Pre-qualifier Jung steals limelight on first day at Kolon Korea Open
Qualifier Yujun Jung from Korea is the surprise first-round leader at the Kolon Korea Open, after he carded a six-under-par 65 on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club – north-east of the capital Seoul.
Jung made it through a 36-hole pre-qualifier, at the same venue, earlier in the month and drew on that experience to set the pace today, shooting the only spotless bogey-free round of the day. It was an impressive result considering the penal set-up. At 7,423 yards it is long and, as is the norm at this tournament, it has been configured like a US Open course with exceptionally narrow fairways and fast greens.
He made six birdies and leads by two from Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and Australian Jed Morgan, both in with 67s – in what is the 67th staging of Korea’s flagship event and the seventh stop of the season on the Asian Tour.
Jung, aged 22, only debuted on the Korean PGA Tour two years ago but showed little sign of his inexperience at this level today.
“The course was harder than in qualifying,” he said. “The pin placements are tricky, and the greens are fast. Plus, the teeing area has been moved back and the rough is longer.”
Phachara Khongwatmai. Picture courtesy Korea Golf Association.
He started on the back nine, making birdie on his opening hole, the 10th. Birdies on 13, 17, one, five and six followed.
“Overall, I was happy with all my play. My tee shots have been shaky lately, but today both my tee shots and putting were good. The birdie putts dropped,” he added.
“The fairways are very narrow, but I was able to overcome that because I had good tee shots. I didn’t have a good flow in the beginning of the round, but it got better and better. I think I’m improving little by little.”
He said he’s also been working on hitting the ball further – a big advantage on this week’s layout.
He explained: “My distance has increased since last year. I am hitting it long now and can hit up to 300 metres. Round one is now over. There are still three days left. I’ll try to play with the same mindset as in the first round.”
Phachara, still looking for his second win on the Asian Tour despite a plethora of second-place finishes – 10 to be exact – was delighted with his strong start.
“Surprised to shoot four under today, on a difficult course. I didn’t have any expectations. Just wanted to relax, play freely and not be serious.
Jed Morgan.
“I have not been playing much as I have been spending time with family, nursing a few minor injuries. I have been resting a lot but now my game is starting to gradually come. It’s on the up.”
He made five birdies and dropped just one shot.
He added: “The course is difficult. If you hit your driver well, you can make a good score. But also, if you miss your driver on the correct side, you can still score well.”
His compatriot Denwit Boriboonsub, and Korea’s Minsu Kim, an amateur, Jeunghun Wang, Songgyu Yoo and Junhung Jang are tied for fourth following 68s.
A shot back are Giwhan Kim, Jinho Choi and Doyeon Hwang from Korea, plus Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, Poom Saksansin and Suteepat Prateeptienchai
Defending champion Minkyu Kim had a disappointing day. The Korean, who also won in 2022, fired an 81.
La Vie Est Belle is hosting the tournament for the first time. The past 21 editions have been held at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, but the venue is undergoing course renovations necessitating a change in venue.
Australian Ryan Peake says he fully intends to ‘capitalise’ on his victory at the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport in March and is working hard to ‘get over’ that emotional week.
After shooting an even-par 71 in the first round of the Kolon Korea Open today, being played on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club, the burly lefthander said: “I’m still getting congratulated most places I go. But you know, as far as myself, I think I can move on from that. It’s a little while ago now, and you know, it was great. But I don’t want to just get excited about one week. I want to use that one week and then capitalise on the opportunities it’s given me.”
Travelling to play events overseas on the Asian Tour for the first time is part of the process. This week is just his second event outside of Australia on the Asian Tour; he missed the cut by two strokes three weeks ago in his first: the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, also in Korea.
“Obviously, after winning in New Zealand I just had so much on my plate. There was so much to sort out and things like that. So, yeah, I wasn’t kind of in the best head space as such. You know, I’m still trying to get over that, at the moment,” he explained.
