a 65 in Dubai last week.
• The Englishman started on the 10th tee and made the turn in 32 before shooting an inward 33.
• This is Paisley’s second appearance at the Maybank Championship. He finished tied 41st last year after opening with a 72.
• He is currently fourth in the Race to Dubai on the European Tour and is 80th on the Official World Golf Ranking. He was ranked 289th in the world at the end of 2017.
• Horsey is a four-time European Tour champion but his last win was in 2015. He hopes to be third time lucky after missing the weekend rounds in his two previous attempts at the Maybank Championship.
• Lipsky has some unfinished business at the Maybank Championship. He settled for second last year after losing by one shot to Fabrizio Zanotti who eagled the 72nd hole.
• He was crowned the Asian Tour number one in 2014.
• Atwal is aiming for a third victory in Malaysia. He previously won the National Open in 2003 and 2008.
• This is his second visit to Malaysia in four weeks after his first stint as Team Asia Captain in the EurAsia Cup.
• This is his third appearance at the Maybank Championship. He missed the cut in the last two editions.
• Lee has a good track record at the Maybank Championship. He finished tied second in 2016 albeit on a different golf course. It was a disappointing defeat for the Korean who double bogeyed 16 and 18 to finish two shots back of eventual winner Marcus Fraser.
• Todd Sinnott of Australia aced the 191 meters fourth hole with a seven iron for his first hole-in-one as a professional. There was no prize on offer.
• He previously shot two hole-in-ones as an amateur.

Player Interviews:

Chris Paisley (Eng) – First Round 65 (-7)

It was great and nice to keep the form going. I just played really solid, hit it well off the tee so gave myself a lot of wedges and short irons into the greens which were really good and gave myself a lot of birdie chances, couldn’t have gone better. That’s the hardest part, it’s very hot and not much wind, so scoring wise it is quite easy but to keep your focus is quite difficult with how tiring the heat is but it is good fun. I was pretty much in the fairway every hole and just felt like I had a lot of 100-yard to 140-yard shots, which is generally my strength, and hit a few stiff and lots to within ten feet so managed to hole a few putts as well.

Arjun Atwal (Ind) – First Round 67 (-5)

It was hot, very hot. I don’t remember the last time being this hot. I’m pleased, it was a solid start to round one. Everything was pretty okay, I can’t pinpoint which part of my game was better. Everything was solid, I hit a lot of fairways and greens. I hit it close a few times and made some putts so it was good. It has been a while since I won in Malaysia but I always love coming back here. It has been fun.

David Lipsky (Usa) – Round one 67 (-5)

It was pretty good today I hit the ball really well today, but I didn’t make enough putts if not I could have gone even lower but I am pretty happy with my round. It was fairly easy in the morning but the wind picked up in the afternoon and got a little trickier. I’m pretty happy with my round and I just want to keep it going for the next few days.

Soomin Lee (Kor) – First Round 67 (-5)

It was very exciting. I really love this country and that’s why I always play well. I’m not feeling healthy. I hope that I can feel better in the next three days. My stomach feels upset. I don’t know what I ate wrongly.

I love this golf course, the fairways are narrow. I just want to keep my ball on the fairway. Actually I love playing on Asian golf courses. I drove the ball so well on the front nine but I struggled on the back. I just practice a bit more on the pace of my putting and I should be okay.

Todd Sinnott (Aus) – First Round 70 (-2)

It was playing 191 meters and it was playing uphill so you can’t see the green. I just hit a seven iron draw and I asked my caddy for the putter and he said I probably won’t need it and I laughed.

We walked up and Daisuke Kataoka was ahead of us and when he reached the green he said it was not in but he was joking so that was it. I’ve had two hole-in-ones as an amateur so this is my first professional hole-in-one.

When I got up to the green and knew I had the ace, I looked back at the tee to see if I won a car or something but nothing unfortunately!

Scores after round 1 of the Maybank Championship being played at the par 72, 7135 Yards Saujana GCC course (am – denotes amateur):

65 – Chris PAISLEY (ENG). 66 – David HORSEY (ENG). 67 – Andrew JOHNSTON (ENG), David LIPSKY (USA), Arjun ATWAL (IND), Romain WATTEL (FRA), Soomin LEE (KOR), Alexander LEVY (FRA). 68 – Ryan FOX (NZL), Chris HANSON (ENG), Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND), Robert KARLSSON (SWE), Thomas DETRY (BEL), Scott JAMIESON (SCO), CHAN Shih-chang (TPE), Thomas BJORN (DEN), Phachara KHONGWATMAI (THA), Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA), Nino BERTASIO (ITA), Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN), Gavin GREEN (MAS), Fabrizio ZANOTTI (PAR), Bowen XIAO (CHN). 69 – Mohd WAFIYUDDIN (MAS), Adilson DA SILVA (BRA), S.S.P. CHAWRASIA (IND), Thongchai JAIDEE (THA), Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA), Adrian OTAEGUI (ESP), Dylan FRITTELLI (RSA), Soren KJELDSEN (DEN), Antonio LASCUNA (PHI), Berry HENSON (USA), Carlos PIGEM (ESP), Ben LEONG (MAS), Daniel IM (USA), Jorge CAMPILLO (ESP), Maximilian KIEFFER (GER), Benjamin HEBERT (FRA), Gregory BOURDY (FRA), Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG).

About Maybank – Humanising Financial Services

Maybank is among Asia’s leading banking groups and South East Asia’s fourth largest bank by assets. The Maybank Group has an international network of 2,400 offices in 20 countries namely Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR & People’s Republic of China, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Laos, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius, Great Britain and the United States of America. The Group offers an extensive range of products and services, which includes consumer and corporate banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, stock broking, insurance and takaful and asset management. It has over 44,000 employees serving more than 22 million customers worldwide.(www.maybank.com)

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), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

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Kuala Lumpur, February 2: Thai teenager Phachara Khongwatmai charged into contention at the halfway stage of the US$3 million Maybank Championship after shooting a sparkling seven-under-par 65 on Friday.

The 18-year-old, whose name Phachara means ‘diamond’ in Thai, marked his card with seven birdies as he shared the lead with Italy’s Nino Bertasio (65) on 11-under-par 133 on a low scoring day at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.

A red-hot Lee Westwood of England fired 11 birdies against one bogey for a stunning 62 to lie a shot back in third place alongside Japanese star Yuta Ikeda (64), Marc Warren (66) and overnight leader Chris Paisley (69) at the event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

The sweet-swinging Phachara posted two birdies in his outward nine and enjoyed a superb run when he made five straight birdies from the 11th hole thanks to a hot putter. He was joined by Bertasio, who was in the last group of the day, at the top of the leaderboard when the Italian returned with eight birdies against one blemish.

