Hickman masters the conditions at Mercuries Taiwan Masters
September 26: Christopher Hickman, an Asian Tour rookie, made a determined move up the leaderboard with a four-under-par 68 round – the best score in Friday’s morning session – as windy conditions at Taiwan Golf & Country Club continued to torment players in the US$1million Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
The southpaw American, who turned 32 earlier this month (September 10), has played in development tour all over the world, but showed he is ready for the big time with a round that included five birdies and a solitary bogey. It helped him jump to tied eighth place after the morning group of players finished, up 58 places from Thursday’s tied 66th after a four-over 76.
The next best score of the morning was by Australia’s Ryan Peake (69), winner earlier this year at the 104th New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.
However, with Thailand’s Jazz Janewattanond slipping with a second-round 75, overnight leader Atiruj Winaicharoenchai increased his lead at the top to three without playing any shots. Atiruj, who shot a 67 in Thursday’s opening round, is scheduled to tee off in the afternoon session.
Ryan Peake of Australia. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
At one-under total, Jazz was joined by compatriot Nitithorn Thippong (70), Italian Gabriele De Barba (71) and Chinese-Taipei’s Chen Yi-tong (71), the best-placed player among the local hopefuls.
Hickman, who turned professional in 2018, said he learned a lot from his opening round on Thursday. The highlight of his second round was a birdie on the 16th hole, where his drove under a tree, but punched out to 20 feet and made the putt.
“It felt pretty good. I kept the ball in front of me mostly and to make just one bogey on this golf course is good. I putted well and thought I scrambled well. Learned a lot from my mistakes in the first round,” said Hickman, who birdied three of the four par-fives on the golf course.
“It wasn’t as windy as yesterday, but on this course, if you get out of play, you need to be defensive and I did a good job of it whenever I was in the rough.”
Gabriele de Barba of Italy. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
De Barba’s round included a double bogey and two bogeys, but he also made five birdies. The Taiwan PGA Tour player, a winner earlier this year in an Asian Development Tour event in the country, was relishing the opportunity he now has in an Asian Tour event over the weekend.
The 29-year-old scored his first professional win following a dramatic four-hole play-off with local star Chan Shih-chang in Ambassador ADT in May.
“I made one big mistake on the 14th hole and ended up making a double there. Apart from that, I thought my tee shots were good and putting was decent,” said the Japan-based player.
“I don’t like this golf course that much because I missed cuts in two previous events on the Taiwan PGA here. But I have learned a lot from playing in TPGA and the ADT, so hopefully, I can keep going.”
This is the 39th edition of the tournament, which has been a part of the Asian Tour schedule since 2000.
September 25: Atiruj Winaicharoenchai was rock-steady in typically blustery conditions at Taiwan Golf & Country Club as the Thai youngster shot a solid five-under-par 67 for a one-shot lead over compatriot Jazz Janewattanond on opening day Thursday of the US$1million Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
The 25-year-old from Bangkok closed with a bogey on the final 18th hole, but that could not wipe the smile off his face after a round that included five birdies and an eagle.
Jazz, the 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, made a late bogey on the par-three 17th that denied him from joining Atiruj at the top, but his 68 was still two shots better than American George Kneiser, playing in his rookie year on the Asian Tour, and Japan’s Yuta Yoshikuwa.
Scott Hend, the 2016 Order of Merit champion, was among four players tied for the fifth place at 71 as only eight players managed to break par on a demanding course with the wind gusts reaching 40kmph at times. Also on 71 were Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai and Itthipat Buranatanyarat, and France’s Joel Stalter.
Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
In its 39-year history, the Mercuries Taiwan Masters has produced very few champions with double-digit sub-par winning scores, but Atiruj was on his way after a round in which he found a way to battle the elements – protect his short putts against the gusting winds that affected the ball flight, as well as its roll on the greens.
After finishing his round that featured four back-to-back birdies from the fifth to the eighth holes, Atiruj said: “It was a day when I easily made a birdie whenever I had the opportunity to do so, and I still could save pars when I was in danger of dropping shots.
“The key was that I took advantage of all four par-fives on the golf course. The eagle on the 15th was a lucky one because I was looking to two-putt a downhill putt, but it went in luckily.
“The wind picked up as we progressed with the round. I just picked my moments. Especially on the short two-three footers, I waited for the right time because the gusts were so strong.”