“But look, I’m trying to just come out and take the thinking away from it a little bit and try and just enjoy it a little bit more – instead of trying to, maybe, put so much pressure on myself to keep it rolling. If I just have fun and just do my natural stuff, then it will just come.”
Ryan Peake pictured with the winner’s trophy at the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport. Picture by Steve McArthur/Photosport.
His win New Zealand completed a remarkable Hollywood-style comeback story. He dramatically holed a 10-foot par putt on the par-three 18th at Millbrook Resort, in Queenstown, to triumph by one in his first ever Asian Tour event.
Ten years earlier, at the age of 21, he was jailed for five years for assault. He was a member of the Rebels bike gang, having earlier been a promising amateur golfer in Western Australia.
Renowned golf coach Ritchie Smith – who works with Minjee Lee, her brother Min Woo and Hannah Green – was able to re-ignite his interest in the game and get him back on track.
“You know, it was coming,” says the 32-year-old of his win. “It was just trying to basically commit to what I was continuing to do and just wait for it to switch. It was a matter of time, when it was going to happen. And, you know, luckily for me, it honestly happened on the right week.”
Like this week’s event, the New Zealand Open is part of the Open Qualifying Series, so Peake’s brilliant performance earned him a place in this summer’s Open championship at Royal Portrush.
He says: “The Open is coming up. Look it hasn’t really sunk in yet. Yes, I’ve still got a couple events before I get there as well. I’m sure it will sink in probably the week before or the week of. But, you know, every day it’s getting closer.”
Peake is six shots behind clubhouse leader Yujun Jung from Korea, who carded a 65, after the morning session today. Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai is next best placed after a 67.
Ryan Peake is congratulated by former Open winner Ian Baker-Finch after booking his Open berth in New Zealand. Picture by Andrew Cornaga/Photosport.
The Australian felt he could have easily been two or three under but said he needs to work out how to find the tight fairways to avoid the rough and having to deal with ‘flyers’.
All probably first world problems for the rising star who has turned his game and life around.
Korean Minkyu Kim [main picture centre left] has owned the Kolon Korea Open presented by ELORD for the past three years: he won in 2022, tied for fourth the following year, and savoured victory again last year.
This week he will attempt to become only the fourth player to lift the famous trophy, considered to be the most sought after title in Korean golf, more than twice when the tournament tees-off on Thursday on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle golf club – in Gangwon province, a few hours drive north-east of Seoul.
In English La Vie Est Belle means life is beautiful and that has certainly been the case for Kim in this event. And he revealed this week that his success has in part been helped by watching Northern Ireland’s Rory Mcllroy play in the tournament over a decade ago.
“When I was a kid,” said the 24-year-old, “I remember following Rory Mcllroy, in the gallery, when he played the Korea Open. I was jumping up and down with excitement. It didn’t mean quite so much at the time, but now that I’ve won two titles, those memories are special to me. It’s connected. If I can win a third, I think I’ll be a true ‘Man of the Open’.”
Mcllroy, who won the Masters last month to become only the sixth player to claim the career Grand Slam, finished second in Korea’s National Open in 2011 and 2013.
Minkyu Kim is all smiles after winning last year. Picture courtesy of the KGA Tournament Committee.
Two years ago Kim ended eight shots behind runaway winner Seungsu Han from the United States. He says he was disappointed not to successfully defend his title – something six players have done – but has a greater belief in his ability this time around.
Said Kim: “I tried to win the title two years ago but was unsuccessful. However, having won the Korea Open twice, I’ll be playing with more confidence this time.”
This year marks the first time the tournament has been played La Vie Est Belle. The past 21 editions have been staged at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, where Kim enjoyed his two victories. The greens are being redone at Woo Jeong Hills, so a change of venue was required.
On this week’s course, Kim said: “The course is generally wide, but there are a few holes that are trickier than I expected. I’m definitely going to play those holes carefully – you can’t afford to make mistakes there.”