Westwood continued his affinity with Asia where he has won nine times including the Malaysian Open in 1997 at Saujana. He is in position again to win at the course where he was a former touring professional from 1996 to 1999.

Ikeda, the world number 43, fired eight birdies to stay in the hunt to secure a first victory outside of Japan where he has won 19 times.

The halfway cut was set at four-under-par 140 with a total of 81 players making the weekend rounds.

Did you know?

• Phachara credited a hot putter in a round of seven birdies. He totaled 27 putts and his highlight of his round was making five straight birdies from the 11th hole.
• This is the first time he has co-led in an event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
• This is Phachara’s second 65 in the tournament. He opened with a 65 in last year’s Maybank Championship but eventually finished in tied 20th place.
• He enjoyed a superb 2017 season where he finished second thrice. In the season-ending Indonesian Masters, he shot a 21-under and lost by eight shots to Justin Rose.
• Phachara was part of Team Asia in the EurAsia Cup three weeks ago. He contributed two points and only lost in the Singles match against Bernd Wiesberger.
• Phachara is searching for a first victory on the Asian Tour and European Tour. He holds the record as the youngest amateur player at the age of 14 to win a professional tournament. He is also the youngest player at 15 to win on the Asian Development Tour (ADT).
• He has played in The Open twice in 2016 and 2017.
• Phachara’s name in Thai translates to ‘Diamond’. He is also known as ‘Thai Diamond’ in Thailand.
• Bertasio is aiming for a first career victory. He traded eight birdies against one bogey to charge into the share of the lead.
• Westwood shot the low round in the tournament’s three year history. It is his second lowest score in Asia following a 60 at the 2011 Thailand Golf Championship which he won.
• He played solidly from tee-to-green, missing only one fairway, one green-in-regulation and totaled 26 putts.
• The Englishman became the world’s number one golfer when he won the 2012 Indonesian Masters.
• Ikeda is a 19-time winner in Japan. He is searching for his first victory outside of his country this week.
• This is the first time Ikeda is playing at the Maybank Championship.
• He made his debut appearance at the EurAsia Cup three weeks ago where he contributed three points and remains unbeaten.

Player Interviews:

Phachara Khongwatmai (Tha) – Second Round 65 (-7), Total 133 (-11)

I’m very happy with my score. My plan is to shoot under-par every day and play against the course. I don’t want to think ahead or compare my score to another player. It is only two rounds so the tournament is not over yet. I want to focus day by day and hole by hole.

I learnt a lot at the EurAsia Cup. My partner Hideto Tanihara taught me a lot and he calmed me down because I was very nervous.

It has been a long time since I’ve been bogey-free. I putted very well because I didn’t hit the ball close to the hole. Overall putting was the key. Honestly I didn’t realise I had five birdies in a row. I was just focussed on each hole.

Nino Bertasio (Ita) Second Round 65 (-7), Total 133 (-11)

It was very easy to be honest. I’ve been playing the par fives so a couple of birdies here and there, on the par fours and par threes and here I am at 11 under. It is actually quite easy to make bogeys here. The greens are quite tricky, and I think I only missed three greens, so I made it quite easy to be honest. I have been having fun on the golf course and playing well, so I’m looking forward to it.

Lee Westwood (Eng) – Second Round 65 (-7), Total 134 (-10)

I played alright the first three weeks of the year, I mean I missed the first two cuts but I sort of got in my own way mentally, not sure the reason for that but today I just freewheeled really and had fun out there.

Until the eighth hole, my 17th, I hadn’t holed anything over five feet. Tee to green it was brilliant, one bogey and 11 birdies, and now in contention.

It was enjoyable, there were a lot of birdies going in out there. It’s nice to be in contention and to know this golf course well. I won the Malaysian Open here 21 years ago now, and I’ve won this tournament and was touring pro for this course, so I’ve probably played it more than most and I know where to hit it.

I hit it close a lot and a pretty pain free round. Gave myself a lot of birdie chances, so it was a really good ball striking round and I holed out well as well. I was pleased with the way today went and hopefully we can build on that more.

Yuta Ikeda (Jpn) – Second Round 64 (-8), Total 134 (-10)

I’m very happy. I played very well with eight birdies and no bogeys. There was a huge crowd of Japan and Malaysian fans so I like coming here to play golf.

My short game and putting were very good but I really kept things simple. It is very important to find the fairways here to give yourself a chance to reach your target. If it was a more difficult hole, I would just aim for the centre of the green, make a two putt and leave with a par. If I’m lucky I would have a birdie.

I played the same yesterday but I had more birdie chance today so it was very good. I struggled on the greens (on Thursday) because it was so tricky. I couldn’t judge the lines on the greens. Now I’m in a good position and I’m glad to finish 36 holes.

Scores after round 2 of the Maybank Championship being played at the par 72, 7135 Yards Saujana GCC course (am – denotes amateur):

133 – Phachara KHONGWATMAI (THA) 68-65, Nino BERTASIO (ITA) 68-65. 134 – Lee WESTWOOD (ENG) 72-62, Yuta IKEDA (JPN) 70-64, Marc WARREN (SCO) 68-66, Chris PAISLEY (ENG) 65-69. 135 – Stephen GALLACHER (SCO) 70-65, Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) 68-67, Hideto TANIHARA (JPN) 71-64, Dylan FRITTELLI (RSA) 69-66, David LIPSKY (USA) 67-68, Maximilian KIEFFER (GER) 69-66, Jorge CAMPILLO (ESP) 69-66. 136 – Andrew DODT (AUS) 71-65, David HORSEY (ENG) 66-70, Ryan FOX (NZL) 68-68, Danthai BOONMA (THA) 70-66, Robert KARLSSON (SWE) 68-68, Thomas DETRY (BEL) 68-68, Thomas BJORN (DEN) 68-68, Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 69-67, Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 71-65, Soren KJELDSEN (DEN) 69-67, Soomin LEE (KOR) 67-69. 137 – Alexander LEVY (FRA) 67-70, Gavin GREEN (MAS) 68-69, Fabrizio ZANOTTI (PAR) 68-69, Mike LORENZO-VERA (FRA) 66-71, Andy SULLIVAN (ENG) 71-66, Khalin JOSHI (IND) 67-70, Scott JAMIESON (SCO) 68-69, CHAN Shih-chang (TPE) 68-69, Matthieu PAVON (FRA) 70-67, Shiv KAPUR (IND) 70-67, Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 69-68, Berry HENSON (USA) 69-68.

