Published on September 18, 2023

There is no doubt that 2022 on the Asian Tour was the year of the blonde bombers.

Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent enjoyed a stunning season by winning The International Series Order of Merit and the International Series England, while there was another with long, flowing, golden locks who caught the eye, Travis Smyth.

The Australian’s moment of victory came a little later in the year compared to Vincent, who triumphed in June, but Smyth was ever present on the leader boards throughout the season in the build up to his maiden victory on the Asian Tour at the Yeangder TPC in Chinese-Taipei in September.

Smyth had actually finished solo second to Vincent in England and was bitterly disappointed not to land his first title there.

But he got the monkey off his back at the Yeandger event with brilliant back-to-back six-under-par 66s over the weekend at Linkou International Golf and Country Club, in Taipei.

The 27 year old from Sydney drew on a season of strong performances and near misses to finish the tournament on 19 under and beat defending champion Lee Chieh-po from Chinese-Taipei, by two shots.

Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan, Nicholas Fung from Malaysia, American Berry Henson, and Bjorn Hellgren from Sweden tied for third, five behind the winner.

Smyth started the final day with a one-shot lead and proved uncatchable after he birdied four out of the first six to make the turn in four under before virtually wrapping things up by making three birdies in a row from the 10th. With a healthy lead the surprise double bogey he made on the 15th, which were his only dropped shots of the day, proved inconsequential as he responded with his final birdie of the day on the next.

“Feels amazing!” said an overjoyed Smyth, who picked up a cheque for US$126,000.

“I got so close before. I felt like I let it go in England but it did allow me to play some LIV events, and after that experience I felt the need to just get back there. I want to be the player that I believe I can be, and winning this week is one step along the journey.”

He became the first Australian to win the prestigious title and, as he explained later, he was pushed all the way by playing-partner Lee.

He added: “The opening nine, or first five, six holes are quite easy, but it’s a tight course so you have to hit it straight. But you know the guy I was playing with, Lee Chieh-po, he played amazing. I was always like one, two or three shots within him, and he kept playing well and applying pressure, so it wasn’t easy that’s for sure.”

It is also important not to forget that his win was made even more impressive by the fact he had to endure the hardship of three days of pre-event COVID-19 mandatory quarantining in a government hotel, followed by trying to function in the tournament ‘bubble’ of hotel, golf club, hotel and so on for seven days.

For Lee it was his best finish on the Asian Tour as when he won this event in 2021 the tournament was held solely as a domestic competition – the result of travel restrictions caused by the global pandemic.

He said: “I think I did well today. Travis was just too good. I played well in this tough conditions. And my overall 72-hole score is better than my winning score last year so there is some improvement! I am happy with how I played this week. Happy to set a new personal best result on the Asian Tour.”

At the halfway point of the event, it was two very different players who captured the headlines: veteran Chapchai Nirat from Thailand and 14-year-old local amateur Hsieh Cheng-wei.

Four-time Asian Tour winner Chapchai, aged 39, proudly announced “my game is back” after firing one of his best tournament rounds for a considerable period, an eight-under-par 64, to take a two-shot lead.

The former Golden Boy of Thai golf had been notable by absence for many seasons – the last of his victories on the Asian Tour came in 2014 – but glimpses of his old self were on display when he shifted gear into first place.

Sadly, for his many fans, he was unable to maintain that pace over the weekend and eventually ended joint 14^th but the signs are there that we may see more of the Thai star in the years ahead.

“I’m starting to have some confidence back from the past three events, I’m starting to play a bit better,” he said.

“Now I can see shooting minus seven or minus eight in a day, so I feel a lot more confident with my new game with this coach now. For the next year I’m planning to be in the top 10 again in a lot of tournaments, and I’m planning to come back and win again.”

Hsieh grabbed much of the attention, and set a global record, after adding a 74 to his opening 69 to reach one under and become the youngest male player to make the cut on one of the game’s main Tours.

At 14 years and 33 days old he beat the previous record set by China’s Guan Tian-lang, achieved at the 2013 Masters, when he was 14 years and 169 days.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond had held the Asian Tour record having made it through to the weekend at the Asian Tour International in 2010, when he was 14 years and 71 days.

Said Hsieh, who started playing golf at the age of four and had the benefit of Linkou being his home course: “I started preparing for this tournament after I found out I could play when I won the Yeangder amateur event in June. I have been practising here a lot.”

Story from the 2022 Asian Tour Yearbook.

