Published on February 19, 2023

The International Series is definitely the future for the Asian Tour and its up-and-coming players, but it’s also a place where the game’s more experienced campaigners can enjoy competing, which was clearly evident at this week’s International Series Qatar where India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa and Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant and Prayad Marksaeng, all impressively made the cut.

All four are legends on the Asian Tour and they are also all now aged over 50, so their performances over the first two days caught the eye in an event the boasts an extremely strong field.

Thaworn, the Tour’s most successful golfer with 18 victories, shot rounds of 71 and 76 to survive the cut, made at six over, by three. Prayad was four over, after a 73 and a 75, as was Randhawa, who shot 71 and 77, while Singh finished right on the cut mark, following a 74 and 76.

Prayad says he’s not surprised the over 50s still have a chance to compete with the young guns at Doha Golf Club: “Because the course is not actually that difficult, but the wind has been very strong. You have to know how to play in the wind, and make sure you hit the ball in the fairway off the tee.

“The secret is you just have to be able to hit the fairways, and I’ve hit a lot of fairways this week. I was mostly in the fairways and on the greens and I have also putted very well.”

The 57 year old credits his longevity and success to keeping fit and a healthy lifestyle, which has seen him win an impressive 52 professional events. Remarkably, and in more recent times, he has won 18 times on the Japan Senior Tour, while during his heyday he was victorious on 10 occasions on the Asian Tour and six times in Japan, while he has also claimed numerous local events in Thailand.

“The secret for me to keeping fit is because I sleep early, very early. I normally sleep at 8.30pm but I wake up early as well, about 3.30am. I don’t drink or smoke so that’s my secret. Another thing is when I have a tournament, I will not go to the driving range to hit balls before I play because I want to save some energy for the course. Basically, I’ll just do some chipping and putting before I play.”

His compatriot Thaworn, aged 56, is also not surprised that the older players survived the half-way cut this week: “Because we have experience, and don’t think so much about it, we just come here for fun so we’re not stressing about playing well. I played here many times when the event was on the European Tour and my best finish is probably top 20. But I was younger and stronger and hit it longer back then, and the greens were softer, and the wind was not as strong as this week.”

The 2005 and 2012 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner is mainly planning to play senior events this season, but will also play Asian Tour events on courses that he feels suits his game.

“If I have time on the schedule I will play some Asian Tour events, but I will mainly play Thai Senior Tour events and on the Japan Senior Tour,” said Thaworn.

“In Japan, there are lot of new senior players coming up from the JGTO, so I can’t say how it will go this year.”

Randhawa also made the cut in last week’s International Series Oman and thinks his game is in a good place.

Says the 50 year old: “Well, I think I’m playing pretty good, probably hitting the ball better than I ever did right now. Because when you reach my age, there’s no doubt in your mind, you know you’re just playing and you’re just believing in what you’re doing.

“When you’re younger, you’re changing too many things, but now I know exactly what I need to do. It’s just that the body and the mind have to work, so that’s the problem. But playing against the young guys, yeah, I love to compete. I love to be out here playing with them, and if I can give them good competition I look forward to that.”

“I haven’t lost any distance, if anything, I’ve gained about 10 yards with the new driver, the new clubs and new ball, I’m hitting it longer than I used to. Short game is a bit off you know, I don’t practice as much, don’t chip and putt as much so I’m losing a lot of shots there.”

The eight-time Asian Tour winner and 2002 Merit champion also has limited status on the Champions Tour and is looking forward to a stint in the U.S. this summer: “I finished 27^th in the Champions Tour Q-School and I can do Monday Qualifiers every week. So come summer I think I’m gonna go try to play six, seven events in May, June and July and see if I can make it.”

Singh, who won the Merit crown in 2006 and has amassed six Asian Tour wins, four DP World Tour victories and six on the Japan Tour, says experience plays such an important part in their games in the latter stages of their careers.