About Maybank – Humanising Financial Services

Maybank is among Asia’s leading banking groups and South East Asia’s fourth largest bank by assets. The Maybank Group has an international network of 2,400 offices in 20 countries namely Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR & People’s Republic of China, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Laos, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius, Great Britain and the United States of America. The Group offers an extensive range of products and services, which includes consumer and corporate banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, stock broking, insurance and takaful and asset management. It has over 44,000 employees serving more than 22 million customers worldwide.(www.maybank.com)

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), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

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Chiangmai, March 23: The Asian Tour’s young guns are eager to make an impression at the inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT when they challenge an elite field which includes eight players inside the world’s top-200 next week.
Upcoming Thai Gunn Charoenkul, who earned his full Asian Tour card last season by finishing 32nd on the Order of Merit, Hu Mu of China, Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka and Quincy Quek of Singapore, who are all in their early 20s, will feature in the US$750,000 full-field Asian Tour event.
Multiple Major winner Ernie Els of South Africa, currently ranked 24th in the world, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand (59th), Gaganjeet Bhullar of India (85th), Y.E. Yang of Korea (139th), Kenichi Kuboya of Japan (157th), Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand (170th), Prom Meesawat (178th) of Thailand and South African Jbe Kruger (192nd) will also feature at the Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai.
The depth of the field, which includes 46 Asian Tour winners, will serve as an inspiration for Gunn, who was born into a family with strong sporting background as his father and mother represented Thailand in football and volleyball respectively.
He made the best of his limited playing opportunities on the Asian Tour last year when he missed only one cut in eight starts to earn a full card. This year, he is tipped to shine again.
“It was a brilliant season for me last year. Honestly I didn’t expect it as I was only hoping to play my way into a country exemption spot or maybe just finish inside the top-60. But I played much better than I had expected,” smiled Gunn.
“The Asian Tour has given me the opportunity to play in big events and it has opened doors for me. I get to play against the better players and hopefully I can become a better player as well,” he added.

Sri Lanka’s Perera, whose father Nandasena is a famous name on the old Asian circuit during the 1980s and 1990s, hopes the Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT will be a special week.
“I think everybody has a chance to win a tournament. All you need is one good week. If you can go really low then you have a chance to win. I feel that I can do that as well. My father Nandasena is a legend and he is my coach too. The Sri Lankan people cheer for me and give me a lot of well wishes. I’m so happy to be the first Sri Lankan to have a full Asian Tour card,” said Perera.
Rikard Karlberg of Sweden, Anirban Lahiri of India, winner of the SAIL-SBI Open in India two weeks ago, Arnond Vongvanij of Thailand, Masanori Kobayashi of Japan, David Lipsky of the United States and bit-hitting Kiradech Aphibarnrat are also in the elite field.
Former US Open champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand will also feature in the Chiangmai Golf Classic as with Chawalit Plaphol of Thailand, winner of the season-opening Zaykabar Myanmar Open.
Other local hopes include Prom Meesawat, Boonchu Ruangkit and Prayad Marksaeng, all winners on the Asian Tour which is celebrating its milestone 10th season in 2013.
Ends.
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), Saxo Capital Markets (Official Statistic Partner), 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
About IMG
IMG Worldwide is a global sports, fashion and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in more than 30 countries around the globe. IMG’s areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging: IMG College; IMG’s Joint Ventures in India, China, Brazil and Turkey; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academy; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing. More information is available at www.imgworld.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Perth, Australia, February 2: A contingent of young Asian Tour champions will be heading to the A$1.75 million (approx. US$1.25 million) ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth that starts at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club in Perth, Australia next week.

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, who is arguably one of the most successful golfers of his generation, will be leading the Asian Tour charge down under when the event gets underway from February 8 to 11.

At 29 years old, Bhullar is the youngest-ever golfer to win eight Asian Tour titles and is widely expected to do well against a strong field that features 2016 Masters Tournament champion Danny Willett and former world number one, Lee Westwood of England.

“The golf course and the tournament were my favourites on the Asian Tour last year. I missed going into the fourth round match-play by a shot, but on the whole, I had a great time in Australia,” said Bhullar.

The Indian has enjoyed a decent start to 2018, finishing tied-27th and tied-10th in Singapore and Myanmar respectively.

He is looking forward to playing in the novel format that combines 54 holes of traditional stroke play across the first three days, with an exciting six-hole knockout match play format for the fourth and final round.

“When it comes to preparing for the format, there’s nothing I would do differently. The target, as usual, is to hit more fairways, more greens and make more putts. I like the course layout at Lake Karrinyup (Country Club) and I’m riding high on confidence,” said Bhullar.

Joining Bhullar in the 156-man field is an exciting group of recent Tour winners in their 20s. They include Jazz Janewattananond, Poom Saksansin, Rattanon Wannasrichan and Pavit Tangkamolprasert from Thailand, Paul Peterson of the United States, Nicholas Fung of Malaysia, Todd Sinnott of Australia, Daisuke Kataoka of Japan as well as Ajeetesh Sandhu of India.

Other established players to look out for include Shiv Kapur of India, who won three times on the Asian Tour in 2017 and veteran golfer Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, a 10-time winner on Tour.

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth event, tri-sanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, European Tour and Asian Tour, is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA.

Ends.

About the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth

To be played at Lake Karrinyup Country Club from 8-11 February, 2018 and tri-sanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, European Tour and Asian Tour, the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth combines 54 holes of traditional stroke play across the first three days with an exciting knockout match play format for the fourth and final round.

A regular cut will fall after 36 holes before the field is then further reduced to the top-24 players following 54 holes of regulation play, with any ties for 24th place being decided by a play-off. Those remaining players will then earn their places in the six-hole shootout.

Any matches tied after the six holes will be decided by playing the new Shootout Hole – a purpose-built 90-metre hole constructed at Lake Karrinyup, with a tee placed adjacent to the 18th fairway and utilising the 18th green.

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth is a golf tournament designed to retain the traditions of the game whilst appealing to a broader audience.

About ISPS HANDA

ISPS HANDA is a ‘General Incorporated Association’ based in Tokyo. ISPS HANDA was founded by Japanese philanthropist Dr. Haruhisa Handa in 2006 to support charitable causes throughout the sporting world.

ISPS HANDA’s support for golf is founded in its belief in the “power of sport” and it has fostered partnerships with golf governing bodies worldwide to help develop the game at every level and promote blind and disabled golf.

ISPS HANDA’s heritage in supporting blind and disabled golf and Dr. Handa’s interest and philanthropic contribution in golf has formed the foundation of its wider mission for golf to become a Paralympic sport.

Outside of golf, ISPS HANDA’s support extends to other sports including rowing, football, polo, bowling and the convening of discussion platforms for young leaders in sports.

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 (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.