Published on September 10, 2023

Korean Guntaek Koh made it a hat-trick of wins in Korea this season when he claimed the Shinhan Donghae Open today, on the Ocean Course at Club72, after beating Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.

Koh, joint overnight leader with Canadian Richard T. Lee, had closed with a four-under-par 68, bravely matching the formidable clubhouse total of 19-under-par set by Phachara – who, playing in seventh from last group out and starting the day five off the lead, shot a remarkable 63.

The Korean had to birdie the par-five 18^th to catch his Thai opponent in regulation play, after hitting a brilliant third shot to three feet, and he then proceeded to make four again in the play-off, holing a 10-footer. Phachara, attempting to become the first Thai to have his name etched onto the trophy, had tried to reach the green in two but found the lake in front of the green. Remarkably, he hit his fourth to 12 feet and drained the par putt forcing Koh to make his for the win, which he duly did, to the roar of the huge crowded assembled there.

Koh’s brilliant finish showed why he has been the dominant player in Korea this year. He leads the Korean PGA Tour rankings having won the 18th DB Insurance Promy Open in April, and the Honors K •Solarago CC Han Jang-sang Invitational in June.

“There have been failures in the past few years, but this is my season,” said Koh, who also won his second event this year in extra time.

“The first win this year was the hardest but now I am in the mode and enjoying the experience. Today required a lot of patience and concentration as with Phachara having posted such a good score early on the chase was on. I felt I had to make that birdie putt in the play-off, if not I felt I was going to lose.

“A victory in an event on this scale, against the best from the Asian Tour and Japan Tour is simply incredible.”

Earlier in the day, the 23-year-old from Jeju had a one shot-lead over Lee at the turn after going out in four-under-par 32, thanks to birdies on four and five and an eagle on the par-five seventh, with Phachara another shot back. However, he dropped a shot on 10 and made a double on 13, while Phachara stormed into the lead.

Koh was on the 15^th when Phachara finished his round, two-behind the Thai golfer, along with Lee. Both made birdie on that hole to move one closer, but Lee fell away with a bogey on 16, paving the way for Koh’s grandstand finish.

Phachara was looking to secure his second victory on the Asian Tour – his first was the Laguna Phuket Championship at the end of 2021 – but he took solace from the fact he had found is swing again.

“I am back to my old game now,” said the Thai star, “because I only just found my swing last week, before I arrived at this tournament. I found with my coach on Sunday, it was actually Sunday night.

“I had lost it about three weeks ago. For those two events in UK my swing was gone. I was relying on my short game to make the cut in those UK events. I couldn’t figure it out until my coach helped. My coach in Paragorn – a very good friend, now full-time coach.”

With two fourth place finishes this year it will surely not be long before he wins again.

He added: “My game now is very, very good. Best since I started playing golf. Normally my driver is the problem but now it’s great. I hit many fairways today and I had a lot of birdies.”

Lee, winner of this event in 2017, returned a 70 and tied for third with Japan’s Keita Nakajima, currently second on the Japan Golf Tour Money List after two wins this year, who carded a 66, and Australian Anthony Quayle, in with a 69. They finished two strokes short of the play-off.

Miguel Tabuena, in second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, did little to close the gap on top placed Andy Ogletree from the United States, who is not here this week. The Filipino, battling a niggling left wrist injury, carded a 69 to finish nine under in a tie for 44^th.

The tournament was tri-sanctioned between the Asian, Japan and Korea Tours.

The Asian Tour heads to Chinese-Taipei in a week’s time for the Yeangder TPC. The US$750,000 event, won last year by Australian Travis Smyth, will be played at Linkou International Golf and Country Club, from Sep 21-24.

Published on September 9, 2023

Former champion Richard T. Lee and Korean Guntaek Koh, in-form with two wins domestically this year, staked their claim for the Shinhan Donghae Open today after taking a share of the third-round lead.

Lee, the winner in 2017 at a different venue, fired a five-under-par 67, and Koh a 66, to lead the way on 15-under-par on the Ocean Course at Club72 – located near Incheon International Airport.

Overnight leader Wooyoung Cho (71), Korea’s amateur star, his countryman Taehoon OK (67) and Australian Anthony Quayle (67) are one back – in an event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Japan and Korean Tours.

Quayle had looked set to finish in front by one but double-bogeyed the par-five 18th.

Japan’s Ryuko Tokimatsu (66) and Spaniard David Puig (68) are another stroke back.

Lee has been knocking on the door this year on the Asian Tour and senses a real opportunity tomorrow to add to that victory six years ago, which is his most recent success on the Tour.

