The Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs, the region’s biggest support of junior golf, has called a £20,000 donation from this week’s first-ever International Series England tournament as “game-changing” and confirmed that it will allow them to expand its coaching programmes for under-18s for the next five years.

The Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs (NUGC) received the massive sum as a thank you from the Asian Tour event for the incredible work the county does in helping young golfers develop their talents.

The Union comprises over 40 golf clubs from Magdalene Fields (Berwick) in the North to Tynemouth in the South, from whom they are solely supported by an annual £5 levy paid by approximately 15,000 members that make up these clubs.

Although that may sound considerable, on a national scale it makes Northumberland one of the smaller golfing counties in England, meaning there is very little discretionary spend available for coaching or training for young golfers.

Run by its management team of local lads Mark Laverick, Simon Coultas, Phil Ridden and Graham Forrest, the central goal of the Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs is to create a culture of improvement and a pipeline of high-class local boys capable of competing nationwide.

During the four years of their stewardship, the Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs boys have achieved incredible results: in 2021, they were victorious in the Northern Counties Boys Championship for the first time in 28 years. This ensured their passage to the English County Finals, where they again emerged triumphant, becoming Boys Champions for the first time in history.

Now, thanks to the sizeable donation from this week’s history-making event, the NUGC has the chance to build on its success story and create an enduring legacy for junior golf in this region.

HEXHAM, ENGLAND – JUNE 01: David Rollo and Mark Laverick pose with a cheque displaying a donation from The Asian Tour to Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs Juniors ahead of the International Series England at Slaley Hall on June 01, 2022 in Hexham, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/LIV Golf/Getty Images)

Graham Forrest, men’s captain of the NUGC , said: “Too often the north-east of England is forgotten about, particularly in golf terms. This financial input, together with the substantial time put in by many County administrators, could help establish Northumberland junior golf at the forefront of the sport nationally for many years to come.”

David Rollo, COO of the Asian Tour said: “It is our immense honour to hand this cheque over to the Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs. Wherever we take these events, it is vital to us that their impact is being felt within golf from grassroots level up.

“The work Mark, Simon, Phil and Graham have done over the last four years at the NUGC has been incredible to learn about and we wish them and all their young golfers every success for the coming years.”

Thailand’s Kasidit Lepkurte says he has struggled to make the cut on the Asian Tour since turning professional in 2015 but that did not show today as he upstaged a strong field to take the clubhouse lead early on day one of the inaugural International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, near Newcastle.

He shot a four-under-par 67 to lead the field after the morning session was finished – in what is the ninth event of the season on Asian Tour

India’s Viraj Madappa and Jaco Ahlers from South Africa sit in second following 68s, while Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat, Prom Meesawat, and Pawin Ingkhapradit and Australian Travis Smyth returned 69s.

“I am very happy,” said Kasidit, who plays mainly on the Asian Development Tour, the Asian Tour’s feeder circuit.

“I hit 14 greens in regulation and missed the fairway on two holes: number nine and 18. It is my first time to come to UK, I like the weather, I like this course, it is very beautiful. It’s a bit cold but I am fine with it.”

NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Viraj Madappa of India pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Madappa challenged for honours in the GS Caltex Maekyunng Open in Korea last month and remains in good form.

“I have been playing well; the last event in Korea I was in contention until the last few holes on Sunday. I have been feeling good about my game, it is coming around,” said the Indian, who made four birdies in a row from the 10^th.

He added: “I actually went to see my coach, who I had not seen for a year because of the pandemic. My coach is Laurence Brotheridge – he works out of Leeds. I flew out for the Mixed events in Thailand in April from Leeds where he is based. He was able to come down yesterday as well. I have been working with him for two years. We have mainly been working on set up. I feel if you get the set up right there is nothing much more you need.”

American Sihwan Kim, who currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit, started well with a 70, while playing partner Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, the 15-year-old amateur sensation from Thailand, shot a 71.

Kim said: “Man, I pretty much made the best out of my round. Not really that good off the tee, but I just grinded – and made some decent putts.

“I made some bombs today, so that kind of kept my round going. I’ve got to get some work in after lunch and see how it goes.”

Ratchanon, who started on 10, made an incredible start with two birdies either side of an eagle in his opening three holes. That eagle came as a result of a stunning drive and thee-wood followed by a chip-in.

NEWCASTLE-ENGLAND-Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 yr old amateur golfer of Thailand pictured on Thursday, June 2, 2022, during round one of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

But a couple of loose drives at his 12th and 14th holes saw three strokes go and there was another mistake at the last.