Kuala Lumpur, March 23: Thai rising star Kiradech Aphibarnrat is in position of erasing his defeat at the Maybank Malaysian Open three years ago when he pulled two shots clear with a four-under-par 68 in the second round on Saturday.
The big-hitting Thai known for his grip-it and rip-it style of golf which somewhat mirrors John Daly’s game, returned this morning to finish the second round after play was abandoned on Friday.
The halfway cut was set an even-par 144 with 73 players making the cut. World number three Luke Donald of England will not feature in the last two rounds after shooting a three-over-par 147.
Kiradech made eight straight pars when play was resumed at 7.45am at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club but kept a cool head on a rather steamy morning. He was rewarded for his patience with a birdie on 18 after hitting an exquisite approach to three feet.
“I enjoyed my game. I had to cool myself down out there because I only had my first birdie of the day on the last hole. It was a good finish. I tried to stay calm out there because of the heat. I need to save my energy,” said the 23-year-old, who totalled 11-under-par 133.
He holds a two-shot lead over former Masters Tournament winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, Wade Ormsby of Australia, Gregory Bourdy of France and China’s Wu Ashun at the US$2.75 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
The memory of finishing third in 2010 after going into the last day as the joint leader is still fresh in his mind but Kiradech says he is more experienced now to seal the deal for a second Asian Tour win since 2011.
“I was very excited three years ago but I’ve learned a lot since then. I’m much older now and I learned a lot on the Asian Tour. I hope to finish better than 2010,” said Kiradech, who qualified for his first Open Championship debut through the International Final Qualifying – Asia earlier this month.
“I’ve been playing very well since the start of the year and my game has stayed up there. My iron and approach shots are better compared to last time. My driver isn’t working as well as I would like it to be so hopefully it will work in the last two days.”
The penultimate round will start at 1.15pm with the leading flight going off at 3.05pm which gives Kiradech time to rest and preserve energy. “I want to go back to the hotel and rest, take a shower and relax to save energy.”
Ends.
About Maybank
The Maybank Group is Malaysia’s regional financial services leader with an international network of over 2,200 offices in 20 countries namely Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China, Myanmar, Laos, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Great Britain and the United States of America. The Group offers an extensive range of products and services, which includes commercial banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, stock broking, insurance and takaful and asset management. It has over 46,000 employees serving 22 million customers worldwide.
About the Malaysian Golf Association
Founded in 1929, the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) as the sole governing body of golf in Malaysia has been entrusted to promote the game while preserving its traditions and integrity. It’s a non-government organization that runs by volunteers who are passionate about the game with the help of a team of management staff. The Association’s portfolios have increased over the years ranging from conducting 14 state amateur opens, national amateur open, national amateur close, Malaysian Open to processing handicaps through its National Handicap System to promoting grassroots programs and training of the athletes to represent Malaysia in the international events. We take our responsibilities seriously in promoting the game in Malaysia while simultaneously upholding the Rules of Golf as prescribed by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A).
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), Saxo Capital Markets (Official Statistics Partner), 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.
About The European Tour
The European Tour is committed to celebrating the game of golf from the origins of the professional game, building a proud history of achievement, sportsmanship and integrity as well as showcasing our diverse global talent and rich landscapes. The European Tour’s innovative approach enables us to embrace the world, combining championships of tradition with new tournaments in the cities and countries of the future.

Yangon, January 28: Paul Peterson of the United States secured his maiden Asian Tour title when he outclassed the field with a two-shot victory at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open on Sunday.

Despite dropping two bogeys in his closing four holes, Peterson ensured victory would belong to him by closing with a birdie on 18 to sign off with a five-under-par 66. 

The 29-year-old started his final day two shots off the lead, but stormed out quickly with two birdies and an eagle in his opening five holes. Peterson’s lead was briefly threatened when he dropped two shots on 15 and 17 but the American maintained his composure by sinking a crucial birdie at the last hole for his Asian Tour breakthrough.

Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira set the course record at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club with a stunning 63. However his final day heroics were not enough to overtake Peterson, leaving him to settle for a share of second place with compatriot Tomoyo Ikemura with his four-day total of 11-under-par 273 at the US$750,000 event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO). 

American Berry Henson continued his amazing return from injury by carding a 64 to finish in fourth place while Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan, who led for the first two rounds, closed with a 69 to share fifth place with 2016 Leopalace21  Myanmar Open champion Shaun Norris of South Africa and Japan’s Yusaku Miyazato.

Did you know?

·       Paul Peterson’s last win came in 2016 at the Czech Republic on the European Tour.

·       The Leopalace21 Myanmar Open is Peterson’s first win on the Asian Tour.

·       Peterson had carded a total of 22 birdies and one eagle over four days at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club.

·       He also made a total of 39 pars and had nine bogeys and one double-bogey.

·       Satoshi Kodaira set a new course record with his final round 63, smashing the previous ones set by Australia’s Todd Sinnott and Japan’s Yusaki Miyazato who carded a 64 during the third and second round respectively at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open last year. 

·       Berry Henson’s serious wrist injuries caused him to stay out of competitive golf for 18 months.

·       The American’s last victory on the Asian Tour was in the Philippines in 2011.

·       He made his first start since returning from injury with a tied-eighth finish in Singapore last week. 

Players’ Quotes:

Paul Peterson (Usa), Fourth round Five-under-par 66, Total (-13) 271

This victory is very special as the Asian Tour is where I started and to be able to get a win here really means a lot. I had to make that transition from Asia to Europe and I was trying to play in as many events as I could. So it just feels right that I’m finally able to have a win under my belt out here in Myanmar. I felt like I made some good putts yesterday like on 17 and 18 although I three-putted there. The greens got so fast and slippery and my putts just didn’t go in. But I tried to put that out of my mind because I’ve been playing such consistent golf this week. I was like even if those bogeys came at the end of the round or at the beginning, it didn’t really matter as this golf course has shown its tough because even an even par didn’t move me anywhere far off the lead. So I was confident of myself and I knew I had a chance to win. And I did.

Satoshi Kodaira (Jpn), Fourth round Eight-under-par 63, Total (-11) 273

I’m really pleased with how I’ve played all week. It’s a good feeling especially when you know you can set a course record. Although I didn’t win, it’s still a good week as I know I’m capable of playing my best golf. 

Berry Henson (Usa), Fourth round Seven-under-par 64 Total (-10) 274

I’m Mr. Sunday. It’s awesome. My game has been so good and I just needed to trust myself. I trusted myself last week in Singapore and shot a 65. I trusted myself again today and I felt good. I knew the last few holes were going to be tough and I had to make a charge. I didn’t know if I was ever going to play golf again. I went through two pretty major wrist surgeries but I stayed positive. My doctor told me I was going to be fine and I worked hard on my body and did everything I could to get back out here. The people who worked hard to get me back into the game were awesome. I feel so strong now and my body feels great. As I started to play golf again, I could see the changes in my swing and I was shooting some really good numbers. I knew tournament rust was not going to be too much of an issue and it was basically believing in my abilities to play at the highest level again. 

Rattanon Wannasrichan, (Tha), Fourth round Two-under-par 69, Total (-9) 275

I did not putt well today. If I putted better, that could have made the difference. But overall, I’m happy with the result as this will give me lots of confidence going into next week’s event in Malaysia. You need a strong performance to know that your game is heading in the right direction and I’m glad I had that this week in Myanmar. 