“I think experience plays a big role when the conditions like this come into play on a golf course, especially when it gets so windy. I think over the years, we’ve learned to make sure we keep the ball in play, where you don’t have to be aggressive and where you need to hold back, and where you do need to be aggressive. I think that’s the main reason.

“I think the four of us are playing good golf, and I think that’s the main reason we are here on the weekend playing with the young guns and trying to keep up with them.”

Singh plans to play quite a bit on the Asian Tour in the near future before heading overseas when the European Senior Tour resumes again this summer.

“I am going to play the Asian Tour, I’m going to double-dip basically,” he says.

“If there is no Senior Tour event in Japan or in Europe, I’m going to come and play in Asia because I’m playing under a category which I can get into most of the events. My next one is going to be at Black Mountain in Thailand, then Hong Kong, Vietnam, and hopefully at Nam Seoul.

“Then I’m gonna hit the senior tour, I’m going to be playing mainly in Europe this year, because the money is going up.

“I focused on Japan last year, but this year it’s going to be maybe two or three events in Japan, the rest is going to be in Europe and U.S., which is going to be a few Monday qualifiers and some major championships.”

While neither of them were able to make an impression on the leaderboard over the weekend –Prayad faired the best finishing in a tie for 26th – the fact that the four were present for all four days was an acknowledgement of their unquestionable class and an inspiration to all.

Published on February 18, 2023

American Andy Ogletree made a statement of intent to win his second International Series title when he took the third-round lead in the International Series Qatar today, after firing an outstanding six-under-par 66, on another windswept day at Doha Golf Club.

Ogletree, who triumphed in the International Series Egypt last November, put himself in a strong position for a repeat tomorrow, after moving to eight under for the tournament, which gave him a commanding five-shot lead from Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai.

Suradit started the day two in front but carded a 74 while Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat and Malaysian Ben Leong are a shot further back following rounds of 71 and 73 respectively.

After a poor finish to his second round yesterday when he made bogey on 15 and then a double bogey on 16 Ogletree looked like a man seeking redemption today, and he did just that with a confident bogey-free performance, that saw him make an eagle and four birdies.

The 24 year old, playing in the penultimate group, took the lead thanks a brilliant run of holes from nine, which saw him go birdie, eagle, birdie. The eagle on the par-five 10^th came after a lengthy chip in, while his birdie on the ensuing hole saw him take a three-shot lead over Leong.

And he satisfactorily got his revenge on the 16^th when he reached the short 307-yard par four with an iron off the tee to set up a two-putt birdie, which increased the lead to four.

A double bogey by Leong on the par-five 18^th allowed the American to end the day with an even bigger buffer.

“Today was pretty good, didn’t make any mistakes really,” said Ogletree.

“I put it in the right positions all day off the tee. I think I kind of to set up the approach shots. The ground got pretty firm, obviously the wind is blowing super hard so I felt like I set up the angles pretty well, and I missed it in the right spots. I had really good speed on the greens, so it was really a solid day.”

Suradit, also the first-round leader, did well to stay in contention and was three over after six but played the next 12 in one under.

“I felt it was even windier today, so it was difficult, but I am happy I still have a chance,” said Suradit, a winner once before on the Asian Tour at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2019.

“I have had Kiradech’s (Aphibarnrat) caddie on my bag since the Saudi International. He has made a big difference and helped me be strong mentally. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.”

Leong, looking for his first win on the Asian Tour in 15 years, found trouble on the left on the 18^th and when trying to play a recovery shot back into the fairway his ball hit a rock and ricochet back down the fairway.

“I hit a rock, took an un-playable, and hit a rock. Fortunately, it went back to the fairway, it could have gone anywhere so I think it was a good seven. Look at it this way, life can be a lot worse than we thought,” said the Malaysian.

“Like I said yesterday I thought with this wind, a couple over, three over, that’s fine. It’s so hard out there even just standing over the putt you start wobbling. So, I’m okay, it wasn’t a great finish but there’s always tomorrow.”