He said: “Ball-striking was pretty bad. I’ve hooked three of my drives that have cost me four strokes. On three, it was probably so unlucky – it just went right in the trunk of the tree. Then five, an easy par four, I pulled it into the water. And the last hole – on nine. I definitely need to change up five and nine. I might even try my back-up driver!”

England’s Steve Lewton is thoroughly enjoying the rare and unique opportunity of playing an Asian Tour event on home soil this week at the International Series England – which is in stark contrast to when he played in the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup in Thailand in April.

Lewton, who has played on the Asian Tour with success for the past decade, was rushed to hospital in Pattaya during the first round with heart palpitations.

“I had been kind of feeling a bit rough on the Wednesday afternoon and woke up Thursday feeling like I had been hit by a bus. I did a COVID test which was negative so went and played. During the round my heart started going,” said the Englishman.

“I had to go straight to hospital. Got checked out and was fine. I came back to England, and they said I was absolutely fine, and could keep playing.”

The startling turn of events stemmed from Lewton having Supraventricular Tachycardia, better known as SVT, which he normally gets twice a year with it lasting about five seconds each time.

“They think I had COVID – despite testing positive – and that made it [SVT] worse,” added the 39-year-old from Northampton.

NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- L-R- Steve Lewton of England, Ratchanon Chantanauwat, amateur golfer of Thailand and Sihwan Kim of the USA pictured at a press conference on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, ahead of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event, 2nd – 5th June 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

To the relief of everyone, Lewton made a full recovery and was back on the Asian Tour in May competing in the Diamond Cup – where he was very happy to finish in the top 15.

“They said most people live with this so it was great to get the all clear but I will still be getting some more professional advice about,” he says.

The convenience and comfort of being able to play at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, situated just outside Newcastle, this week is also a huge bonus.

He adds: “It’s weird only having to drive a few hours up the road to play rather than having a long commute, which makes a nice change. And long may it continue. It is a great privilege for us to have an event here.”

NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Steve Lewton of England pictured during the Pro-am event on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, ahead of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event, 2nd – 5th June 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

After a stellar amateur career, which saw him play for the prestigious North Carolina State University Lewton, he turned professional in 2008 and after a brief spell on the European Tour he decided to try his hand on the Asian Tour.

“I chose Asia as I felt it was the next best step for me at that point in my career. For me it was a way of trying to progress,” says Lewton, who is one of 17 Englishmen playing this week.

Having won in Asia, at the 2014 Mercuries Taiwan Masters, and recorded a multitude of impressive finishes it has proved to be the correct decision – rewarded by being able to welcome his Tour of choice to his homeland this week.

American Sihwan Kim, currently riding high on top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit after two wins, says he is not taking anything for granted as he continues to enjoy the finest season of his career.

“Golf is a funny game,” said Kim, who turned professional in 2011 but had been winless until this year.

“I won twice this year in four weeks, but I still worry about the same things that I did before I won, so it has not really changed me that much in that sense. It is still a tough game, and I don’t take anything for granted but the aim is always to win.”

Sihwan Kim competes in this week’s International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, just outside Newcastle – an event that marks the Asian Tour’s first ever trip to the UK.

He added: “It is a very fickle game. I am just trying to enjoy it as much as I can because you don’t know when it is going to go away. I am enjoying it but when golf goes south, I don’t think anyone enjoys it. When part of my game is bad, I try to work on it, and I know it is going to get better and you just keep on grinding.

NEWCASTLE- ENGLAND- Sihwan Kim of the USA pictured at a clay pigeon shooting range with chief Instructor Ian Moir of England on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, ahead of the International Series England at Staley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Hunting Course, an Asian Tour US$ 2 million event, 2nd – 5th June 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“As I have said many times before, you have got to get lucky to win. It always comes down to the last one or two shots and when you get that lucky break that’s all that you need. In the years before I didn’t have that, I kind of got unlucky bounces here and there.”

The 33 year old is no stranger to playing in the UK having competed on the European Tour and Challenge Tour over the past 10 years, although it is his first time at Slaley Hall.

“It [Slalely Hall] is good, some holes are a little funky,” said Kim, who had a go on Slaley Hall’s clay pigeon shooting range today.

“You can’t hit driver, you’ve gotta hit two iron from the tee and have a four or three iron into the green. But other than that, the course looks good. The cold conditions mess with my yardage a little bit. When it’s cold and damp the ball doesn’t travel as far.”

The American has been trying to fix a fault with his tee shots.

“My putting is good, but my tee shots are a little wayward, I am trying to figure that one out a little bit. My irons are okay, if I get my tee shots worked out, I will be ok,” he said.