Yuta Yoshikuwa of Japan. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Jazz, 29 and also from Bangkok, made an early bogey on the par-four third hole, but knuckled down after that and made six birdies, including four in a six-hole stretch from the 11th to 16th.
Runner-up earlier this year at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf in Korea, said he surprised himself with the round.
“The game was not feeling so good (before coming to Taiwan). I’ve had a few top-10s, and a few missed cuts in a row. So, the game has been on a roller-coaster. I really don’t know where I am at, but I am delighted with the start,” said the six-time winner on the Asian Tour.
“I surprised myself with the way I played today. The golf course is playing really tough because of the wind. I don’t know how I did that, but I am pretty happy with a 68 start.
“I did not hit play too bad. I hit some good shots and I hit some bad shots, but I somehow managed to put it together. There was nothing special, nothing that stood out. I just wanted to shoot under-par today, and I succeeded in doing that.”
George Kneiser of the USA. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Kneiser, who hails from Milwaukee in Wisconsin and qualified for the US Open earlier this year, said the conditions were extremely difficult and he would have been happy with a par round.
“Extremely tough. I thought par would be a good score, so to come away with a couple under is a great feeling,” said the 27-year-old, who has previously played on the Korn Ferry Tour, as well as PGA Tour Canada and Latin America before securing his card on the Asian Tour through the Q School.
“The highlight of the round was definitely the two chip-ins I had – on hole 12 and the 18th (both for birdies). This is my first time in Taiwan and I had heard about this golf course last week. I knew the green complexes were challenging and that they were faster and firmer.
“The season so far has been up-and-down. I have made a bunch of cuts, but need to finish better. We are now into the busy part of the season, but I haven’t set any result-oriented goals for myself. I just want to play some good golf.”
This is the 39th edition of the tournament, which has been a part of the Asian Tour schedule since 2000.
Jbe Kruger says he is playing really bad golf.
Ahead of his defence of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, this week, he says his game is far from where it should be.
Speaking from Taiwan Golf & Country Club, the famous venue that has been the home of the tournament since 1987, he says: “I think it is the worst golf I have ever played, to be brutally honest.”
However, there is method to the madness. When he won here last year he was in a similar state – as he was before nearly all of his wins in the professional game.
“In my life it has been a funny road,” says the 39-year-old South African.
“All my victories have come when I am not playing well. I think there was one victory when I have actually played well, thinking I can actually win this week. All the other ones have come from hardship.”
In an extraordinary finish 12 months ago, when the tournament was battered by Typhoon Krathon and reduced to 54 holes, he won the tournament by two shots from Korean Jeunghun Wang and Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert.
Jbe Kruger. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
He was tied with Wang playing the last but holed a six-foot birdie put while Wang made bogey. It was a superhuman effort as all 54 holes were played over the weekend, with no play possible on the first two days because of the storm.
“Golf is a funny game in that way. You never know when it is going to come together and when it is not, when there is a going to be a typhoon, and when there is not. Someone said this week is the Typhoon Masters – not the Taiwan Masters. Every year is the same thing,” explained Kruger, whose wife Denise caddied for him last year, and is on the bag this year.
His victory last year was his third on the Asian Tour but first in five years. Remarkably, despite recurring trepidation he has also won five times at home on the Sunshine Tour and is two-time champion in Japan.
“It was quite brutal last year,” he says. “We as juniors grew up playing 36 holes a day but as you get older, and when you turn professional, you only play 18 holes a day. It wasn’t something we were not used to.
“It was actually hardest for Denise having to carry, but then luckily, they said they can use the buggies for the caddies, and it made my life easier not to worry about her. And then it was simply about keeping your energy up. We are not 21 or 22 anymore, and when you get a bit older, it’s difficult to concentrate over the last few holes.”
Jbe Kruger pictured with his wife Denise. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
He ranks his win here last year in the top three of his victories.
He adds: “Henrik Buhrmann, my good friend, who played in Asia for many years, says this event is one of the top three hardest events. He would say if you can make the cut here, you can make it anywhere.”
The Mercuries Taiwan Masters starts tomorrow and with Typhoon Ragasa skirting the country, beware of Jbe Kruger – he is not playing well.
China’s number one golfer, Li Haotong, and Hong Kong, China’s reigning Asian Games gold medalist, Taichi Kho, have confirmed their participation in the upcoming SJM Macao Open – taking place from 16-19 October, at Macau Golf & Country Club.