“It was great, a bogey-free round. It’s been a while since I had a bogey-free round,” said the Canadian, who’s other win on the Asian Tour came in the 2014 Solaire Open.

“The conditions out there are scoreable, I took advantage of it and made good putts. This year I have felt like I have been in contention pretty much every event. I have been having a slight struggle with the putter, but I have finally sorted it and this week is a very good chance for me to hold the trophy again.

“I have just got to make more birdies out there tomorrow and not drop shots. I love this tournament, they always take care of us, the course conditions are always nice. To win this event twice is very big in Korea.”

Koh won on the Korean PGA Tour in April and July and success on Sunday will see him become the first player to win three times in Korea this year.

He said: “Satisfied. I tried to defend and take opportunities when they came. Really happy to finish in the lead. I didn’t push myself too hard. I played aggressively on the holes where I had chances. My mental game is better than before, and those two wins have made be a stronger, more confident golfer.”

Quayle, in the penultimate group, is a step closer to securing his first title on the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour. He was in control all day having started with birdies on the opening two holes and after nine holes he was tied with Cho for the lead on 14 under, thanks to a fine front nine of five-under-par 30. A birdie on the 11th saw him take the outright lead, and he held that until calamity struck on the last, where his third found the front bunker, from where he splashed out and three putted, missing a three-footer.

“I played pretty well,” said the 29-year-old.

“I didn’t put a foot wrong until the last. Me and the last hole haven’t got on to well so far. Hopefully if it comes down to it, it will be a bit more friendly tomorrow.

“Everything feels really good. I don’t feel like it’s been a week when I have really milked it. I feel like I have played quite solid. I have holed a couple I probably shouldn’t have, and I have missed a couple I feel like I should have made. I feel like the score is reflective of how I played. I have a chance on a Sunday, which is nice.”

Quayle has been in this position before in Japan, having finished second on three occasions since joining the circuit in 2017, most noticeably last year when he led the Mizuno Open by four strokes with a round to play and still held a one-shot advantage playing the 17th. But he was caught by Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe and then lost in a play-off. He also finished joint second in the Sega Sammy Cup in July.

He added: “A couple of those close finishes [on the Japan Tour] have been mistakes on my part, and a couple of them have been other people better on the day. But I feel I have learned a lot and how to get the best out of those situations. Some of those lessons will come in handy tomorrow.”

Japan’s Keita Nakajima, currently second on the Japan Golf Tour Money List after two wins this year, carded his second successive 67 and has an outside chance tomorrow, sitting 11-under in a tie for 9th.

Ends.

Published on September 8, 2023

Korean amateur star Wooyoung Cho says he wants to turn professional immediately after the Asian Games next month with the gold medal safely in his hands and he is clearly preparing well to achieve that lofty goal after taking the lead after the second-round of the Shinhan Donghae Open today, following an outstanding, bogey-free eight-under-par 64.

The 21-year-old made an eagle and six birdies to go to 13-under for the Asian Tour event, giving him a three-shot cushion over compatriot Bio Kim and Canadian Richard T. Lee, winner of this event in 2017, who both fired 66s.

Koreans Guntaek Koh (66) and Taehoon Ok (69), Australian Anthony Quayle (70), Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai (70) and David Puig from Spain (71) – in second place until a quadruple-bogey seven on the eighth, his penultimate hole – are a further stroke back, on the Ocean Course at Club72, located near Incheon airport.

“I normally don’t play so well after a good first round, but today I got it right,” said Cho, who has already won this year on the Korean PGA Tour, at the Golfzone Open in Jeju in April.

Wooyoung Cho. Picture courtesy Korean PGA.

“Second shot is very important to make a good score. For the past two events I have not got my second shots right, but I am this week, and it’s setting me up for birdie putts.”

He eagled the par-five seventh after his second shot, with a five iron, found the edge of the green, from where he holed from 30 feet.

Cho will be part of the Korean team at the Hangzhou Asian Games in China, which starts at the end of this month, along with amateur Jubin Yang, who withdrew today citing flu, and PGA Tour stars Siwoo Kim and Sungjae Im.

He said: “I would like to turn professional on October 5, immediately after the Asian Games, with the gold medal! I have a minor back injury, but these tournaments are a warm-up, and for me to manage my physical condition.”

It has been a year to remember so far as he was also part of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation’s winning team in the Ryder Cup-style Bonallack Trophy against the European Golf Association at Spain’s La Manga at the start of August.