“I don’t know what’s happening with the driver but been trying to figure that out for the last four or five weeks. Not hitting it as good as I did in Black Mountain for the International Series Thailand.

“I am mainly fanning it right but if I try and prevent that and compensate it goes left obviously but my miss is kind of a fan right. When it really matters, that can’t happen.”

Sihwan Kim has been paired with Thailand’s 15-year-old amateur star Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat and Scott Hend from Australia, a 10-time winner on the Asian Tour, for the first two rounds and starts tomorrow at 7.02am.

Scott Hend competes in the International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort this week after a promising performance in the Netherlands that suggests his game may be on the mend following poor health, that even included contracting COVID-19 last week.

The Australian, winner of 10 events on the Asian Tour and the 2016 Order of Merit title, was one off the lead after round three at the Dutch Open last week before finishing in a tie for 14^th.

It was a standout week in complete contrast to a season that has seen him miss the cut in all six events he has played in on the Asian Tour.

Hend has been fighting prostrate cancer for over a year, caught the flu a few weeks ago before picking up COVID-19 early last week.

“I have had a lot of injuries this year,” said Hend.

“It’s nice to turn the corner last week, and hopefully start to put some results together. Catching COVID last week wasn’t the perfect formulae, but we battled through it. I was lucky I could play because the only symptom I was showing was testing positive. Last six holes every day I was struggling because of a lack of energy. Hopefully we can play good again this week and have a good result.”

The Australian continues to battle prostate problems but has been making good progress.

Scott Hend last won on the Asian Tour in 2019. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“It’s a work in progress, it’s a man problem.  As you get older … prostate issues … something that I can control but I can’t control,” he said.

“For a year and a half, urinating blood and struggling to urinate on the golf course is obviously not ideal for playing good golf. I should have been operated on earlier. I had bad information from a specialist, but I saw another specialist and he said do it straight away as you are struggling. Having those sorts of things on your mind doesn’t help.

“It’s been really tough times and I have worked really hard to get back.  Certain things became a little bit more important than others. From an outsider looking in you just think it is just someone playing bad golf but there is a lot more to it. Golf is a massive part of my life but so is living!”

Hend last won on the Asian Tour at the 2019 Maybank Championship and is now determined to get back on track.

“I want to start playing well again, I want to start winning again, I want to improve my world ranking, I want to compete against all these guys again and show them I can still play,” said the Australian.

“I want to finish my career with as many wins as I can. That’s why I am out here, to play and win trophies. I like to think I can be competitive this week and be up there on Sunday.”

Scott Vincent, a winner two days ago in Japan, has arrived in Newcastle for the inaugural International Series England at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, following a gruelling 24-hour flight from Tokyo, via Helsinki and Amsterdam, full of hope for more success despite that fact his golf clubs have yet to arrive.

“I’m feeling good but obviously I would love my clubs to be here but that’s not the case right now,” said the 30 year old Zimbabwean.

“We don’t know when they are due to arrive, but we’ll give them a call.”

He beat Australian Anthony Quail on the second extra hole to win the Mizuno Open and secure his third victory on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation. On a remarkable final day he started seven-shots behind overnight leader Quail but forced the tournament into overtime after firing a stunning seven-under-par 65, consisting of an eagle and five birdies.

He added: “It was a bit of a surprise because I was coming from so far behind. It was absolutely amazing, it kind of all worked in my favour. It was a great day, some really good golf and fun to get into a play off and come through with a win because I have been in many play offs that have not gone my way.”

Vincent was out early on Tuesday morning to walk the course saying he was “still on Tokyo time”.

He has played some golf in England and is fully aware of the challenges posed by the conditions.

Scott Vincent walked the course early on Tuesday.  Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I feel pretty good. I have just got to get used to the weather and England, it’s a completely different style of golf. I am excited to play, excited for the opportunity. It’s fun walking the course, seeing the different grasses and different shots we have to hit,” he said.

“I am not so sure about the wind and weather up here. I know it can get rainy and cold so got to prepare and get ready for that.”

Vincent has been playing on the Asian Tour since 2016 and has finished second on five occasions while it was in Japan last year that he broke through with wins in the Sansan KBC Augusta and ANA Open.

He is the first golfer from his country to play in the Olympics and the World Cup.

The West welcomes the East this week, when the International Series England is played at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, just outside Newcastle, in England – marking the first time the Asian Tour has staged an event in the UK.

It’s a seismic development for the Asian Tour and the significance of the week has not been lost on the Tour’s membership.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the Asian Tour players,” said Gaganjeet Bhullar – the most successful Indian on the Asian Tour with nine victories.