Since its launch in 1958, seven other players have won the event twice, while Changsang Han has triumphed a record seven times – remarkably, four successive times from 1964, and three on-the-trot from 1970. Daesub Kim from Korea, Chinese-Taipei’s Hsieh Yung-yo, and American Orville Moody are the only other players to have claimed the title more than twice. Kim won twice and as an amateur, while Moody, the 1969 US Open champion, won the first three editions.
A brilliant field has assembled for the 67th staging of the tournament – which is the seventh event of the season on the Asian Tour, and the circuit’s second visit of the year to the Land of Morning Calm.
Rory McIlroy in action at 56th Kolon Korea Open. Picture by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images.
LIV Golf star Danny Lee from New Zealand, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond – the winner of this event in 2019 – and Korean Doyeob Mun, who claimed the GS Caltex Maekyung Open last month and is third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, the highest ranked player in the field, are competing.
Australian lefthander Ryan Peake, who won the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport, and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent are playing.
Vincent arrives here on the crest of a wave after qualifying for the US Open on Monday at a qualifier in Japan. Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho and David Boriboonsub from Thailand, who both lost in a play-off for the third and final spot in that qualifier, are also here.
Richard T. Lee of Canada is another in-from player who will start. He finished second at last week’s SK Telecom Open on the Korean PGA Tour after coming up short in a play-off against Korea’s Jaewoong Eom, who is also here. Lee, who finished a career-best third on last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit, won the Woori Bank Finance Championship on the same tour in late April after a three-way play-off and is presently second on the money list in Korea.
Korean Sangmoon Bae will also tee it up. He is the only other multiple winner of this tournament in the field, having won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009.
The prestigious tournament is part of the Open Qualifying Series, with the leading player not otherwise exempt making it through to The Open at Royal Portrush in July.
Tournament Information
- Tournament: Kolon Korea Open presented by ELORD
- Date: May 22-25, 2025
- Venue: La Vie Est Belle (Dunes Course), Chuncheon, Korea
- Par/Yards: 71 / 7,423 yards
- Purse: KRW1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,008,000)
- Defending champion: Minkyu Kim (KOR)
- Asian Tour leg: Seventh
- Edition of tournament: 67th
- Total number of players: 144
- Format: Stroke play tournament over 4 rounds of 18 holes with a cut after 36 holes for leading 60 players (including amateurs) plus ties.
- Open Qualifying Series (OQS) event – The leading player not already exempt, who makes the cut at the Kolon Korea Open will earn a place in The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush from 13-20 July 2025
- Social media hashtags: #TimeToRise
This week’s event is part of the Open Qualifying Series. Koreans Minkyu Kim and Younghan Song made it through last year.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Jeev Milkha Singh (2006, 2008)
- Nationalities: 15
- Top contenders: Richard T. Lee (CAN), Doyeob Mun (KOR), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Minkyu Kim (KOR), Danny Lee (NZL), Travis Smyth (AUS), Scott Vincent (ZIM)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: Richard T. Lee (CAN) #164
- Highest ranked player on 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Doyeob Mun (KOR) #4
- Number of amateurs: 6
- Number of Korean players in the field: 96
Tournament Notes
- Richard T. Lee of Canada finished second at last week’s SK Telecom Open on the Korean PGA Tour last week after coming up short in a play-off against Korea’s Jaewoong Eom, but as consolation he reached a career high ranking on the OWGR sitting in 164th position this week. He also won the Woori Bank Finance Championship on the same tour in late April after a three-way play-off. Lee had a great season on the Asian Tour last year, finishing third on the Order of Merit thanks to a win at the BNI Indonesian Masters, a runner up at the International Series Thailand and four other top 10s. He also had a good start this season with top-10s in his first two Asian Tour starts, finishing fifth in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and T10 in the International Series India presented by DLF. Lee continued his impressive cut streak on the Asian Tour to 21 events at the International Series Japan presented by Moutai, and the last time he missed a cut on the Asian Tour was at the International Series Singapore in October of 2023.
Doyeob Mun won when the Asian Tour last visited Korea – three weeks ago.