Japan’s Hideto Tanihara, a 17-time winner in Japan, carded a 70 and is in outright fifth, seven adrift of Ogletree.

Published on February 17, 2023

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai impressively succeeded when the majority failed again today in wildly windy weather to take the lead at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar, at Doha Golf Club.

After yesterday’s four-under-par 68 which gave him the first-round lead he followed that up this morning with a brave 71 to lead on five under, by two strokes from Malaysian Ben Leong, who shot 70.

American Andy Ogletree (71) and Australia’s Travis Smyth (72) are a shot further back – in the Asian Tour’s third event of the season, and second of 10 International Series tournaments.

“I was very happy with the 68 yesterday and today I feel even more happy with one under par in this wind. Today was more windy,” said Suradit, who has tasted victory once before on the Asian Tour at the 2019 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

“Today into the wind I hit three clubs more, and maybe had to aim 30 yards right [on cross wind shots], it was very windy.”

The 24 year old made three birdies and two bogeys and is looking to bounce back from a poor 2022 season when he finished 81^st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, when a 10^th place finish in the Mercuries event was the highlight of his year.

“My caddie and I feel in these conditions the par is about 75. I have been driving the ball well, and when I miss they haven’t been bad misses. I have very good distance control with my irons considering the strong wind, and have also been putting well,” he added.

Leong, who played in the afternoon and started on the back nine, tried hard to catch the Thai leader and reached four under with seven to play but dropped his only shots of the day on five and seven before recovering with a birdie on the ninth as darkness descended.

“Phenomenal, I’m just glad I could finish today,” said the Malaysian, whose sole victory on the Asian Tour came 15 years ago at the Selangor Masters.

“I think the key for today was just driving the ball really well, surprisingly with this tough condition. And coming back in from the front nine, I drove it well, misjudged the wind a little on my second shots. So yeah, all in all very happy.”

Smyth has also won once before on the Tour, in last year’s Yeangder TPC in Chinese Taipei following a string of good results, and was delighted to reach the clubhouse under par.

He said: “It’s like the best feeling ever, finishing Friday midday, just sitting back relaxing, watching the carnage unfold. Yeah, brutal conditions, I’m super stoked to be under par.”

He missed a four-foot putt on his last, the par-five ninth as he began on 10, for birdie, in stark contrast to his opening eagle on 10, also a par five, when he holed a pitch shot from 50 metres.

“I mean, it’s so strange, I’ve never seen anywhere like it where it’s windy all the way through the night, all the way through the morning. It’s like it’s the exact same basically the last two days,” he added.

“The forecast is meant to be the same over the next two days. But yeah, got off to an amazing start, the eagle was a great feeling.”

Ogletree, winner of last year’s International Series Egypt, also got close to Suradit in the afternoon but made bogey on 15 and a double on 16, where he lost his tee shot on the driveable par four.

He said: “I’m just trying to play every hole as best I can, and I felt like I gave up three shots on that one hole because no one saw my ball. So, I’m not going to get over that anytime soon. Pretty frustrated, I should be leading the tournament. And you know, I’m here to win a golf tournament. I’m not here to have a good finish. So, a successful week this week is a win, and that’s the only way I’m gonna look at it, and that’s all I’m focused on.”

Korean Minkyu Kim, winner of last year’s Kolon Korea Open, and Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat fired fine 68s, two of only three sub 70 rounds today, to be the next best placed on one under, along with American Dodge Kemmer, in with a 71.

Four players were unable to complete the second round and will finish in the morning.

Published on February 16, 2023

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai shot a solid opening four-under-par 68 in difficult windy conditions to take the clubhouse lead in the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar today at Doha Golf Club.

Canadian Richard T. Lee, Sangmoon Bae from Korea and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai came in with 69s, while South Africans Charl Schwartzel and Darren Fichardt and Travis Smyth from Australia shot 70s – in the third event of the season on the Asian Tour and the second of the year’s International Series tournaments.