“As you know, in the past we have of course played in Switzerland, but I think playing in the UK is going to be a great experience. I’ve played a lot of golf on the European Tour in the UK, but, you know, playing on the Asian tour and representing our Asian Tour flag on the UK soil, I think that’ll be great. And it’ll be a great boost for all the youngsters, all the people who are getting ready to move on to the next level.”

The furthest west the Tour has been before was for the Omega European Masters, when it was joint sanctioned with Europe, but the trip to Newcastle is a more significant move, especially as it will be a full-field Tour event.

Bjorn Hellgren predicts low scores this week.

Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren, who is playing his first season in Asia, says: “I have played quite a few tournaments in this part of the world, but I have not played this golf course. But seeing pictures of the course, looking at the conditions, I think it’s going to be a fair setup. We would definitely expect a lot of low numbers. Of course, in the UK, it depends a lot on the weather actually.

“So, depending if you’re on the good side of the draw, if we get to see some sun, then definitely the boys are ready to take on the best players in the world. So definitely, I’m really, really excited.”

Also playing this week are 51 Tour winners and one of the newest winners’ is Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, who claimed The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in March.

“For me, it’s amazing, the Asian Tour is going to have an event in England!” said the 25-year-old who is also a rookie on the Asian Tour.

“I’ve never been to England before. It’s going to be awesome and it’s a US$2 million purse, it’s a lot. So, I’m just going to have fun. I mean, I never expected that the Asian Tour was going to be in Europe, because it is the Asian Tour. I don’t know how to say it, but for me I am so excited to play.

“I think it is great that we are playing in UK. The DP World Tour are playing on different continents including Asia, so it is great that Asian Tour are able to host in UK.  When I heard the rumours about the International Series going to UK I got real excited.”

Nitithorn Thippong is making his first trip to the UK. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Nitithorn represents one of 29 nationalities competing this week in what is the Asian Tour’s newest destination, set in 1,000 acres of Northumberland moorland and forest, on a golf course known as the Augusta of the North.

Panuphol Pittayarat is finally back playing after a prolonged period out due to a shoulder injury. The Thai golfer returned to action at the Diamond Cup and is now set for the International Series England, at Slaley Hall in the very North of England. In his May diary entry he also tells us that he’s been doing a spot of sight seeing.

May

In last month’s diary I was just getting ready to play the Diamond Cup up in Japan after months away from tournament golf. Well, in Japan my golf was a disaster. I mean I had completely no idea where the ball was going, you know. It was the first week back on Tour and the practice round on Monday was one of the first 18 hole rounds I had played in the three months off.

So yeah, Japan was just a good fun week, but the ball was flying everywhere. But I went back home, and I knew what I needed to do, so I worked on my swing and on my body and it’s looking much better for the International Series England.

I’m injury free right now, it’s just my strength that’s not back 100%, and my flexibility is not 100%. But it’s getting there, it takes times you know.

In the two weeks between Japan and now I practiced more, I won’t say a lot, but more. More focusing on my recovery, because like I said, my flexibility and strength is not back. I’m probably hitting about 270 yards at the moment, but yeah, I’ll take it. I’m injury free, that’s just so much better than laying back at home. I got back into my cycling, back to the gym, but it takes time for my body to get back in the same condition as before.

I came to England last Thursday and spent three days in London with my brother, because he’s on the bag this week. He spent a year in Reading studying, so he took me on a tour. We went to the Tower of London, London Bridge, Buckingham Palace. We were lucky, they were doing the parade practice for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth, so we were lucky that the day we went there they were rehearsing.

We also went into Oxford, we took the city tour and walked around, had some beers. It was good fun, can’t ask for anything better.

Panuphol Pittayarat finished runner up at the Laguna Phuket Championship in December. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Then we took the train up to Newcastle yesterday (Sunday) and enjoyed the view of all the farms and sheep on the way up. It’s so different than the city, London is a big place.

I feel very good about this week, I mean excited. I played nine holes Monday and the course is something different, it’s not your normal short course and the grass is different. Well, I’m just going to go out there this week and have fun playing golf.

Scott Vincent recorded a stunning come-from-behind victory to win the Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) on Sunday, and also secure a place in The Open at St. Andrews in July.

The Zimbabwean started the final round at JFE Setonaikai Golf Club seven shots behind overnight leader Australian Anthony Quail but fired a brilliant seven-under-par 65 to force a sudden-death play-off with Quail, which he won on the second extra hole.

A par by Vincent on what was their third visit to the 18^th was enough for him to claim his third JGTO title.

Last year he won twice in Japan: first at the Sansan KBC Augusta in August, then the ANA Open the following month.

