2024 Shinhan Donghae Open review: Hot-to-trot Hirata shows his class
Kensei Hirata arrived at the Shinhan Donghae Open enjoying a rich vein of form and lived up to the billing as the one to watch by winning the 40th edition of the revered Korean event. Story from the 2024 Asian Tour Yearbook.
Following rounds of 71, 67, and a stunning 62, the 23-year-old from Osaka closed with a six-under-par 66 and finished on a spectacular 22-under total at the Ocean Course at Club72 in Incheon, close to the international airport.
However, it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for the Japanese star, who had won the Fujisankei Classic on the Japan Golf Tour the week before. It was one of four titles he secured during the 2024 season, and one of three he won in the space of four weeks.
The challenge for Hirata [main picture] in the tri-sanctioned tournament, with Japan and Korea, came in the form of Australia’s Travis Smyth, who finished with a brilliant 64, but in the end, it could only secure him a runner-up spot one shot behind the champion.
The popular man-bunned Sydneysider started the day three shots behind Hirata but caught up with the leader by the turn with a dream run of eight birdies in his opening nine. However, even as Smyth was mounting the charge, Hirata managed to make three birdies and an eagle, on the par-five fifth, and did not let his rival go past him.
Kensei Hirata’s victory last year was one of three in the space of four weeks.
Both players were at 21-under as they started the back nine, but birdies dried up for Smyth, while Hirata picked up shots on the 11th, 13th and 15th to give himself enough breathing space to have the luxury of making two bogies coming in.
Japan’s Kosuke Suzuki, who started the day sharing the lead with Hirata, ended in sole third place, four shots behind the champion. Korean Minkyu Kim (68), who won the Kolon Korea Open presented by ELORD earlier in the season, finished in fourth place, one behind Suzuki.
It’s always difficult to follow a super-low round with another. Hirata must have kept his eyes on Smyth’s charge but said after collecting the trophy that he was trying to focus on his own game.
“Early on in the round, I did not think I would win, so this is a surprise and an honour,” said Hirata, who became the fourth player from Japan to win the prestigious title.
“I tried to play my own game. Even if I had looked at the leaderboard and seen Travis playing well, I would have focused on what I was doing. I shot 62 yesterday and it’s hard to follow that up, but to be honest, I did not think about that round.
Travis Smyth mounted a challenge on Sunday making a staggering eight birdies on the front nine.
“This title gives me a huge chance to play on the global stage with cards now in Japan, Korea and Asia. I have only played in Japan.”
As good as Hirata’s Sunday round was, the foundation of the victory was laid the day before when he shot a 10-under round in the baking heat that engulfed the region after a few wet days. It would have counted as a new course record but did not, as preferred lies were being used during the week.
The Japanese star started the day with five birdies in his first five holes and caught up with Suzuki, who had started the third round three ahead of him. He then picked up another shot on the seventh hole and then made four more birdies in his last six holes.
“I started off really well and so wanted to see how far I could go,” said Hirata on his bogey-free 62. “I was just trying to take it easy and not put pressure on myself. That helped me play well until the end.”
Smyth’s front nine of eight-under on Sunday would have counted as an Asian Tour record if not for the preferred lies. But he was undone by nine straight pars on his back nine.
“Bittersweet, after shooting eight-under, but not winning,” said the 29-year-old.
“Never had seven birdies in a row, that’s another PB of mine. Seven-under yesterday and then eight-under today; amazing weekend. To fall one short sucks a bit, but my game is in a good spot; I think I am pretty close. I am just proud of the way I played.
“The front nine, I honestly don’t know. Obviously, everything went my way. I do have the ability to hit good shots but to hit so many good shots in the space of nine holes is pretty amazing. The front nine is gettable if you drive it in play. It was amazing, it was good shot after good shot.”
In-form 2025 tournament winners Dean Burmester [main picture] and Marc Leishman headline the latest wave of LIV Golf stars confirmed for the International Series Philippines – one of the region’s most anticipated events.