Leading Scores after round 4 of the LeoPalace21 Myanmar Open 2018 being played at the par 71, 7103 Yards Pun Hliang GC course (am – denotes amateur):

271 – Paul PETERSON (USA) 68-66-71-66.

273 – Satoshi KODAIRA (JPN) 69-69-72-63, Tomoyo IKEMURA (JPN) 71-66-69-67.

274 – Berry HENSON (USA) 68-71-71-64.

275 – Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 65-69-72-69, Shaun NORRIS (RSA) 67-70-69-69, Yusaku MIYAZATO (JPN) 71-65-68-71.

276 – Tatsuya KODAI (JPN) 69-70-71-66, Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) 67-68-70-71.

277 – Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 68-73-70-66, Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 68-71-71-67, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 70-72-66-69, Arjun ATWAL (IND) 70-68-68-71.

278 – Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 69-69-72-68, Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 69-69-72-68, Shugo IMAHIRA (JPN) 70-68-72-68, Mikumu HORIKAWA (JPN) 68-71-70-69, Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 70-67-68-73.

279 – Toshinori MUTO (JPN) 71-67-72-69, Masashi HIDAKA (JPN) 70-69-71-69.

Ends.

About Leopalace21

Founded in 1973, Leopalace21 is a real estate company which constructs and rents apartments, currently managing 560 thousand rooms in Japan. The company also owns and operates a 36-hole golf course and resort facility in Guam, as well as 15 overseas offices which introduce residences and offices to Japanese companies advancing into the ASEAN region.

Leopalace21 Corporation: http://eg.leopalace21.com/

Leopalace Resort Guam: http://www.guam.ne.jp/

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), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist (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.

Please visit us at:

www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com 

www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf 

www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf  

www.youtube.com/theasiantour 

www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf

Yangon, January 27: France’s Lionel Weber enjoyed a flawless third round five-under-par 66 to top the leaderboard at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Frenchman was in his elements as he tamed the challenging greens at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club with his three-day total of 10-under-par 203 to take a slender shot lead over Japan’s Yusaku Miyazato. 

Miyazato, who played in the final group last year, will head into his final 18 holes in the same group again as he aims to break into the world’s top-50 with a strong finish at the US$750,000 event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai, nicknamed ‘Art’ painted a rosy picture of his title ambitions as he signed for a 68 to stay two shots back of Weber in tied-third place with overnight co-leader Paul Peterson of the United States and Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura.

India’s Arjun Atwal stayed in the mix with a 68 that placed him in a share of sixth place that also includes 2016 Leopalace21 Myanmar Open champion Shaun Norris of South Africa.

Did you know?

·       Lionel Weber graduated from the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2013. He finished in 55th place at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open last year.

·       Weber’s best result and sole top-10 result in 2017 was a tied-sixth finish in Indonesia.

·       The Frenchman ended his 2017 season in 56th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

·       Yusaki Miyazato held the lead for two days at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open last year. He played in the final group but eventually finished tied-sixth.

·       Miyazato topped the money list on the JGTO with his four victories last year.

·       He is currently ranked 54 in the world.

·       Suradit Yongcharoenchai had two top-10s in 2017 on the Asian Tour.

·       The Thai missed the cut at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open last year.

·       Arjun Atwal captained Team Asia at the recent EurAsia Cup. His team led for two days but lost after being outplayed in the Singles matches.

·       Atwal won the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2003 and also made history by becoming the first Indian golfer to win on the US PGA Tour in 2010.

·       Atwal’s last win on the Asian Tour came in Dubai in 2014.

Players’ Quotes

Lionel Weber (Fra) Third round Five-under-par 66, Total (-10) 203

It has been a long time since I’ve been in this position. I didn’t play well last year and I only had one top-10 so it feels good to be back in this position. I was really focused on my game today and I got the right technique to do that. I’m not scare of anyone and I just want to play a good round of golf tomorrow and we’ll see what happens. It feels good to know I had a bogey-free round. I had a lucky bounce on one hole which could have gone into the water. I feel I can strike the ball better today but I had a very good course management.

Yusaku Miyazato (Jpn) Third round Three-under-par 68, Total (-9) 204

My putting was terrible today but I’m happy I managed to return with a bogey-free round. I don’t plan to change any aspect of my game and will stick to what I’ve been doing the last three days. I tried to stay positive when I was not making any birdies after the first hole and maintained my tempo. It was good when I managed to finish with two birdies on 17 and 18. There are a lot of Japanese people here in Myanmar and hopefully I can make them happy with a win tomorrow.

Suradit Yongcharoenchai (Tha) Third round Three-under-par 68, Total (-8) 205

I started off really well with an opening birdie and continued that momentum with those three birdies on holes seven, eight and nine. I think I’ll be feeling a little nervous tomorrow but I hope to play my own game and not think too much. I hope I can handle the pressure tomorrow.

Arjun Atwal (Ind) Third round Three-under-par 68, Total (-7) 206

The greens were pretty tough to putt on today but nevertheless I’m pleased with how I played today. The EurAsia Cup captaincy was a good experience but I still like playing and being in control of the situation as a player. I like the laid-back attitude here in Myanmar and I love the golf course here. I want to win tomorrow as my goal has always been to win.

Leading Scores after round 3 of the LeoPalace21 Myanmar Open 2018 being played at the par 71, 7103 Yards Pun Hliang GC course (am – denotes amateur):

203 – Lionel WEBER (FRA) 68-69-66.

204 – Yusaku MIYAZATO (JPN) 71-65-68.

205 – Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 70-67-68, Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) 67-68-70, Paul PETERSON (USA) 68-66-71.

206 – Arjun ATWAL (IND) 70-68-68, Shaun NORRIS (RSA) 67-70-69, Tomoyo IKEMURA (JPN) 71-66-69, Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 65-69-72.

207 – Toru NAKAJIMA (JPN) 69-68-70, Micah Lauren SHIN (USA) 69-66-72.

208 – Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 71-70-67, Rikuya HOSHINO (JPN) 68-70-70, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 70-72-66.

209 – Mikumu HORIKAWA (JPN) 68-71-70, Narutoshi YAMAOKA (JPN) 70-71-68, Casey O’TOOLE (USA) 68-69-72.

210 – Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND) 70-70-70, Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 68-71-71, Berry HENSON (USA) 68-71-71, Masashi HIDAKA (JPN) 70-69-71, Tatsuya KODAI (JPN) 69-70-71, Toshinori MUTO (JPN) 71-67-72, Shugo IMAHIRA (JPN) 70-68-72, Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 69-69-72, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 69-69-72, Satoshi KODAIRA (JPN) 69-69-72, Junwon PARK (KOR) 68-67-75.