Australia’s John Lyras and Todd Sinnott, Andy Ogletree from the United States, Indian Jyoti Randhawa, Malaysian Ben Leong, Filipino Miguel Tabuena, Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, Nitithorn Thippong and Gunn Charoenkul, and Saudi Arabian Saud Alsharif all carded 71s.

Suradit finished late in the day, unlike the three trailing him in second who played in the morning, and took the outright lead with a birdie on his last hole, the par-four ninth, having started his round on the back.

The 24-year-old Thai, a winner once before on the Asian Tour at the 2019 Mercuries Taiwan Masters, made five birdies and dropped one shot.

In hot pursuit is Lee a two-time winner on the Asian Tour who came close to winning two International Series events last year in Singapore and Morocco before finishing runner up on both occasions.

“I made a few good long putts in my round and just kept it in play, windy conditions so you have to keep it in the fairways and get it on the green to have putts that can go in,” said the Canadian.

“I think I converted that pretty well even though I had two bogeys out there, I’m looking forward to tomorrows round.

 It was an encouraging round, made up of five birdies and two bogeys, for Lee considering he had to retire from last week’s International Series Oman as he was feeling unwell.

He added: “Yeah I’m feeling about 70% healthy again and hopefully the next three days I can hold up and play the round I played today.”

Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, was happy to make a good start considering the difficult conditions, which saw the wind reach gusts of 35 kilometres per hour.

He said: “Yeah, I thought teeing off early we would get a little bit of benefit with the wind, but we didn’t, so spent most the day in pretty strong conditions and thought I played really well. You always feel like when you played well you always feel like you could have left a few out there but in these conditions two under will be good.”

Smyth was equally as happy to come in under par while battling the breeze.

“I feel awesome, I was joking around saying it’s just another day back where I’m from, it’s super. super windy in Sydney,” said the Australian.

“I just embraced it and felt like I got some control of my golf ball so just tried to use the wind to my advantage and yeah everything kind of went my way. I hit a few loose shots and found my ball and was able to scramble for pars. I got a little lucky combined with some good golf, so I’m stoked.”

Indians Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shiv Kapur and American Dru Love, the son of PGA Tour star Davis Love III, are in a group of players on 72.

A total of nine players will resume their rounds at 6.40am local time on Friday with the second round scheduled to start at 6.20am as planned.

Published on

Recharged, refreshed and revitalised, the Asian Tour emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic with flying colours in its first full season back in action.

Bolstered by the forging of a key partnership with LIV Golf, the launch of the International Series, and an innovative initiative with the Ladies European Tour that saw two co-sanctioned mixed events, featuring leading players from both circuits, 2022 proved to be a year to remember for the Asian Tour.

In commemoration of what was a truly tumultuous campaign, the Asian Tour has published a lavish 152-page hardback Yearbook.

As well as reports, results and evocative images from all 20 tournaments that were staged across 12 countries, the coffee table publication includes a special feature on Order of Merit winner Sihwan Kim and a moving tribute to Kyi Hla Han, the inspirational Asian golf flag-bearer who passed away in early 2022.

There are also recaps on the disrupted 2020-2021 season and the Asian Development Tour’s welcome return to action in 2022.

Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO, said: “The Asian Tour is at the beginning of an extraordinary moment in history, enjoying a period of exponential growth.

“Much of the early narrative is encapsulated in the Yearbook, arguably one of the most essential editions to date as it has such an important story to tell.”

To relive all the memorable moments from the Asian Tour’s 2022 season, a digital version of the Yearbook can be viewed at https://golfasia.sg/issues/asiantour-2022/

 

Published on February 15, 2023

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond has revealed he was practically “digging the dirt” when practising so much in order to find his form before a brilliant victory at the International Series Morocco last year.

Jazz had not won in nearly three years before his success in North Africa, a result he will try and repeat at this week’s International Series Qatar, here at Doha Golf Club.

“It was three years of playing bad golf and suddenly it just comes. Hopefully it continues a bit longer,” said the winner of 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit, the season he won on four occasions.