- GS Caltex Maekyung Open winner Doyeob Mun from Korea has been great form recently, shown by his spectacular final round 63 at the difficult Namseoul Country Club track. At his latest Asian Tour tournament, the International Series Japan presented by Moutai, he finished tied 37th. In addition to his win at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, Mun has three Korean PGA Tour titles on his CV.
- The 2019 Korea Open winner Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand, a seven-time winner on the Asian Tour, has seen his game return to good form and he finished T2 at the recent GS Caltex Maekyung Open after being the joint leader after three rounds. He also recorded a top 10 at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn six weeks earlier. The now 29-year-old won this tournament in 2019, the season in which he won four titles and the Asian Tour Order of Merit crown, beating Korean Innchoon Hwang by one shot at Woo Jeong Hills.
Jazz Janewattananond claimed Korea’s National Open in 2019.
- The defending champion Minkyu Kim of Korea, who also won this tournament in 2022, has mainly been playing on the DP World Tour this season, with T8 at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in February as his best result. Kim finished second in the Korean PGA Tour’s Genesis Points rankings in 2024 after two victories, thereby earning his ticket onto the DP World Tour. He made his debut on the LIV Golf League recently at their inaugural Korean event.
- Korean born New Zealander Danny Lee who plays on Kevin Na’s Iron Heads team on the LIV Golf League, has one LIV title on his resume after winning the Tucson event in 2023. He also famously won the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic on the DP World Tour while still an amateur, a year after winning the 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship at Pinehurst. He was the number one ranked amateur in the world from August 2008 until turning pro in April 2009. This season on the LIV Golf League Lee has a T9 at LIV Miami as his best result.
- Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe has had a bit of a mixed bag of results on the Asian Tour this season, with top 10s in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open and International Series India Presented by DLF, a T12 in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, after being in fifth place after three rounds, but also two missed cuts in Japan and Macau. In his lone start on the Japan Golf Tour in 2025 he posted a T9 at the Maezawa Cup in late April. Vincent has one Asian Tour victory on his resume, the 2022 International Series England, along with three on the Japan Golf Tour coming in 2021 and 2022. He’s coming into this week on a high because at the weekend he successfully secured one of the three places up for grabs at a US Open qualifying event, played in Japan.
- Australian Travis Smyth is one of Asian Tour’s most prolific high performers, and could be looked upon as being overdue for his second Asian Tour title after winning the 2022 Yeangder TPC. He has been in good form this season posting T10s in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and the International Series India presented by DLF, a T15 in the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport and a T16 in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open. Smyth was T5 and only three shots out of the lead going into Sunday at the International Series Japan presented by Moutai, before a final round of 75 derailed his chances. His worst finish in six Asian Tour events of 2025 has been a T24, and he also finished T3 in the Webex Players Series Sydney hosted by Peter O’Malley on the Australian Tour in late February.
- Former Presidents Cup (2015) player Sangmoon Bae is the only player in the field other than the defending champion Kim that has won his national Open twice, in 2008 and 2009. The Korean holds an impressive resume with two PGA Tour titles, three on the Japan Golf Tour, nine on the Korean Tour and three on the Asian Tour.
Playing tournament golf in Japan is always a memorable experience and at the recently staged International Series Japan presented by Moutai, competitors chose to honour this in the best way possible – by giving back to the community.
A wealth of competitors, including the champion Lucas Herbert from Australia, donated equipment to the Japan High School and Junior High School Golf Association, one of the nation’s leading supporters of grassroots golf.
Golf balls, hats and gloves were all gifted to the association during the week, helping to ensure the country’s up-and-coming golfers have a surplus of quality golf products.
The contributions helped played an important part in an unforgettable week at Caledonian Golf Club, which marked the first time The International Series had visited Japan.
Said Herbert after his win: “I had the pleasure of first coming to play in Japan as an amateur at the start of my career and it’s just a special place. I had some of the best food I have ever had this week, and it’s just been an incredible experience.”