South African Burmester brings the momentum of a breakthrough victory at LIV Golf Miami, where he defeated heavyweights Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann in a dramatic play-off. His stellar 2025 season also included a runner-up finish at LIV Golf Hong Kong and two additional top three results, helping him secure fifth place in the season standings and lift Stinger GC to third overall.
Leishman, a member of the all-Australian Ripper GC, arrives in the Philippines on the back of a superb season that included both an individual and team win in Miami, plus five further top-15 finishes.
Adding further star power to the line-up is veteran Richard Bland of Cleeks GC. The two-time Senior Major champion and top 10 finisher at International Series England last year recorded six top 15 finishes this season on LIV Golf League, including an impressive fifth place in Adelaide.
Iron Heads GC standout Jinichiro Kozuma is also in the field. The Japanese player, who originally earned his spot through the LIV Golf Promotions event in 2023, has shown real promise this season with three top 10 finishes, including a runner-up result in Dallas.
Marc Leishman. Picture by Christian Petersen/Getty Images.
Kozuma’s former teammate, Scott Vincent, will also join the line-up in the Philippines, arriving in excellent form following a commanding victory at the International Series Morocco. On top of that, the Zimbabwean also secured three additional top 10 finishes on the Asian Tour this season, putting him in strong contention and marking him as one of the players to watch.
Asian Tour rising star Danthai Boonma will also be in action at Sta. Elena Golf Club this October. The Thai talent has enjoyed a standout season, currently ranked fifth on The International Series Rankings and eighth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, bolstered by a runner-up finish at International Series Morocco.
Last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit champion John Catlin will also be in the mix for what promises to be a thrilling week in the Philippines. The American enjoyed a standout season in 2024 with back-to-back wins at International Series Macau presented by Wynn and Saudi Open presented by PIF, as well as two narrow play-off losses. The trio will be chasing vital rankings points available to all in the field that could ultimately earn them a place on the LIV Golf League next season.
Four major champions playing on LIV Golf League have already been confirmed: Range Goats GC captain Bubba Watson, 4Aces GC’s Patrick Reed, and the Stinger GC duo of Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, along with home hero Miguel Tabuena.
The International Series Philippines is the seventh of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour schedule that form a pathway onto LIV Golf for players from around the world via the season-long Rankings race.
The tournament will take place at Sta. Elena Golf Club from 23–26 October, bringing a dynamic entertainment experience with headline concerts, exclusive hospitality, live music, gourmet dining, and immersive fan activities throughout tournament week.
The Asian Tour is delighted to announce it will return to India later this year for the inaugural IGPL Classic – an exciting new event on the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) Tour, which was launched recently.
The tournament will be held at Kensville Golf Resort, Ahmedabad, 27-30 November, paving the way for a popular return to a country that has a strong affinity with the Asian Tour.
Boasting prizemoney of US$500,000, it will be jointly-sanctioned with the IGPL Tour – a new and innovative circuit boasting 11 events that will act as forerunner for next year’s Indian Golf Premier League, the country’s first-ever franchise-based golf league.
“The introduction of a brand-new event in a country that has been so important to us is a welcome addition,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.
“India has always been a big part of the Asian Tour, not only as a destination but also in terms of producing incredible talent. Over the years, marquee Asian Tour players such as Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal, Shiv Kapur, SSP Chawrasia, Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar have been integral to the success and appeal of the Asian Tour.
“We applaud the Indian Golf Premier League for its forward thinking and innovation in bringing a new dimension to professional golf in India and we look forward to seeing new talent from India progress to the Asian Tour in the future. We are also looking forward to visiting a new destination in India which we have never before visited.”
The IGPL Classic will be the only traditional four-round event on the IGPL Tour, which will be played from September to December. The other 10 events will be played over three rounds with no cut made.
Later in the year IGPL franchise announcements will be made and a player auction held, ahead of the League’s launch in January. It will feature six teams, with 60 golfers competing in a home-and-away format with the ultimate aim of helping to grow the game in the world’s most populous country.