“I was searching, went searching, hours and hours on the range, digging the dirt, sometimes I found it, sometimes it wasn’t there.”

The victory in Morocco was the result of a sensational eagle, birdie finish – an incredible performance for a player who was shattered after an exhausting season up until that point.

He added: “Seriously like in Morocco I was such a blur, I still don’t know what happened. And I walked home with a trophy so that was pretty lucky.”

It was the seventh Asian Tour victory of his career, and in terms of confidence building it was arguably his most important.

“That was my first time in Morocco and the city of Rabat was amazing – the culture, the food, the people, everything. I had heard a lot about the golf course already from people I played with, and I knew it was going to be hard, but it exceeded all my expectations. I had been out nine weeks in a row and I was tired and my back was hurting, but I went in with an open mind to explore Morocco and Rabat, and I think that helped me win, because I didn’t come in with high expectations.”

Having tied for 17^th in last week’s International Series Oman and survived the cut in the season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers he feels his game is in a good position for this week, on a golf course he knows well, where the wind plays a major factor.

“It is my fourth time here in Qatar and third time on this golf course. So I know the golf course quite well,” said Jazz.

“I couldn’t reach the fairway on 18 today because of the wind. That was a little embarrassing.”

Despite that the signs are there that the gifted 27 year old is getting closer and closer to his best golf, justifying the exceptional amount of time he has spent on the range.

Published on

Two-time Asian Tour winner Justin Harding is relishing the return to Doha Golf Club this week, venue for the inaugural International Series Qatar, as it is a venue where he has enjoyed success before.

The 37-year-old South African, with the magical putting stroke, is also looking for a boost of confidence having just returned from a long-injury break – which saw him miss the second half of 2022.

Harding was victorious in the Qatar event here on the DP World Tour three years ago, and was fifth in the tournament last year, so don’t be surprised to see him make a run despite the lack of playing time.

“I’ve got a good track record around here, even Alan my caddy has had a lot of good finishes with George Coetzee here as well, so it’s a venue which is close to our hearts,” said Harding.

“I played pretty good here last year, as well, I think I had a bad start to the week but ended up top five. I’m looking forward to it, I am.”

His injury, a hip-stress fracture, meant he was out of action from the middle of September until late January.

He said: “It feels like the swing is coming along, I obviously had a long time out through injury. I think I was out for about four-and-a-half months or whatever it was, not swinging a club, back end of last year. My scores have been evident of the fact that I’m just rusty and just hitting some poor shots, and more so than I would otherwise be used to.

“But at the end of the day, that’s golf. You just kind of got to go through the rites and work it out and keep grinding. The doctors shut me down after the Wentworth BMW PGA Championship. But yeah, on crutches for nine weeks, or whatever it was, so it wasn’t the best of experiences.”

His injury concern was tempered by the fact that he and his partner Leah Totton welcomed the birth of their first child last year.

“I had a little baby girl in November, so it was an interesting time I must be honest,” said the South African.

“Obviously not being able to play golf was difficult, but having Lila and just being a dad for the first time was awesome. And being able to spend time at home was an added bonus, I got to help out for two months and now I’ve obviously been away from them for a month-and-a-half which is different as well. I’m navigating being a new dad and dealing with all of those sorts of things.”

Doha Golf Club is known as a challenging layout but with a fine record here it is a course that seems to fit Harding’s game nicely.

“I mean it’s a good golf course. It’s a good test. I think when the wind blows, it certainly makes it challenging to get it around. The scores are never really super low, it’s just a good challenge,” he says.

“They’ve put a few tees in, I played the back nine yesterday, and they have put a couple tees in which have made a few of the holes a little different, considerably longer.”

Harding famously won the Bank BRI Indonesia Open on the Asian Tour in 2018 while playing on a sponsors invite, and followed it up two weeks later with another win in Thailand at the Royal Cup for back-to-back victories.

It was a fantastic year for Harding as he finished third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, also helped by a runner up finish in the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup and three other top 10s.