Lucas Herbert. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Yuta Sugiura, one of Japan’s rising stars and a two-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, finished as the leading local player in a tie for second place.
The 23-year-old is an inspiration to the country’s next generation of golfers, including the aspiring golfers at the Japan High School.
“We are so grateful to the Asian Tour and The International Series for these wonderful donations to our students,” said Hisahiko Inoue [main picture with Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour], Chairman, Japan High School and Junior High School Golf Association.
“These gifts will be a great incentive to our golfers to try and reach the next level and follow in the footsteps of players like Yuta Sugiura. Golf in Japan continues to be very popular and we are trying to play our part in helping it to grow.”
Five players from Japan finished in the top-10 at the International Series Japan presented by Moutai – including Jinichiro Kozuma, who plays on the LIV Golf League – showcasing the strength in depth of the powerful golfing nation.
The completion of the International Series Japan presented by Moutai at the weekend – won so magnificently by Australian Lucas Herbert – meant for the third successive event The International Series boasted a strong presenting partner.
And with the International Series Cambodia presented by Royal Group recently unveiled, The International Series is most definitely in the spotlight in 2025.
All 10 events have now been finalised with five boasting presenting partners. Four of them are groundbreaking inaugural tournaments while another features a brand new title sponsor, highlighting the growing attraction of the brand.
Launched in March 2022 as a LIV Golf-backed series of elevated events on the Asian Tour, the series got underway at the International Series Thailand at Black Mountain Golf Club, Thailand.
Since that inaugural tournament, the series has visited 15 countries including destinations in the Middle East, North Africa and the United Kingdom, firmly establishing The International Series as a global brand, while providing the best playing opportunities to elite golfers as well as the best regional and local talent.
Fast forward to May 2025. The series continues to expand, with four new markets this season, in India, Japan, Cambodia and the Philippines.
Picture by Graham Uden/54.
The addition of a legacy event, the Singapore Open, further strengthens a robust calendar which also features welcome returns to Macau, Morocco, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.
The growing appeal of the brand is evident by the addition of strong commercial partnerships supporting each of the new events.
Giant real estate company DLF was presenting partner of the International Series India; Chinese beverage maker Moutai presented the International Series Japan; Cambodian conglomerate Royal Group will present the International Series Cambodia, and Bingo Plus will present the International Series Philippines.
Earlier this year saw the second edition of the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, further evidence of the brand’s appeal.
Moutai has also been named as title sponsor of the storied Singapore Open, a legacy event in the region which returns to the Asian Tour calendar after a hiatus of three years.
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “The International Series is making a real impact on the industry and contributing to an unheralded new era for the sport, transforming the golf landscape for everyone, from global superstars to regional talent and prodigious amateurs.
“Driven by our unique offering, we have made significant commercial strides particularly in 2025, welcoming numerous new partners, cementing the allure of The International Series as one of the most attractive opportunities in men’s professional golf.”
The impact of The International Series is not just commercial. A number of players from the Asian Tour have taken the pathway to the LIV Golf League in the past four years, while the appearance of superstars such as Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann and Patrick Reed on the series has further elevated the offering.
Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said: “LIV Golf is committed to creating more player pathways throughout professional golf, and The International Series continues to play a huge role in the sport’s global growth.
“The Series is bringing many of golf’s biggest names to new markets while opening opportunities for the stars of tomorrow to compete with the very best, and we couldn’t be more excited for its future.”
Next stop on the series is the International Series Morocco – being played at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course), 3-6 July.
LIV Golf star Lucas Herbert put on a putting masterclass to win the International Series Japan presented by Moutai last week, at Caledonian Golf Club.
The 29-year-old from Australia topped the Putts per Greens in Regulation (GIR) category with 1.531, with Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai second on 1.583. Herbert also ranked third in Putts per Round with 26.75, behind only Korean Younghan Song, with 26.25, and Atiruj, on 26.5.
Thanks to his brilliant performance on the greens, Herbert impressively posted under-par scores on 37.5% of the holes, and led both the Most Birdies and Most Eagles categories for the week with 23 birdies and four eagles respectively.