Zhang Lianwei, a two-time champion of the Macao Open and the only player to have successfully defended the title in the tournament’s history, has also confirmed his attendance.
The 30-year-old Li, whose career highlights include eight tour titles and a third-place finish at The Open in 2017 and joint fourth result this year, enters the SJM Macao Open with momentum after winning the Qatar Masters earlier this season.
He said: “I am delighted to return to Macao and play at the SJM Macao Open. The last time I played in this prestigious event was in 2023, and I am looking forward to experiencing the city’s vibrancy and energy again. I am having a great season so far and hope to play well enough at the SJM Macao Open to secure my second title in 2025.”
The 24-year-old Kho has made a significant impact since turning professional in 2023. In his rookie season, he became the first Hong Kong, China player to win on the Asian Tour at the World City Championship 2023, and followed it up with a historic gold medal in the Asian Games Men’s Individual event, ahead of South Korean star and fellow SJM Macao Open contender Sungjae Im. Kho also led the Hong Kong, China team to a historic bronze medal in the team competition.
Taichi Kho. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Kho commented: “I am thrilled to return to Macao for the SJM Macao Open. I finished tied for sixth two years ago, and I feel this course suits my game very well. I have been playing great recently and hope to score some low rounds to challenge for the title on 19 October.”
The Hong Kong star has been in fine form this year, with six top-10s – including a second place in the Mandiri Indonesia Open in August.
Another golf legend from China, Liang Wenchong, was announced as a participant at the tournament’s press launch recently alongside emerging Macao golfer, Kelvin Si Ngai, making this year’s SJM Macao Open a showcase of China’s generational golf talent.
The contingent of Chinese golfers will join former world number one Lee Westwood, who won the event in 1999, South Korean’s two-time PGA Tour winner Sungjae Im, and defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan in the quest for the coveted SJM Macao Open 2025 title.
Additionally, several participants of the SJM Macao Open will compete in the upcoming 15th National Games, co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR for the first time in November. Li will represent Guangdong, while Kho and Si will lead Hong Kong, China and Macao, China teams, respectively.
Zhang, who mentored Liang as he transitioned from amateur to professional, has been a steadfast supporter of the Macao Open since its inaugural event in 1998. His Macao Open titles in 2001 and 2002 are among 22 professional tournament wins in a career that began in 1994. Respected as the pioneer of golf in China, he is credited with many ‘firsts’ for Chinese golfers, including being the first to win on the European Tour and the first to reach the top 100 in the Official Golf Rankings.
Zhang Lianwei. Picture by Paul Lakatos/IMG.
A native of Zhuhai, Zhang said: “I consider the SJM Macao Open my home tournament. I have played here many times, and whether I win or lose, Macao will always be close to my heart. Since I first played here, the course at the Macau Golf & Country Club has consistently maintained its world-class quality, while Macao as a city has evolved so much, it is amazing to see it become one of the premier entertainment and events hubs in Asia. The SJM Macao Open experience just gets better every year.”
Kazuki Higa won the Yeangder TPC at the weekend for his second title in two weeks, and in the process rose to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit for the first time in his career.
The Japanese star, winner of the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea before last week’s victory, did an excellent job in keeping bogies off his card on the Linkou International Golf & Country Club layout, dropping shots on only four holes during the week and leading the Fewest Bogies or Worse stat category together with Charles Porter from the United States.
Higa also led the Bounce Back category with 50%, meaning he made birdies immediately following two of his four bogies. He also performed well in the Putts per Round and Greens in Regulation (GIR) categories where he ranked T11 and 11th respectively.
Not one of the longest players off the tee Higa placed 51st in Driving Distance with 299.6 yards while hitting 58.93% of the Fairways ranking T20.
There were three joint runners-up last week, Porter, Rattanon Wannasrichan from Thailand and Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan, and both Porter and Wang are known for their power off the tee. The American topped the Driving Distance category with an impressive 340.4 yards and Wang was not far behind with 337.6, ranking third. They were however not listed highly in the Fairways Hit table, with Wang placing T54 with 46.43%, and Porter T71 with 39.29%.
Charles Porter. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Wang had a good week on the greens and ranked fourth in Putts per GIR with 1.627, helping him top the Most Birdies table with 24. His other stats for the week: Putts per Round 28.25 (T16), GIR 70.83% (T25).
Porter also enjoyed a good week with the short stick finishing T8 in Putts per Round with 27.75. He also recovered from missed greens well, topping the Scrambling category with 80.95%. Like Wang he had a GIR percentage of 70.83 and rounding out his stats he was T27 in Putts per GIR with 1.725.