Ends.

About Leopalace21

Founded in 1973, Leopalace21 is a real estate company which constructs and rents apartments, currently managing 560 thousand rooms in Japan. The company also owns and operates a 36-hole golf course and resort facility in Guam, as well as 15 overseas offices which introduce residences and offices to Japanese companies advancing into the ASEAN region.

Leopalace21 Corporation: http://eg.leopalace21.com/

Leopalace Resort Guam: http://www.guam.ne.jp/

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), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist (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.

Please visit us at:

www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com 

www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf 

www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf  

www.youtube.com/theasiantour 

www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf

Yangon, January 26: Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan remained in the driver’s seat together with American Paul Peterson as they stayed ahead of the chasing pack after the second round of the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open on Friday.

Peterson hauled himself back into contention with a five-under-par 66  while Rattanon’s excellent short game ensured he would share the day’s honour when he signed for a 69.

Peterson, who lost his playing status in Europe, had an encouraging run with five top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour in the last quarter of 2017.

Although he missed the cut in the season-opener in Singapore last week, the left-handed American believes he has the game to contend for the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open title after compiling a two-day total of eight-under-par 134.

Rattanon was left to rue several costly mistakes because of his bad tee shots but had his putter to thank for keeping him in the lead at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club.

Micah Lauren Shin of the United States continued his good form by returning with a 66 despite hitting four balls into the water hazards. The 2017 Asian Tour Rookie of the Year shared third place together with Korea’s Junwon Park and Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura at the US$750,000 event that is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

Star attraction Ryo Ishikawa of Japan missed the weekend cut which was set at even-par

Did you know?

·       Rattanon Wannasrichan enjoyed a wire-to-wire victory when he lifted his maiden Asian Tour title on home soil last year. He continues to hold the lead after two days this week.

·       Rattanon only managed to hit 11 greens in regulation while making a total of 27 putts in his second round.

·       Paul Peterson came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2014 and claimed his first title on the European Tour at the 2016 D+D REAL Czech Masters.

·       Peterson has yet to win on the Asian Tour but came close towards the end of 2017 with two tied-second finishes in India and Hong Kong.

·       The American ended the 2017 season in 13th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

·       The par-four second hole at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club continues to be Micah Lauren Shin’s bogey hole as he continues to drop shot on that hole over the last two days.

·       Shin has hit 13 greens in regulation on each day in his first two rounds.

Players’ Quotes 

Rattanon Wannasrichan (Tha) Second round Two-under-par 69, Total 134 (-8)

I didn’t hit the ball as well as yesterday. I missed several fairways and only managed to return with a two-under-par. My putting saved me today as I managed to sink several long putts. The round was okay except for two bad holes on 16 and 17. I try to play my best and play shot by shot this weekend. I have to stay patient as that will be the key for me this week.

Paul Peterson (Usa) Second round Five-under-par 66, Total 134 (-8)

I got off to a fine start. I hit some quality wedge shots in the beginning and gave myself several scoring opportunities. I felt like I was in control of my golf balls and I’m really happy. I’ve been trying to rehydrate and get my energy back after suffering from a heat stroke in Singapore last week. It was a big adjustment for me having to go from Virginia in the US to the tropical heat here. I finished strongly last year and I feel I still have much of that momentum. It was a growth year for me having lost my card in Europe. It made me appreciate every single start I had. I gained a lot of perspective last year. I really to do my best to get back out there.

Micah Lauren Shin (Usa) Second round Five-under-par 66, Total 135 (-7)

I was actually hitting the ball really well but it was just those missed shots that went into the water. Those were all my tee shots. But I managed to recover in those three other holes to save par. I could have made birdie on two of them as they were on the par-five. After I missed the cut in Singapore, I just went to the range to practice. I was not hitting my driver well. I changed my driver this week and it’s helping me to hit the ball straighter. Every aspect of your game has to be sharp on this golf course. Tee shots are really important and the greens are really firm. So you got to place it properly and hit the right shots. If you miss them, you got to get up and down.

Masahiro Kawamura (Jpn) Second round, Three-under-par 68, Total 135 (-7)

I feel I could have putted better as I missed several short putts these last two days. But it’s nice to be among the leaders as we head into the weekend rounds here in Myanmar. I need to work on my short game and if I can do that, maybe something special will happen on Sunday.

Leading Scores after round 2 of the LeoPalace21 Myanmar Open 2018 being played at the par 71, 7103 Yards Pun Hliang GC course (am – denotes amateur):

134 – Paul PETERSON (USA) 68-66, Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 65-69.

135 – Micah Lauren SHIN (USA) 69-66, Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) 67-68, Junwon PARK (KOR) 68-67.

136 – Yusaku MIYAZATO (JPN) 71-65.

137 – Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 70-67, Tomoyo IKEMURA (JPN) 71-66, Toru NAKAJIMA (JPN) 69-68, Casey O’TOOLE (USA) 68-69, Lionel WEBER (FRA) 68-69, Shaun NORRIS (RSA) 67-70.

138 – Satoshi KODAIRA (JPN) 69-69, Seungsu HAN (USA) 67-71, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 69-69, Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 69-69, Arjun ATWAL (IND) 70-68, Shugo IMAHIRA (JPN) 70-68, David OH (USA) 67-71, Rikuya HOSHINO (JPN) 68-70, Toshinori MUTO (JPN) 71-67.

139 – LU Wei-chih (TPE) 70-69, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 68-71, Koki FURUTA (JPN) 74-65, Tatsuya KODAI (JPN) 69-70, Sihwan KIM (USA) 69-70, Mikumu HORIKAWA (JPN) 68-71, Hiroshi IWATA (JPN) 71-68, Masashi HIDAKA (JPN) 70-69, Berry HENSON (USA) 68-71, Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 68-71, Daijiro IZUMIDA (JPN) 72-67.

140 – Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 72-68, Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND) 70-70, LIU Yan-wei (CHN) 69-71, Hyungsung KIM (KOR) 69-71.

141 – Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 68-73, Shiv KAPUR (IND) 72-69, Yikeun CHANG (KOR) 70-71, Todd SINNOTT (AUS) 71-70, Daisuke MARUYAMA (JPN) 73-68, Richard T. LEE (CAN) 69-72, Keith HORNE (RSA) 68-73, Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 71-70, Tadahiro TAKAYAMA (JPN) 73-68, Ben LEONG (MAS) 71-70, Kieran PRATT (AUS) 68-73, Yuta IKEDA (JPN) 69-72, Kitaek KWON (KOR) 72-69, Narutoshi YAMAOKA (JPN) 70-71.