His other stats for the week were also strong: Driving Distance 307.2 yards (10th), Fairways Hit 64.29% (T18), and GIR 68.06 (T35).
Younghan Song. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Japan’s Yuta Sugiura was very good at keeping bogeys off his scorecard, making only two for the 72 holes and four less than anyone else who made the cut. He also produced solid stats in the Putts per Round and GIR categories with 27.5 (T9) and 72.22% respectively.
Song not only topped Putts per Round but also led both the Putts per Round and Putts per GIR categories after three rounds, and was sixth in Putts per GIR with 1.617.
Statistics Categories leaders at the International Series Japan presented by Moutai (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round – Younghan Song (KOR): 26.25
- Putts per GIR – Lucas Herbert (AUS): 1.531
- GIR – Sarit Suwannarut (THA): 79.17%
- Fairways Hit – Bio Kim (KOR): 92.86%
- Driving Distance – Ervin Chang (MAS): 322 yards
- Most Eagles – Lucas Herbert (AUS): 4
- Most Birdies – Lucas Herbert (AUS): 23
- Fewest Bogies or Worse – Yuta Sugiura (JPN): 2
- Scrambling – Jinichiro Kozuma (JPN): 80.00%
- Bounce back – Jeunghun Wang (KOR), Jinichiro Kozuma (JPN): 50%
Lucas Herbert has moved to the top of The International Series Rankings following his stunning five-shot victory at the International Series Japan presented by Moutai at the weekend.
The Australian, who plays for Ripper GC on LIV Golf, led from the start after a course record-equalling nine-under-par 62 on Thursday at Caledonian Golf Club, and although he was five adrift with three to play on Saturday, he roared to victory thanks to two eagles in his closing three holes which got him a three-way share of the lead going into the final day.
A closing 64 was enough to see off nearest challengers Yuta Sigiura of Japan and Younghan Song of Korea, and the dominant display underlined Herbert’s rich vein of good form this season that has already generated three top-five finishes and three top-20 results in seven LIV Golf League events.
“The strength of the field was very good. I have played in Japan a few times over the years, and the field strength is always good,” said Herbert, who is becoming something of a specialist in the Land of the Rising Sun as his last tournament win was also there, at the ISPS Handa Championship in 2023.
“It’s tricky. It feels like I am playing an away game against these guys on their home turf. Their games are all structured and built to play really well in Japanese courses. So it is tough to beat them at their own game at times.
Lucas Herbert gets the biggest of hugs from his caddie, Nick Pugh. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
“That’s why the two wins I have had in Japan have felt quite special, because it feels like winning an away game like in other sports when you are beating these guys on their home venues, against home crowds too.”
Herbert shot up 20 positions to pole on the rankings thanks to the 180 points earned, and he leads the International Series Macau presented by Wynn winner Carlos Ortiz of Mexico and International Series India presented by DLF champion Ollie Schniederjans by 22.95 points, with Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed tied fourth, a further 70 points behind.
American Schniederjans missed both the Macau and Japan dates because of injury, and will be hoping for a return in time for International Series Morocco from 3-6 July.
The winner of The International Series Rankings earns a place on the ensuing season’s LIV Golf League – a lifechanging opportunity on the groundbreaking franchise.
May 11: Lucas Herbert scripted a grandstand finish by making an eagle on the par-five 18th hole for the second day in a row and extended his winning margin in the US$2 million International Series Japan presented by Moutai to a dominant five shots.
On Sunday at the par-71 Caledonian Golf Club in Chiba, the 29-year-old Australian won his maiden Asian Tour and International Series title. Once he moved into solo lead, he was never challenged as he closed with a seven-under-par 64 to reach 20-under for the week, five ahead of his playing partners Yuta Sugiura and Younghan Song.
Sugiura played solid golf and was bogey-free for the third time in four days, but his putter let him down in a round of 69. He was the best-placed Japanese player in the field. Song’s quest for a first win in Japan continued, but a birdie on the last helped him tie Sugiura for second place at 15-under.