He is also a seven-time winner in South Africa.

“I played good [that year], didn’t really ever feel like I played badly. I try to minimize the mistakes, try to keep the bogeys off the card and ultimately, just tally up the birdies if that makes any sense. I know that it’s easier said than done, but it felt like I managed my game well. I kind of knew where the ball was going and managed my misses. Putted great, I mean I’m not denying it, I putted unbelievably well.”

This season Harding will be dividing his time between the Asian Tour and the DP World Tour in order to try to keep his playing status on both Tours, and is also excited to be competing in the International Series events.

He adds: “Yeah, ultimately I want to enjoy the International Series and what that’s brought to the Asian Tour. I’ll try playing as many of those as I can and then throw in a couple other events. Maybe go back to Indonesia end of the year, where I have won.”

He has been paired with Korea’s Bio Kim and Ryosuke Kinoshita from Japan in the first two rounds.

Published on February 12, 2023

Japan’s Takumi Kanaya secured a convincing victory in the US$2 million International Series Oman today to record his first professional victory outside of Japan and suggest that the gifted young golfer is coming of age.

The 24-year-old from Hiroshima shot a final round one-under-par 71 to finish on 10 under and beat American Berry Henson (70) and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana (72) by four strokes.

England’s Steve Lewton (71) finished fourth one shot further back while Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann from Chile, both in with 74s, tied for fifth another two strokes behind.

The stunning scenic coastline of Al Mouj Golf provided the perfect background for some brilliant front running golf by Kanaya, already a three-time winner on home soil who has been striving to make his mark on the international stage.

He finally achieved that today with an eye-catching performance in what is the second event of the season on the Asian Tour and first of the year’s International Series tournaments.

“It is an honour to win the event, an International Series tournament,” said Kanaya, after what is also his first win since April of 2021 when he won the Token Homemate Cup, on the Japan Tour.

“It has been a difficult two years but I am so happy to finally win again.”

After taking the lead on day two he was never caught and began today’s round with a one-shot advantage from compatriot Ryo Hisatsune. At the turn, thanks to a fine outward nine bogey free three-under-par 33, he had opened up a five-shot gap from Hisatsune and appeared to be coasting before he missed short putts on 12 and 13 to see his lead cut to three from playing-partner Sadom.

Despite the wind starting to strength and threatening to play havoc with his push for victory Kanaya then moved four ahead again when he birdied the 15^th but dropped a stroke on the next to return to three in front.

The contest was soon virtually settled when he made a birdie on the 16^th before Sadom dropped a shot on 17 to give his Japanese opponent a five-shot lead playing 18.

Kanaya could afford the luxury of missing a 10-foot par putt on the last.

Said Kanaya: “Sadom got close, but I played within myself and was able to see it through.”

It is arguably the most important win of his career, which has already seen some significant highs. He turned professional in 2020 after a glittering amateur career that saw him win the 2015 Japan Amateur, the Asia Pacific Amateur in 2018, and the team gold medal at the Asian Games that year. He also won the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters in 2019 as an amateur and was ranked the world’s number amateur for 55 weeks. In 2020 he was victorious in the Dunlop Phoenix tournament.

This was only the third start by Kanaya as a professional in an Asian Tour event, it is his maiden appearance in an International Series tournament, and it also marks the first time that an International Series event has been won by a player from Japan.

In addition, he becomes the first Japanese golfer to win an Asian Tour event outside of Japan since Tetsuji Hiratsuka claimed the Black Mountain Masters in 2010.

For Sadom it was yet another fine tournament which extended a phenomenal run of him having finished in the top 10 on 12 occasions in his last 20 events on the Asian Tour.

If not for costly double bogeys on five and nine it could well have been a different story.

“I started pretty good with three birdies in a row on holes two, three and four, and then the wind came up,” said Sadom, who finished fourth in last week’s Saudi International.

“It was a different wind, different conditions, so I’m very happy today to score even par today. Takumi is good player, he deserves it.