Rattanon excelled on the Linkou greens and led the field in the Putts per GIR with 1.592, resulting in 22 birdies which was second only to Wang’s 24. He was also T2 in Putts per Round with an average of 27. His other stats for the week: T38 in GIR with 68.06%, 42nd in Driving Distance with 303.9 yards and T26 in Fairways Hit with 55.36%.
Statistics Categories leaders at the Yeangder TPC (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round – Nick Voke (NZL): 26
- Putts per GIR – Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA): 1.592
- GIR – Poom Saksansin (THA): 86.11%
- Fairways Hit – John Catlin (USA), Miguel Tabuena (PHI), Chonlatit Chuenboonngam (THA), Lu Wei-chih (TPE): 71.43%
- Driving Distance – Charles Porter (USA): 340.4 yards
- Most Eagles – Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA:) 4
- Most Birdies – Wang, Wei-hsuan (TPE): 24
- Fewest Bogies or Worse – Charles Porter (USA), Kazuki Higa (JPN): 4
- Scrambling – Charles Porter (USA): 80.95%
- Bounce back – Kazuki Higa (JPN): 50%
That they would face high winds in Taiwan is a gimme for Asian Tour players. But to be battered by Typhoon Krathon was something else. The deadly storm barrelled through Taiwan packing winds in excess of 130kmph and dumping over 65 inches of rain in two days during the Mercuries Taiwan Masters week. Story from the 2024 Yearbook.
However, the fact that the players still managed to play 54 holes and South African Jbe Kruger was crowned the champion, was a testament to the exceptionally hard work put in by the ground staff of Taiwan Golf and Country Club, and the innovation and determination shown by the tournament officials.
With the first two days abandoned and enough lakes forming on the golf course, most players expected no more than 27 holes over the weekend. In the end, three rounds were held with shotgun starts in two days, including two full-field rounds, with the cut falling after 36 holes as per usual.
It became a two-man battle between the 38-year-old Kruger and Korea’s Jeunghun Wang. The South African was looking for his first win on the Asian Tour in over five years, while the 2016 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open champion Wang was looking for his first professional win since returning from National Service two years ago.
Jbe Kruger celebrates with his wife and caddie Denise last year. Picture by Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
Kruger, with his wife Denise on the bag, closed with a three-under-par 69 to finish on eight-under-par aggregate. That included a crucial birdie from six feet on the 18th hole that broke the deadlock against Wang (73), who unfortunately made a bogey after a wayward tee shot to fall back for a tied second place with Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert at six-under-par total.
Kruger had started the third and final round two shots behind Wang and made five birdies, three of them coming in the last five holes. Wang made two birdies in his first eight holes to stay ahead but dropped three shots in his last 10 holes.
India’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu, who got into the tournament at the last minute after being the sixth reserve on Monday, made full use of the opportunity to record his first top-five overseas on the Asian Tour. At five-under-par total, he was tied fourth alongside the Thai duo Chonlatit Chuenboonngam (70) and Rattanon Wannasrichan (71).
Three-time Asian Tour winner Kruger, who had come into the tournament placed 69th in the Order of Merit before jumping to 10th place, said: “It means the world. I did not come here with any form. I have not been playing great, so it’s unbelievable. It’s been glory to God, with the typhoon and everything that has been happening.
“I probably made it as hard as I could on myself. I could not get it on the fairway, I could not get it on the green, I was trying to make birdies, and then, on the last hole, I hit it in the fairway finally.”
Mercuries Group Chairman, George Wong with the champion Jbe Kruger.
Sandhu, the 27-year-old from Chandigarh who won on the Asian Development Tour in 2023, summed up the week for the players and paid rich tribute to everyone who made the tournament happen.
“Mercuries Taiwan Masters was an unforgettable week for me, not just because it was my first top-five on the Asian Tour, but also because of what we had to face as players. It really was a scary couple of days as we were locked up in our rooms because of the typhoon, not knowing whether we’d play or not,” said Sandhu.
“In a way, when we got the news that the tournament will start on Saturday, I somehow had a perfect mindset. I told my caddie that we don’t know how many holes we will get to play, so let’s just focus on trying to make as many birdies as possible. I was not thinking about my own golf before the tournament, just how Taiwan had to cope with such a disaster. Golf is a funny game, and when you don’t have expectations, it tends to deliver.