American Cameron Tringale (66) rolled in a 15-foot eagle putt on the last to finish solo fourth at 14-under, one ahead of Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (65) and Japan’s Shunya Takeyasu (67).
Lucas Herbert of Australia. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour
It was a remarkable run by Herbert, who was five shots behind the leader with three holes to play in the third round, before engineering a 10-shot swing against his closest rival with two eagles in the last three holes on Saturday, followed by the 64 that included seven birdies and the eagle on the 18th.
With his wire-to-wire win, Herbert moved to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, as well as The International Series Rankings. It was also his first international victory in almost two years, having won the 2023 ISPS Handa Championship, also in Japan.
The Ripper GC star, who played a full season on the Asian Tour in 2016, started the day tied for the lead at 13-under alongside Sugiura and Song. The 33-year-old Korean immediately moved ahead with an eagle on the second hole, but Herbert hunted him down with birdies on the second, fourth and fifth.
Herbert made a bogey on the par-five sixth hole, and it seemed he used up all his bad shots on that single hole as he twice flirted with the trees on the left and was left with horrible downhill lies. Even though he had another bogey coming in – at the 15th – he was rock solid throughout and shut the door on the chasing pack.
Yuta Sugiura of Japan. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour
“I was thinking about it down on the 18th green, that finish yesterday really set it up. It would have been much tougher, I think, to play the group in front, or maybe two groups in front, had I parred in and to try and come back from behind today,” said Herbert.
“Being able to tie the lead last night, and sleep thinking that I didn’t have to chase anything down today, was a big factor. And then, very happy with the way I played today, I think it was the low round of the day, so that’s always going to make it hard to beat when you start the day tied for the lead.”
The second-hand putter he found at a thrift shop in Korea last week was smoking hot again as he completed the round in just 23 putts, but Herbert also credited his new driver (a Titleist GT3 with a Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7x shaft) that he has been using to good effect this year. It has resulted in three top-10s on LIV Golf, where he is now fifth in the standings.
“I’ve played really well this year, and I think the driver was a big part of this success. So, I’ve got to thank Tom Davies, who works on my clubs. He was the one who put it in my hands. I had other thoughts of what I might be using this year and he encouraged me to give it a go. It seemed to have worked out pretty well,” said Herbert.
“The way I’ve been playing this year, it’s been building to get a win at some point. So, it’s nice to get it done here, especially in Japan, which is one of my favourite places. It’s nice to feel like some of the hard work that I put in has paid off. Holding that trophy is a pretty good feeling.”
Cameron Tringale of USA. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour
Sugiura, 23 and regarded as one of Japan’s brightest young prospects, felt he could have posted a much better score if his putter had cooperated over the past four days.
“I think I played good golf for four days. This week, my putting didn’t go as well as I wanted, but I hit some good shots, so I’m looking forward to my future tournaments,” said Sugiura, who won the 2023 Dunlop Phoenix Open on Japan Golf Tour as an amateur.
“I made some good putts yesterday, so I thought today would go well, but it was difficult because I kept missing birdie chances, just like the first two days.”
Song struggled with his shot-making on the back nine, and despite finding numerous tough spots, limited the damage to just two bogeys.
“I started off really well, but I missed some putts at key moments and things didn’t go well on the back nine. However, Lucas putted really well and there’s no doubt he was the better player today,” said Song.
“I played with Lucas yesterday and today. These guys are good with their shot-making, but they’re also really good with their short games. He wasn’t making many putts yesterday, but he made a lot of putts today. I think if I work hard on my short game, I can do it as well.”
International Series Japan presented by Moutai was the third of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar that form a pathway onto the LIV Golf League. The next event in the schedule is the International Series Morocco, which will be played July 3-6.
May 10: In a dramatic finish to the third round of the US$2 million International Series Japan presented by Moutai, Lucas Herbert made an eagle two on the par-four 16th, followed by a regulation eagle on the par-five 18th to catch up with Yuta Sugiura and Younghan Song on top of the leaderboard.