“We are thrilled to announce IGPL’s partnership with the Asian Tour as we aim to create more opportunities for Indian players to compete alongside international stars. The partnership promises to elevate the game and bring world-class golfing experiences to players and fans alike. It is great to have partners who are aligned with our vision and our mindset, and we are confident this partnership will flourish for a long time,” says IGPL CEO Uttam Singh Mundy.
The addition of the IGPL Classic brings the total number of events this year on the Asian Tour to 22. Thirteen events will be played between now and December offering over US$20 million in prizemoney.
The Asian Tour visited India at the start of the year for the International Series India presented by DLF.
Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai [main picture] stressed in an interview after his second round at the Mandiri Indonesia Open last week that hitting fairways is the key to scoring well at Pondok Indah Golf Course.
Sure enough, that’s exactly what he proceeded to do for all four days. The result was he impressively topped the Fairways Hit statistics category, together with American Micah Shin on 78.57%.
It was also one of the keys to winning the country’s National Open – for his fourth title on the Asian Tour.
He crushed his closest competitors by firing a final round 64, eight-under-par, to win by seven shots on Sunday.
His 64, which included two eagles, was the lowest of the week – matched only by Malaysian Shahriffuddin Ariffin, the third-round leader, on day two.
Suteepat Prateeptienchai. Picture by Graham Uden, Asian Tour.
He also had a superb week in the Greens in Regulation (GIR) department, finishing the week with 88.89%, second only to Australian Kevin Yuan who led the field with 90.28%.
Suteepat’s GIR percentage was an impressive improvement from his season average of 66.67% before the tournament, and he credited this to putting a new set of irons in the bag for the week in Jakarta.
With his tee to green game in such good form it was no surprise to also see him on top of the list of Fewest Bogies or Worse, leading the field with only two dropped shots for the week. On both those occasions he birdied the following hole, so he also topped the Bounce Back category with a perfect 100%.
And thanks to that final round he led Most Eagles made with three – meaning he finished top of four categories.
Suteepat’s other stats for the week were: Putts per GIR 1.656 (9th), Putts per Round 29 (T33),Driving Distance 297.8 yards (37th).
Runner up Taichi Kho from Hong Kong also had a great week tee to green, finishing T3 in GIR and T5 in Fairways Hit, with 86.11% and 75% respectively. His other major stats were: Putts per GIR 1.677 (17th), Putts per Round 29.25 (T38), Driving Distance 301.3 yards (26th).
Kevin Yuan. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Joint third place finishers Kevin Yuan and fellow Australian Travis Smyth produced their high finishes of the year quite differently: Yuan topped the GIR stats and placed T11 in the Fairways Hit category with 71.43%, while Smyth, who led the field with in Most Birdies with 25, excelled on the greens needing only 27.25 Putts per Round (T4) and 1.582 Putts per GIR (2nd).
Statistics category leaders at the Mandiri Indonesia Open (of players making the cut):
- Putts per Round – Wocheng Ye (CHN): 25.25
- Putts per GIR – Wocheng Ye (CHN): 1.556
- GIR – Kevin Yuan (AUS): 90.28%
- Fairways Hit – Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA), Micah Shin (USA): 78.57%
- Driving Distance – Roberto Lebrija (MEX): 328.5 yards
- Most Eagles – Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA): 3
- Most Birdies – Travis Smyth (AUS): 25
- Fewest Bogies or Worse – Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA): 2
- Scrambling – Wei-lun Chang (TPE): 95.45%
- Bounce back – Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA): 100%
Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson and hometown hero Taichi Kho will headline the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open at Hong Kong Golf Club later this year – with the tournament set to take place from October 30th to November 2nd.
LIV Golf star Reed will defend the title he won in spectacular fashion in 2024, when he shot a third-round 11-under-par 59 on his way to a three-shot victory.
Two-time Masters champion and fellow LIV Golf star Watson will be competing in the tournament for the first time, although he is familiar with the venue having competed in two LIV Golf Hong Kong events.
In a hugely significant development, the winner of this year’s event will earn invites into next year’s Masters Tournament and The Open – following an announcement by August National Golf Club and The R&A.