He first rose to prominence on the Asian Tour last year at the International Series Korea. He was one off the lead after the third round following a 10-under-par 61 – which proved to be the best round of the week, and eventually tied for seventh.

The rising star is bidding to become the first amateur to win the Shinhan Donghae event, which this year celebrates its 39^th edition.

Bio Kim, a decorated amateur himself before finding success in the paid ranks, won the LX Championship last weekend on the Korean PGA Tour to revitalise what has been a relatively subdued season by his own high standards. Hard work with his coach Jaehyeok Lee – the gold medallist in golf at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games – and a pep talk from his wife have helped to get him back on track.

“I feel like I am playing good. I feel like I am building momentum, and confidence. We’ll see how it goes at the weekend,” said last year’s Rookie of the Year on the Asian Tour.

Bio Kim. Picture courtesy Korean PGA.

“I have been working really hard with my coach Jaehyeok Lee, he is a former national team player, and is still a very good player. I have been working really hard on the little things, not like a dramatic changes or anything, just alignment. All those little things add up, and now here I am. Golf, you never know how it goes.

“Beginning of the year I guess I put too much pressure on myself. I had some great time off in the summer with my family here in Korea, which did me a lot of good. I talked to my wife about it. She just said, ‘you know, we are doing fine, let’s build momentum’, that’s exactly what she said, actually. ‘Don’t try and achieve something really quickly’. I think I am doing that fine now after she said it.”

South African Jbe Kruger, the champion in 2019, made his move today, carding a 66 to move to seven-under, in a tie for 12^th, along with a group of players that includes Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent, in with a 71.

Filipino Miguel Tabuena, second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, shot his second successive 69 and is six under for the KRW1.4 billion (about US$1 million) event, which is being tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and Korean PGA Tour for the third time.

Tabuena is still battling a left wrist and thumb injury.

Said this year’s The DGC Open winner: “Took some painkillers today and yesterday, big help. This course isn’t that demanding off the tee, you will see a lot of low scores. I didn’t hit it well at all, I missed so many fairways, but I took advantage of the par fives today and yesterday, with my length I can easily get on in two.

“This morning I told the guys back home it [the wrist] really hurt last night. I am going day by day actually. I am not sure how I will go about this. But I am happy with the position I am in. I want to thank the physio Pan for the help she is giving me. She as been looking after me since Monday.”

Published on

Korean amateur star Wooyoung Cho says he wants to turn professional immediately after the Asian Games next month with the gold medal safely in his hands and he appears to be on course to achieve that goal after taking the clubhouse lead during the second-round of the Shinhan Donghae Open today, following an outstanding, bogey-free eight-under-par 64.

The 21-year-old made an eagle and six birdies to go to 13-under for the Asian Tour event, giving him a three-shot lead over compatriot Bio Kim and Canadian Richard T. Lee, winner of this event in 2017, who both fired 66s.

Korean Guntaek Koh is a further stroke back after also returning a 66, after the morning groups completed their rounds, at the Ocean Course at Club72.

“I normally don’t play so well after a good first round, but today I got it right,” said Cho, who has already won this year on the Korean PGA Tour, at the Golfzon Open in Jeju in April.

Wooyoung Cho. Picture courtesy Korean PGA Tour.

“Second shot is very important to make a good score. For the past two events I have not got my second shots right, but I am this week, and it’s setting me up for birdie putts.”

He eagled the par-five seventh after his second shot, with a five iron, found the edge of the green, from where he holed from 30 feet.

Cho will be part of the Korean team at the Hangzhou Asian Games in China, which starts at the end of this month, along with amateur Jubin Yang, also playing this week, and PGA Toir stars Siwoo Kim and Sungjae Im.

He said: “I would like to turn professional on October 5, immediately after the Asian Games, with the gold medal! I have a minor back injury, but these tournaments are a warm-up, and for me to manage my physical condition.”

It has been a year to remember so far as he was also part of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation’s winning team in the Ryder Cup-style Bonallack Trophy against the European Golf Association at Spain’s La Manga at the start of August.

He first rose to prominence on the Asian Tour last year at the International Series Korea. He was one off the lead after the third round following a 10-under-par 61 – which proved to be the best round of the week, and eventually tied for seventh.

Bio Kim. Picture courtesy Korean PGA.

Filipino Miguel Tabuena, second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, shot his second successive 69 and is six under for the KRW1.4 billion (about US$1 million) event, which is being tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and Korean PGA Tour for the third time.