“Honestly, I was not expecting the golf course to be in such good shape. The greens, the drainage, the work put on by the maintenance staff… everything was top-class. The clubhouse staff did a phenomenal job because they accommodated almost the full field at times. And for the Asian Tour staff to manage 54 holes was just incredible.”
September 21: Kazuki Higa continued his imperious form on the Asian Tour, winning the US$1 million Yeangder TPC on Sunday for his second title in two weeks following the 41st Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea, and moved to the top place on the Order of Merit.
Higa, the highest-ranked player in the field at Linkou International Golf and Country Club this week, was solid throughout the four rounds and shot a bogey-free four-under-par 68 in the final round to finish on 17-under total of 271 for a two-shot win.
Overnight leader, American Charles Porter (71), once again started with two birdies in his first four holes but managed to add just one more after that to fall to a tie for second place at 15-under 273 alongside Wang Wei-hsuan (67), the best-placed player from Chinese-Taipei and Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan (66).
Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena (66) and American Shotaro Ban (68) both birdied the final hole to finish joint fifth at -14. Indian duo of Ajeetesh Sandhu and Viraj Madappa (both 68), rounded up the top-10 with Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai (70), Australia’s Travis Smyth (71) and local amateur Hsieh Cheng-wei (71).
Kazuki Higa of Japan after his win on the 18th green. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Hsieh finished bogey-bogey, but the 17-year-old’s tied seventh place was another feather in his cap. It was by far the best showing by an amateur in the championship. The previous best was Wang’s tied 49th in 2017. Hsieh also holds the Asian Tour record of the youngest player to make the cut in 2022.
Higa, who won the BTI Open in Bangladesh on his debut on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2018, caught up with Porter with a 20-foot birdie putt on the 11th, and could have gone ahead on the 14th, where he missed another birdie chance from three feet.
The tournament completely turned in Higa’s favour when he dropped a well-read 12-footer for birdie on the tough par-4 15th hole, while Porter wound up making a bogey from the same distance after getting into trouble with his tee shot.
Porter could have closed the gap on the 17th hole and would have fancied his chances on the long par-five 18th holes, but his birdie attempt from less than four feet grazed the hole and missed.
Tournament sponsors Yeangder are also Higa’s personal sponsor and he had said after Saturday’s round that winning the tournament would mean the world to him.
Wang Wei-hsuan of Chinese-Taipei. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
After his Sunday round, Higa said: “It’s a very good feeling, I just did something special.
“From the beginning of the season, my form has been very good. I’ve been in contention many times, but could not manage to get a win until five weeks ago in Japan. It was just some small things that I needed to get better. Like, the putting is getting better and there’s no more stress from the tee shots. It’s the reason we could get these wins.”
On his final round, the 30-year-old from Okinawa said: “On the front nine, we hit some good shots, hit some good putts, but it didn’t just drop. The reads were just a little bit wrong and I just needed to stay patient and not to be aggressive on the tee shots. The putts started to drop at a good time.”
Higa won the 2022 Order of Merit on the Japan Golf Tour, but despite taking the lead, he was not entertaining any thoughts of adding an Asian Tour crown to his CV.
“It’s the middle of the season, and there are many International Series events, the big events, coming up now. So, not thinking too much about this. Just keeping it in mind a little bit that we are in a good spot to have a chance and just try to play golf like I’ve been doing until now.”
Despite the heartbreak, it was Porter’s best finish on the Asian Tour and elevated him to 32nd in the Order of Merit.
“I felt really out of rhythm off the tees, especially. I feel like in the future, finding a way to calm down and just swing like I know how to swing it will be beneficial,” said the 6ft 9in Porter.
“I’m just thinking about how I can learn for next time. In this game, you either win or you learn, and there’s a lot of learning. So, I will reflect on this and I will learn a ton.”
Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Wang, who had two late bogeys on the 14th and 17th holes, said: “My overall performance is pretty good, and I played my long irons especially well. I was able to keep it in play off the tee and hit my second shots well to give myself good opportunities for birdies.
“The three-putt on 14th and missing that short putt on the 17th was disappointing. But I’m still happy to be the best-placed Taiwanese this week. This is also my best result in the tournament. I’ve exceeded my own expectations, which is good. Hoping to carry the positives into the next week.”