“I am very happy to finish tied second, so next week maybe will be better than this week.”

Henson was delighted with one of his finest performances on the Asian Tour.

“I love these conditions; I was hoping for this,” said the American.

“Unfortunately, my putting just wasn’t up to standard this week, but I managed my game really well and my ball striking in these conditions was pretty good considering it was just so hard. But I think I had like seven or eight three putts for the week and it looks like that’s gonna cost me.”

The Asian Tour stays in the Middle East next week and will stage the inaugural US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, from February 16-19.

Published on February 11, 2023

Takumi Kanaya continued to put together one of his most impressive performances outside of Japan today when he took the third-round lead in the US$2 million International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf.

The Japanese star led at the start of the day by one shot from compatriot Ryo Hisatsune and that is how it finished today after they both returned five-under-par 67s.

Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, such an ever-present name on the leaderboard for the past year on the Asian Tour, also shot 67 to sit in third place, three back from the leader.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann from Chile moved ominously into fourth, four off top spot, after rounds of 68 and 69 respectively.

Kanaya showed why so much is expected of him today with an exceptional round that showed he is comfortable leading from the front.

Enjoying calmer conditions compared with the strong winds of Friday, the 24 year old moved to nine under for the tournament, helped by a brilliant run of four birdies in five holes from the eighth. He made six birdies in total and just one bogey.

Surprisingly he missed a four-foot putt for birdie on 17 and another makeable birdie putt on the last.

“I feel good, it is because this course really suits me,” said Kanaya.

“I am able to play my shots, find the fairways, and find the greens. Will just take it shot by shot tomorrow.”

The Japanese star, with the distinctive golf swing and quick follow through, has won three times on the Japan Tour – the 2019 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters, as an amateur, the 2020 Dunlop Phoenix and the Token Homemate Cup in 2020 – but is looking for his maiden professional title overseas.

He was one of his country’s most successful amateurs having claimed the 2015 Japan Amateur, the Asia Pacific Amateur in 2018, and the team gold medal at the Asian Games that year. He was also ranked first on the World Amateur Golf Ranking for 55 weeks.

Hisatsune, who is looking for his first big Tour win, is four years younger than Kanaya and looking forward to playing with his decorated compatriot tomorrow.

He said: “Yeah, I so respect my older friend, we’re both Japanese and I’m so happy to play with him.  Yeah, so happy to get both of us playing together and making a lot of birdies.

“Today was great, I feel like I was smart in my game management.”

Sadom was fourth in last week’s season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers and will no doubt be a threat tomorrow.

“Today was pretty good for me, I hit more fairways than the last two rounds,” said the Thai star, whose last win on the Asian Tour was the Singapore Open at the beginning of last year.

“I missed only one fairway today and I had many chances to make birdie. I played solid and my putting was also good today.

“Today I think it was easier, because yesterday the wind was strong and it was hard to hit the greens. And today I think my putting was much better than yesterday and that was the key.”

Garcia bounced back well today after yesterday’s 76 – which considering the windy conditions was more like par for the course.

“Obviously, today it was windy, but it wasn’t as windy as yesterday,” said Garcia.

“And yesterday a couple of holes kind of killed my round really. Other than that, I felt good. I played nicely today, gave myself a lot of chances. Made some really good putts, some went in, and some lipped out but really happy. It was important to put a good score out there today to have a chance tomorrow.”

A six-time winner on the Asian Tour he is trying to win for the first time on the circuit since the 2018 Singapore Open.

He added: “I don’t know, we will see. It is going to depend a bit on the weather and whether the wind picks up. We will see what the leaders finish tonight, it is looking like I could be two or three shots behind, so it is definitely going to take another good round. Hopefully I can shoot another good one and we will see what happens.”

Two-time Australian Open champion Matt Jones fired a 67 to finish on three under to give himself an outside chance on Sunday.  The Australian is an expert playing in the wind and will hope for it to blow tomorrow.