Published on September 7, 2023

Spain’s star-in-the-making David Puig says he is embracing the opportunity to travel extensively in the formative years of his career after firing an eight-under-par 64 to take the lead on the opening day of the Shinhan Donghae Open today.

Brushing off having only arrived on Tuesday night from Spain, for his first-ever visit to Korea, he overpowered the Ocean Course at Club72, near Incheon airport, making eight birdies – including six on the front side for a six-under-par 30.

Australian Anthony Quayle and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai came in with 65s while Zimbabwean Kieran Vincent, Korea’s Ok Taehoon, and Ryutaro Nagano and Ryuko Tokimatsu from Japan carded 66s on a hot and humid day in the Asian Tour’s 14^th event of the season.

Puig has been superb since joining the Asian Tour last year, soon after turning professional. He has regularly been in contention, finishing in the top-15 five times in just eight starts, including a third-place finish in the International Series Morocco last year – his debut event on the Asian Tour – and an equal fourth placing at the International Series England, just three weeks ago.

“All this travelling, it’s different for sure but it’s experience,” said the 21-year-old, who plays for Torque GC – the dominant team on the LIV Golf League this season having won four times.

Anthony Quayle. Picture courtesy Korean PGA.

“For sure I am learning new things, new places, getting to know different courses and weather, and types of grass. It’s great. I am going to play as much as I can, I am 21, so this was a good week for me to come. Week off last week, play here, then week off before LIV Golf Chicago.”

After playing the St Andrews Bay Championship two weeks ago he took the whole of last week off and only played again on Monday morning.

He said: “I didn’t practice for eight days and then I got here. I was in Spain last week after St Andrews and the last day I played, I played Monday morning before going to the airport. Played there with my family, then jumped on a plane, direct, 12 hours. I am bit rusty, but sometimes it’s a bit better when you don’t think that much.”

He also performed well in Scotland, tying for 14^th, and is clearly in form this week as well.

“Played pretty good today obviously, did a lot of good things. I got here Tuesday night and practised yesterday. I am still pretty tired but somehow I played pretty good,” he said.

“It is my first time in Korea. The golf course is good, it fits my game pretty good. I hit plenty of drivers and the fairways are soft. I hit it pretty far, so I have an advantage on that, and the greens are super firm. It suits me. We played courses recently when the greens where super soft. Here I hit wedges and the ball stays where it is supposed to stay.”

Quayle, who plays on the Japan Golf Tour, is nursing a sore back but was delighted it did not trouble him today.

He said: “It was nice. I didn’t have the best prep coming into the week. I hurt my back last week, so I tried to be a little bit more low-key in my preparation and be a little bit more cautionary.

“Came out today, back felt great, everything felt pretty good. I probably had low expectations, so was able to play freely and roll a few in.

“Not sure what the back issue is. I saw the physio yesterday, my self-diagnosis was wrong – which is probably not uncommon for a professional golfer. But the physio said it looked like I was overloading my back pelvic incorrectly for a period of time. What he did yesterday helped a lot.”

Phachara Khongwatmai. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Quayle was also on course for a 64 but dropped his only shot of the day after bogeying the par-five 18^th.

“I am a bit disappointed with the bogey on 18,” said the Australian, who started brilliantly by holing a 50-footer for birdie on the first.

“Felt like I played the hole really well. The third shot I hit in I thought was perfect, thought I had hit my number. But it just landed over and on the collar of the green, and I just didn’t handle the lie really well and duffed it short. It is what it is.”

Other performances of note are American Seungsu Han (68), winner of this year’s Kolon Korea Open, Korean Kim Bio (68), who won the LX Championship on the Korean PGA Tour last week, and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho (69).

Filipino Miguel Tabuena, in second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and looking to close the gap on top ranked Andy Ogletree from the United States, who is not here this week, also shot 69 – allaying any concerns for the moment over a troubling wrist injury.

Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, the winner of 18 titles in Japan, returned a 71.

This week’s KRW1.4 billion (about US$1 million) event is being tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and Korean PGA Tour for the third time.

Published on September 6, 2023

Miguel Tabuena is back in action on the Asian Tour this week, at the Shinhan Donghae Open, played on the Ocean Course at Club72 in Korea, for what should be an excellent opportunity to close the gap on the Tour’s Order of Merit leader Andy Ogletree from the United States – who is not competing this week.

However, a persistent wrist injury, which forced him to withdraw from the most recent event, the St Andrews Bay Championship in Scotland two weeks ago, is threatening to derail his push for the top.