142 – Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 71-71, Ye Htet AUNG (MYN) 71-71, LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 71-71, Kunihiro KAMII (JPN) 72-70, Pannakorn UTHAIPAS (THA) 73-69, Eric SUGIMOTO (JPN) 73-69, Naing Naing LIN (MYN) 67-75, Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 69-73, Zaw Zaw LATT (MYN) 71-71, Younghan SONG (KOR) 71-71, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 70-72, Rashid KHAN (IND) 71-71, Ryuji MASAOKA (JPN) 70-72, Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA) 71-71, Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 70-72, Kyungnam KANG (KOR) 71-71.

Ends.

About Leopalace21

Founded in 1973, Leopalace21 is a real estate company which constructs and rents apartments, currently managing 560 thousand rooms in Japan. The company also owns and operates a 36-hole golf course and resort facility in Guam, as well as 15 overseas offices which introduce residences and offices to Japanese companies advancing into the ASEAN region.

Leopalace21 Corporation: http://eg.leopalace21.com/

Leopalace Resort Guam: http://www.guam.ne.jp/

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), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist (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.

Please visit us at:

www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com 

www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf 

www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf  

www.youtube.com/theasiantour 

www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf

Yangon, January 25: Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan delivered a short game masterclass by firing a flawless six-under-par 65 to set the early pace at the US$750,000 Leopalace21 Myanmar Open on Thursday.

The 22-year-old Thai displayed the form that led him to his maiden victory on home soil last year by cruising through with a sparkling first round which was highlighted by six birdies at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club. 

Myanmar’s Naing Naing Lin showed why he is the country’s top player when he returned with a 67 to trail Rattanon by two shots. He was among the five players bunched in tied-second place which also included 2016 Leopalace21 Myanmar Open champion Shaun Norris of South Africa.

Lin, a father-of-two, believes it is his combination of skills and luck that brought him close to the leaderboard summit while Norris relished another happy return to Myanmar at the US$750,000 event which is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO). 

Australia’s Kieran Pratt, who put aside his golf clubs and spent two years working in a construction company in Melbourne, delighted himself with a 68 to take a share of seventh place as he continues to rebuild his professional golf career.

The Australian is now hoping for a strong performance which can be the catalyst for him to return to the heights of 2012 when he won his lone Asian Tour title at the Myanmar Open. 

Star attraction Ryo Ishikawa of Japan posted an opening 70 to take a share of 34th place, five shots back of Rattanon.

Did you know?

·       Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan earned his maiden breakthrough on the Asian Tour with a wire-to-wire victory at his National Open in May last year.

·       Rattanon also represented Thailand during his amateur days and won the team and individual gold medals at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

·       The Thai hit 16 greens in regulation and made a total of 29 putts today.

·       Naing Naing Lin played six tournaments on the domestic tour in Myanmar, winning three of them and finishing inside the top-10 twice to emerge as the country’s Order of Merit champion.

·       The 33-year-old turned professional in 2007 and plays mostly in Myanmar.

·       Shaun Norris is currently leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit thanks to his tied-second result at the season opening event in Singapore last week.

·       Norris followed up his maiden Asian Tour victory in Chinese Taipei in 2015 with his second win at the 2016 Leopalace21 Myanmar Open.

·       Kieran Pratt is playing in his first event that offers Official World Ranking points in two years.

·       He missed the grade at Qualifying School after finishing tied-57th and spent the last two years working at a construction company in Melbourne.

Players’ Quotes: 

Rattanon Wannasrichan (Tha) First round Six-under-par 65

The course conditions are almost similar to last year. The greens are very hard and fast. You got to be really accurate off the tee here. I putted well and that was key. I’ve been practicing a lot off-season and changed the way I hit the ball. My ball flight is now different and I’m able to control the ball better now. I missed the cut by one shot last year and I hope to do better this week. I hope to end the year inside the top-10 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit

Shaun Norris (Rsa) First round Four-under-par 67

I played nicely today. I played solid and I’m very happy with my round. I can’t complain about the weather and course conditions. It was absolutely perfect out there. The greenkeepers have done well. Winning the Myanmar Open in 2016 was a massive stepping stone for me so it’s always nice to come back.  I’m very happy with my game at the moment. I’m playing each hole as it is. I’m not expecting too much but I’m very happy with where I’m at the moment.

Naing Naing Lin (Myn) First round Four-under-par 67

I played well but I was also lucky. I’ve been hitting the ball well. I hit 17 greens in regulation and only hit one shot into the bunker on six for a bogey. The Myanmar PGA organised several practice rounds for us before this week’s tournament and I’m happy I took full advantage of those practice sessions.

Kieran Pratt (Aus) First round Three-under-par 68

That win (2012 Myanmar Open victory) seems so long ago. I was working full-time in a building company back in Melbourne but I was playing weekend golf with my mates and shooting some really low scores. I was not really playing well back then and thought I had to do something else for a while. But deep inside, I always enjoy being on the golf course and thought there’s where I should be. My last day with the building company was 21st December last year as I tried to get ready for Qualifying School. Unfortunately I did not make the grade. I’m hoping to return to the game slowly and plot my way back again.

Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) First round One-under-par 70

I wish I was able to play one or two shot better today. I was two-under after 15 holes and I missed a four-foot putt on 15 and missed another birdie putt on the last. But it’s okay, it’s still an under-par round and there’s still everything to play for.  The weather’s very good today. It was little hot and the greens were firmer than yesterday.

Leading scores after round 1 of the LeoPalace21 Myanmar Open 2018 being played at the par 71, 7103 Yards Pun Hliang GC course (am – denotes amateur):

65 – Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA).

67 – Naing Naing LIN (MYN), Shaun NORRIS (RSA), David OH (USA), Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN), Seungsu HAN (USA).

68 – Berry HENSON (USA), Casey O’TOOLE (USA), Kieran PRATT (AUS), Lionel WEBER (FRA), Poom SAKSANSIN (THA), Junwon PARK (KOR), Rikuya HOSHINO (JPN), Scott VINCENT (ZIM), Paul PETERSON (USA), Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA), Mikumu HORIKAWA (JPN), Keith HORNE (RSA).

69 – Toru NAKAJIMA (JPN), Chikkarangappa S. (IND), Natipong SRITHONG (THA), Kodai ICHIHARA (JPN), LIU Yan-wei (CHN), Yuta IKEDA (JPN), Hyungsung KIM (KOR), Satoshi KODAIRA (JPN), Micah Lauren SHIN (USA), Shunya TAKEYASU (JPN), Prom MEESAWAT (THA), Tatsuya KODAI (JPN), Miguel TABUENA (PHI), Richard T. LEE (CAN), Sihwan KIM (USA).

70 – Zaw MOE (MYN), Bowen XIAO (CHN), Arjun ATWAL (IND), Shugo IMAHIRA (JPN), Narutoshi YAMAOKA (JPN), Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND), Ryuji MASAOKA (JPN), Shohei KARIMATA (JPN), Terry PILKADARIS (AUS), Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND), Ryutaro NAGANO (JPN), LU Wei-chih (TPE), Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA), Ryo ISHIKAWA (JPN), Yikeun CHANG (KOR), Taichi NABETANI (JPN), Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND), Masashi HIDAKA (JPN).