Wannasrichan, who matched the day’s low of 66 that included a chipped-in birdie on the 17th from 40 yards out and almost in an out-of-bounds position, said: “Today was perfect and I was also so lucky. I hit the cart path and hit a tree and came back to the fairway on both holes.”
Hsieh, who joins the Arizona State University later this year, felt he could have done better than his tied seventh place finish.
“Overall, I’m pleased with my performance. But disappointed with my putting as I misread a lot of them. I should have done better than this. But these two days, I’ve had the chance to play with top players on the Asian Tour, and I was able to calm my nerves and stay focused. It’s still a great experience this week,” he added.
The Asian Tour will remain in Chinese-Taipei for another week, with the US$1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters being played from Thursday, September 25, at Taiwan Golf & Country Club.
September 20: Charles Porter showed the patience of a monk to defend his lead at the end of the third round on Saturday, but Kazuki Higa was snapping at his heels after two birdies in his last two holes in the US$1 million Yeangder TPC.
Porter, who started the day with a four-shot lead, seemed to be running away from the field with two early birdies in his first four holes, but he then proceeded to finish with 14 straight pars for a two-under-par 70 to lead after 54 holes at 14-under 202.
Higa, who is sponsored by Yeangder and said winning the tournament would mean the world to him, is trying to become a back-to-back winner on the Asian Tour. He made a determined move towards that goal with a 67 that included just one bogey.
Much to the delight of the local fans at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club, 17-year-old amateur Hsieh Cheng-wei birdied the 18th hole for a second straight 67 and joined Australia’s Travis Smyth (67) in tied third place at 12-under.
Kazuki Higa of Japan. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Thailand’s defending champion Suteepat Prateeptienchai (68) remained a threat in tied fifth place at 11-under alongside compatriot Chonlatit Chuenboonngam (67).
Porter, the 26-year-old from San Francisco, said he had to rely heavily on his short game to make sure he stayed under-par for the round. He birdied the first two par-fives of the golf course – the first and the fourth – but rued a missed opportunity on the par-4 second, where he drove the green and three-putted for a par.
“I’d describe the round as rickety. I hit it all over the place and then hit some really impressive recovery shots and chip shots. If it wasn’t for that, I probably would have shot a few over, to be honest,” said the tall American who qualified for the Asian Tour after losing his card on the Korn Ferry Tour last year.
“I’ve been patient all week, so it wasn’t really hard to do the same today. I drove the green on two and three putted, so it was easy.
“The tee shot on two was really cool to drive that green. Even though I made par, I think that was a sweet shot.”
Travis Smyth of Australia. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
A product of Japan’s famed Tohoku Fukushi University, which gave Japan its first major champion, Hideki Matsuyama, Higa is showing the same level of dominance. Having won twice on the Asian Development Tour, he will be looking for his 11th international title on Sunday.
The 30-year-old from Okinawa was motoring along with four birdies in his first 14 holes, before making a bogey on the 15th. That did not deter Higa, who bounced back with birdies on the 17th and 18th.
“Really happy with the good finish. I struggled with my tee shots today. Missed a lot of fairways, but still managed to make six birdies today, so that was all good,” said the 5ft 2in tall Higa, who is playing the weekend with the 6ft 9in Porter.
“Tomorrow I will need to focus more on my tee shots. If I can put my ball in play, I should be able to make more birdies and not give the other competitors chances to take the title. No pressure playing with Charles, although he’s really tall!”
Smyth has been a picture of consistency on the Asian Tour, but he is yet to add to his one title, which came at the same tournament in 2022. He has also finished second once on the same golf course.
Hsieh Cheng-wei [a] of Chinese Taipei. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
“I don’t know why I do well here. There are a lot of tee shots here that I don’t really like the look of. It’s tight and I spray the ball everywhere. I think I managed to hole putts here somehow. Just over the years, I always seem to find the bottom of the cup. So putting is huge this week.”
Hsieh, who plays regularly at the golf course, showed his potential once again and sent a strong message to his future team at Arizona State University with a brilliant 67. He started with an eagle on the par-5 first and then added five more birdies.
The results have been very good these three days. My accuracy and distance control are very good. Although the wind was different from the last two days today, I committed to my shots and was able to get the results I wanted,” said the youngster who holds the record of being the youngest player to make the cut in Asian Tour at this tournament in 2022.
“I will try and focus on every shot tomorrow. I played with Travis and Suteepat today and was very impressed with their steadiness on the golf course and the ability to recover from bad shots. Hopefully, I can use those lessons tomorrow.”
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