Vincent and Quail, who closed with a 72, had finished tied on 12 under, while Australian Brad Kennedy, who like Vincent is also an Asian Tour member, finished in solo possession of third, two strokes back.

“I had no idea where I was standing [on the leaderboard] when I walked up to 18 and when I realised that I was sitting second, at that stage, that was pretty amazing,” said Vincent, who is competing in this week’s International Series England at Slaley Hall, near Newcastle.

“Each week, I don’t really try to worry too much about the expectations. I just focus on sticking to my routine and giving myself the best chance. And this is one of those weeks that has worked out well for me.”

The top-four at The Mizuno Open qualified for The Open. Picture by JGTO.

The Zimbabwean’s victory means he will be able to make his debut in a Major.

He added: “I’m really excited about playing my first Major, especially as it’s St Andrews, the Home of Golf. It’s been a goal of mine since the start of the year to try to get into one of the Majors. I missed out on qualifying for the US Open, but I was able to secure it today. So, this is special and I’m very happy.”

Scott Vincent took home a cheque for ¥16,000,000 (approx. US$125,721).

The top-four finishers all qualified for The Open meaning Quail, Kennedy and Filipino Justin De Los Santos also all made it through to St. Andrews.

It means Kennedy will be playing in his fourth Open.

“It’s another start in The Open, and the 150th Open will be my fourth Open, two years in a row. I have to make a few travel plans now,” said Kennedy.

“It’s going to be exciting, and the crowd will be unbelievable, and playing at the St. Andrews Old Course is one of those golfing moments you always dream about.”

Thailand’s Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, the teenage amateur star who has taken the Asian Tour by storm this year, says he wants to win the International Series England next week for a reality check and make it ‘official’ that he really did just set a new world record.

TK Ratchanon became the youngest male golfer, at the age of 15, to win on one of the game’s main Tours when he sensationally claimed the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club in Pattaya, Thailand, last month but he says the victory never really sunk in.

“I thought I would wake up one day and think ‘hang on, I just won’. It did kind of come eventually but it didn’t hit as hard,” said the teenager, who is still at school at Shrewsbury International School in Bangkok.

“It doesn’t feel real which is actually one reason that I want to win again because I want to know what it actually feels like, maybe this time it won’t feel as unreal. It did sink in eventually that I did set a world record – I just need to somehow make that more official.

“Now that I have won I am just going to try and win again. I don’t know what to expect playing in the UK, but I plan to enjoy it and play some great golf courses.”

TK Ratchanon flew to UK this week for the first time to compete in the International Series England at Slaley Hall, near Newcastle, followed the week after by the LIV Golf Invitational at Centurion Club, close to London; and, a few days after that he will play in the Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes and St Anne’s Old Links.

PATTAYA-THAILAND- Ratchanon Chantananuwat, 15 year old amateur of Thailand, pictured on Thursday April 7, 2022 during round one of the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club, Waterside Course, Pattaya, Thailand. The US$ 750.000 event is co-sanctioned between the Ladies European Tour and the Asian Tour, April 7-10, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“This will be my first-time playing golf outside of Asia, other than the US, and my first time in Europe,” he added.

“I have been thinking about this trip for weeks. Every five minutes I am sitting in school I wish it was Thursday [the day he departed]. I just wanna go, I love travelling and flying. It’s just chill sitting on an airplane.”

To the surprise of many he finished fourth in the individual section of the SEA Games in Vietnam two weeks ago having been the hot favourite to win gold; he did help his country secure the silver.

“Obviously it was somewhat two tournaments: the individual and team events. The individual I was definitely disappointed, I finished joint third and was only two strokes away from the gold, and one stroke away from the bronze. Overall, it was not too bad, but it was probably the worst three days of golf in my life. I played terrible,” he said.

“I did play better eventually. The first day, everything was off, driver was off, irons were off, putting was off, chipping was bad too. Second day was a little better, but I probably had the worst and longest par five of my life on the par five 18th which I doubled. If I had bogeyed or parred that I would have been much closer to the lead. I am definitely playing better now than I was in Vietnam. The me in Pattaya, would have easily destroyed the me in Hanoi.”

Ratchanon has also made a swing correction since then having realised his wrists were floppy at the top of his backswing causing him to overswing and lose control of the club

He said: “I figured out what was wrong, and I am swinging it better. So, I feel pretty good.”

He is also aiming to play in the Asia Pacific Amateur and US Amateur later in the year.

“Those are on my bucket list, first to get to play in them, which I am hoping I can, and hopefully win one of the three amateur events to get in some Majors next year.”