Tabuena is in second place on the Merit list, just under 700 points behind Ogletree, but the only golf he has played since Scotland was nine holes on Sunday at home in Manila.

“It was throbbing [on Sunday] but I had already booked my flight here,” said the Filipino, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour.

“It’s my left wrist and my thumb, actually. I have no idea what caused it, I have been fighting it for two months now.”

He finished in a tie for ninth at the International Series England, the week before Scotland, but started feeling pain in the final round. He rested it on the following Tuesday and Wednesday but with the cold weather in Scotland doing nothing to heal the wrist he decided to pull out.

He added: “It is such a shame, man, because I am playing really well, and this is probably a good week to close the gap, because Andy is not here. That’s the only reason why I am here.”

The pain is particularly heightened on his downswing right before impact, when using his driver.

“Luckily there are many other events for the remainder of the season to try and get to the top of the Merit list.  I requested for an x-ray and MRI when I got home just to see what’s happening. I rested it from the week of Scotland all the way until Saturday.

“I had ‘cryo’ and ultra-sound treatment at home, and laser. I submerged it in ice, almost everyday since I got back from Scotland.

“I don’t want to be on painkillers for the rest of the year, but let’s see how tomorrow goes. It’s nice to have a late tee off tomorrow. And it’s nice that the weather is on my side, being really warm. All I can do is not force it.”

Tabuena, 28, had been enjoying a fine return to form this year having won The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in March – his first win on the Asian Tour in four years – and has finished in the top-10 on five occasions. He was also equal fourth in the World City Championship in Hong Kong, and up until Scotland had not missed a cut in nine starts.

It has been a complete turnaround from last year when he who only just kept his Tour card on the Order of Merit, taking the last spot, while having to deal with the trauma of his father having a heart by-pass.

And while the warm weather is to his advantage this week, he feels the course is user friendly.

He said: “I have played this course a long time ago, when I just turned pro, and it’s very straight forward, it’s not the tightest.”

He tees-off at 11.50am local time tomorrow with Korean Seonghyeon Kim and Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa.

This week marks the third time the tournament will be tri-sanctioned between the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, and Korean Tour.

The KRW1.4 billion (about US$1 million) event is the 14^th tournament of the season on the Asian Tour.

 

Published on September 5, 2023

Despite a string of missed cuts since his stunning victory in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in May, Changmin Jung says he is confident of getting back on track ahead of this week’s Shinhan Donghae Open – which tees-off Thursday at Ocean Course at Club72.

The strapping 24-year-old harnessed his trademark big-hitting game with precision to win the Maekyung event by six-shots – after the event was reduced to 54 holes because of inclement weather. The win was expected to be the catalyst for big things for the player nicknamed ‘the Korean Hulk’ but he failed to make it through to the weekend in the Kolon Korea Open and then the Asian Tour’s UK summer swing events in England and Scotland.

He said: “It was great to get my first win in a big tournament, and I don’t think I had any pressure after the win, but I was a little out of shape and didn’t play as well.

“I am not concerned. My goal is to win and I’m still a little jet-lagged from my trip to England, but I’m practicing hard and working on getting my feel back.”

Until the week of Maekyung, Jung was best known as one of the biggest hitters in Korea – he topped the driving distance stats on the Korean PGA Tour last year – and had only finished in the top-10 twice in domestic events since turning professional three years ago.

Changmin Jung pictured winning the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in May.

“I try to talk a lot with my caddie, to work through things, and I try not to think about the game too much,” said Korean, a professional since 2019.

“I think it was a good experience to play in two tournaments in the UK.

“It was very windy in England, and I think it was a good experience for me to get a lot of experience with the wind and to know how to play in windy conditions.”

He has been paired with compatriot Jinho Choi and Japan’s Taisei Shimizu in the first two rounds and will tee off at 8.20am on day one.

The Shinhan Donghae Open is one of the region’s longest-running golf championships and is returning to Korean shores, having been held in Japan for the first-time last year.

This week marks the third time it will be tri-sanctioned between the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, and Korean Tour.

From the 138-strong starting line-up in the KRW1.4 billion (about US$1 million) event, each of the three Tours is allocated 40 spots.

From the top-11 in the current Asian Tour Order of Merit standings also in the field are Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines, Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent, Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana, Australians Brendan Jones and Travis Smyth and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho.

Former champions Richard Lee from Canada and Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar are also competing along with past Order of Merit champions Sihwan Kim of America and Australian Scott Hend.

Korean Bio Kim, who won the LX Championship on the Korean PGA Tour last week, will also be in action.