71 – Zaw Zaw LATT (MYN), Ben LEONG (MAS), Younghan SONG (KOR), Masanori KOBAYASHI (JPN), Khalin JOSHI (IND), Rashid KHAN (IND), Katsumasa MIYAMOTO (JPN), Jarin TODD (USA), Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS), Toshinori MUTO (JPN), Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA), Kyungnam KANG (KOR), Chapchai NIRAT (THA), Backjun AN (KOR), Ye Htet AUNG (MYN), Jbe KRUGER (RSA), Konosuke NAKAZATO (JPN), Nicholas FUNG (MAS), Yusaku MIYAZATO (JPN), Johannes VEERMAN (USA), Todd SINNOTT (AUS), Adilson DA SILVA (BRA), LIANG Wen-chong (CHN), Hiroshi IWATA (JPN), Tomoyo IKEMURA (JPN), Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA).

Ends.

About Leopalace21

Founded in 1973, Leopalace21 is a real estate company which constructs and rents apartments, currently managing 560 thousand rooms in Japan. The company also owns and operates a 36-hole golf course and resort facility in Guam, as well as 15 overseas offices which introduce residences and offices to Japanese companies advancing into the ASEAN region.

Leopalace21 Corporation: http://eg.leopalace21.com/

Leopalace Resort Guam: http://www.guam.ne.jp/

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), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), Titleist (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

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Seoul, March 7: American Ryder Cup stars Dustin Johnson and Zach Johnson, plus 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, will headline the field for this year’s Ballantine’s Championship, which returns to Blackstone Golf Club in Korea for a third consecutive year.
The trio will join home favourites Y.E. Yang and Kim Kyung-tae for the Championship’s sixth edition, which takes place from April 25-28, 2013.
The line-up of leading international players set for Korea continues to demonstrate that the Ballantine’s Championship has cemented its position as one of Asia’s most successful golf tournaments.
Christian Porta, CEO of Chivas Brothers, said: “We are delighted that the Ballantine’s Championship continues to attract such a wealth of both talent and interest from all over the world, again reinforcing the increasing importance of Korea as a world-class golf destination. We look forward to another exciting edition of this prestigious golf tournament.”
World Number Six Oosthuizen will make his debut in the Ballantine’s Championship, hoping to add the title to his increasingly impressive CV, having captured his sixth European Tour title in last month’s Volvo Golf Champions in his native South Africa.
The 30 year old, who lifted the Claret Jug at St Andrews three years ago, came close to adding a second Major Championship to his list of achievements, when he lost in a play-off to Bubba Watson in the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National last April. He went on to win the Maybank Malaysian Open the following week and will be hoping to claim a second victory on Asian soil when he heads to Blackstone Golf Club, in Incheon, near the Korean capital of Seoul.
“I’m really looking forward to visiting Korea and to playing in the Ballantine’s Championship for the first time,” said Oozthuizen. “I got my first win in Asia last year and it would be nice to challenge for another in April. I’ve heard good things about the tournament and I look forward to experiencing it myself.”
Zach Johnson is also making his debut in the Championship and it will be the first time he has played in a European Tour event outside of the Major Championships and World Golf Championships events.
The three-time US Ryder Cup player won the 2007 Masters Tournament and has nine victories in total on the US PGA Tour, including two titles last year. He was one of the American team’s leading performers in The 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club, taking three points from his four matches.
“It’s a great opportunity to be able to play in the Ballantine’s Championship and I’m really looking forward to it. To be able to play in a new country and test myself against some of Europe and Asia’s leading players is very exciting,” he said.
Meanwhile Dustin Johnson, one of the biggest hitters in world golf, returns to Blackstone Golf Club after finishing fourth on his debut in 2011. The 28 year old was forced to miss last year’s Ballantine’s Championship because of a back injury suffered the month before the tournament, but returned to action to win the FedEx St Jude Classic and claimed his seventh US PGA Tour Title in the season opening Hyundai  Tournament of Champions.
“I was disappointed to have to miss last year’s Ballantine’s Championship because of my back injury,” he said. “I really enjoyed my first visit a couple of years ago and I’m looking forward to returning.”
After making his Ryder Cup debut in 2010, Johnson was a Captain’s pick for the US Team in 2012, contributing a maximum return of three points from his three matches, and was one of only three Americans to win in the singles, alongside his namesake Zach and Jason Dufner. He feels the 7,275 yard, par 72 course suits his powerful game, after carding four consecutive sub-par rounds to finish three shots behind winner Lee Westwood two years ago.
“I think I did okay last year, and I ended up finishing pretty well,” said Johnson. “I played well on the Sunday and over the week I had two good days and two mediocre ones. So I enjoyed it, and finishing fourth isn’t too bad.
“It’s a good course for me. It sets up well, so you know if you drive it straight there you’re going to play pretty well. Hopefully I can better my fourth place. I liked Korea, and found the people really friendly, so I’m looking forward to going back.”
Leading the home hopes will be Yang and Kim, with both players striving to become the first Korean to win the Ballantine’s Championship.
Yang became the first Asian player to win a Major when he held off Tiger Woods to win the 2009 US PGA Championship. He finished tied 15th last year and will be hoping to improve again this time round, as he searches for a third European Tour title.
“The Ballantine’s Championship is always an important event for the Korean players and it is one I always look forward to,” he said. “Ballantine’s always puts on a great Championship for us and really look after us, so hopefully I can do well in return.”
Kim is a former Korean Amateur Champion and won the 2007 Maekyung Open in his second start on the Asian Tour. He finished in a share of 54th position in last year’s Ballantine’s Championship, which was won by Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.
Wiesberger finished five strokes clear of Scotland’s Richie Ramsay to claim his maiden European Tour title. He joined the roll of honour which previously included inaugural winner Graeme McDowell (2008), Thongchai Jaidee (2009), Marcus Fraser (2010) and Lee Westwood (2011).
The Ballantine’s Championship was established in 2008 and builds on Ballantine’s long-standing association with golf. In addition to the Championship, Ballantine’s sponsors several top-flight players and events, as well as invests in grass-roots activity such as the Golf Fund in China and the Road to the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.
Ends.
About Ballantine’s Ballantine’s is the No 2 ultra-premium Scotch whisky in Asia, No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the range sells over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 129 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827. • Ballantine’s has been title sponsor of the Ballantine’s Championship since 2008 • Ballantine’s is an official sponsor of the BMW Masters, The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open & The World Cup of Golf • The first Ballantine’s sponsored golf tournament was played in 1960 at Wentworth Golf Club, England
About Chivas Brothers Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.
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