The 29-year-old Australian, leader by one at the start of the day, seemed to be struggling with his game and was five shots behind with three holes to play at the par-71 Caledonian Golf Club in Chiba.
However, the Ripper GC star on LIV Golf scripted a rousing finish. He drove the green on the reachable 16th and converted a 21-foot putt. On the 18th, he struck his second shot from 188 yards to 10 feet for a two-under round of 69.
That lifted him to 13-under for 54 holes, joining Japan’s Sugiura (66) and Korea’s Song (68).
Moments earlier, Sugiura made a bogey on the 18th after smashing his 78-yard wedge shot over the green. That undid a magical eagle on the 345-yard 16th, where he had hit his drive to six feet.
Yuta Sugiura of Japan. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour
England’s Sam Horsfield had set the marker in the clubhouse at 11-under, thanks to a blistering round of 63. He was nine-under through 16 holes, but made a bogey from the bunker on the par-three 17th and could not make a birdie from 12 feet on the 18th.
Australia’s Travis Smyth and Guatemala’s Jose Toledo both shot matching rounds of 68 to move to T5 at 10-under.
Herbert made an early bogey on the third hole, and then dropped a couple of shots around the turn to be two-over for the round as he walked to the 16th tee.
“It was a frustrating day heading into the last three holes, but golf is a funny game like that. You can turn around a very frustrating day and make it pretty productive. So, got the lead after all three rounds. Hopefully, I will have the lead after all four rounds,” said Herbert, who matched the course record with a 62 on the opening day.
“I was just slightly off. It was a little tricky with the wind, which was gusting around everywhere. I didn’t think that was super easy. Just wasn’t that far off, and probably just trying a little bit too hard. I thought today was a really good opportunity to try and stretch a lead out and get a long way away from the field.
“Once I kind of let go of that mentality, I was able to come back and refocus on what was in front of me.”
Younghan Song of Korea. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour
Asked what he needed to do on Sunday to get his first international title in almost two years – his last win was also in Japan at the 2023 ISPS Handa Championship, Herbert said: “We shoot five-under tomorrow, I’d say it’s probably good enough.
“I haven’t played with Sugiura before, but I just played with Song, who is also leading going into tomorrow. They are both 13-under and are obviously good players. So, we will just have to roll with the punches tomorrow. If they are making a lot of birdies, I am going to have to try to go with them.”
Sugiura leads the home challenge and will be looking for his first Asian Tour victory. The 24-year-old is no stranger to winning, having won the 2023 Dunlop Phoenix Open, one of the most prestigious titles on the Japan Golf Tour, as an amateur, followed by the Japan PGA Championship last year.
Bogey-free through his first two rounds of successive 67s, the promising Sugiura started and closed Saturday with bogeys, but shot his best round of 66.
“Today, I could make more putts than the last two days which led to a good score. It’s nice to finish on top of the leaderboard and play in the final round in a good position. I want to try my best to win and also enjoy the nervousness of playing in contention,” said Sugiura.
Sam Horsfield of England. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour
“Of course, it would be great to have a bogey-free round, but it feels like birdies don’t come easily when you play golf with that as your main goal. So, while the bogey on the first was the result of a mistake (a poor tee shot), it couldn’t be helped.”
Song, who defeated the then world No.1 Jordan Spieth to win the 2016 SMBC Singapore Open for his only win on the Asian Tour, birdied the last to join the leaders.
“My putting was great at the start and I was happy with that, but in the middle, my shots weren’t that great. I thought I just had to hang in there and keep pushing until the end. So, I changed my mindset and played accordingly. Overall, I think today went well,” said Song, a regular on the Japan Golf Tour who is searching for his first win in the country.
“I do want to win, and if my shots come out well, I think I can be in a good position. I want to focus on my own game. I hope I can showcase my full potential and have a good round.”
International Series Japan presented by Moutai is the third of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar that form a pathway onto the LIV Golf League.
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