Kho, a Hong Kong Golf Club ambassador, reigning Asian Games gold medalist and the first Hongkonger to win on the Asian Tour, is thrilled to return to his home Open.
Patrick Reed pictured winning last year. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He said: “It is always a special occasion to play at Hong Kong Golf Club in front of family, friends and golf fans.
“This is a historic tournament I grew up watching as a youngster and now to compete in it as a professional, on my home course against some of the biggest names in world golf, is a real privilege.”
First played in 1959, the tournament is the longest-running international sporting event in Hong Kong and one of Asia’s most prestigious golf championships. It is also the only event in the world outside the Masters Tournament that has always been played at the same venue.
Hong Kong Golf Club captain Andy Kwok said: “We are all set for four magnificent days of action, as the historic Link Hong Kong Open continues to grow in prestige on the international stage. To be selected as one of only a handful of pathway events to the Majors reflects the rich heritage of our Club and the 65-year-old championship, but also Fanling’s global reputation as one of golf’s foremost tournament venues. We very much look forward to seeing the fans come out in force to support our Hong Kong players and watch some of the most exciting players in the game.”
Starting in 2024, Link Asset Management Limited (Link) became title sponsor of the Hong Kong Open golf championship for three years. Through this iconic partnership, the Hong Kong Golf Club and Link aim to promote the game of golf within the wider local community across the city and make it more accessible to the public.
Link Group CEO George Hongchoy said: “As Link celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025, we are proud to mark our second year of partnership with the prestigious Link Hong Kong Open. This collaboration exemplifies our role as a Hong Kong-headquartered real estate investment manager embracing international opportunity, while reflecting our belief in sport’s power to inspire communities and bring people together. With Hong Kong also hosting the golf competition of the 15th National Games this November, we are excited to celebrate the vibrancy and shared joy of golf across the city.”
Bubba Watson. Picture by Justin Casterline/Getty Images.
It is not just the Link Hong Kong Open title at stake – important Rankings points are also up for grabs.
The tournament is the eighth stop on The International Series, the set of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar that provides a pathway onto the LIV Golf League for the end-of-season Rankings champion.
“The International Series is all about providing players with opportunity, and a pathway to elite-level golf.” Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series said, “This year’s edition of the Link Hong Kong Open is the perfect example of our ethos. With the promise of vital rankings points in the race for a LIV Golf spot as well as a pathway to two majors for the champion, we look forward to another thrilling edition.”
“The Asian Tour is braced for a thrilling second half of the season, with the Link Hong Kong Open once again set to play a pivotal role. This year’s event will reach a new level of recognition as the winner will receive an invite to the Masters Tournament and The Open – an incredible endorsement for one of Asia’s most illustrious national opens.” said by David Rollo, Chief Operating Officer, Asian Tour.
In keeping with the event theme of the Link Hong Kong Open – Open For All — admission is free for the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday. Season passes, including the final two days on Saturday and Sunday, cost HK$300 for a weekend pass or HK$200 per day. Fans 18 and under will enjoy free entry across all four days when accompanied by a ticketed adult or with a photo ID containing date of birth.
With off-course entertainment to complement the world-class action, the Link Hong Kong Open 2025 is a great day out for the entire family, featuring an array of activities in the tournament fan village.
Taichi Cho. Picture by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.
More big names will be announced soon, so mark your diaries this October and come join fans from near and far to watch some of the world’s best golfers compete for this year’s title. For more information about the Link Hong Kong Open, please visit www.thehongkongopen.com.
Purchase tickets from https://www.ticketflap.com/.
The inaugural Jakarta International Championship has been confirmed by the Asian Tour today – adding an exciting new event to its schedule that will contribute further to a gripping end to the season.
The tournament will boast prize money of US$2million, making it Indonesia’s most lucrative golf tournament and enhancing the nation’s reputation for being a strong supporter of professional golf in the region.
The Jakarta International Championship will be played at one of the country’s most-renowned venues, Damai Indah Golf – PIK course [pictured], from 2-5 October, and will be the 13th event of the season on the Asian Tour. In addition, it will be part of The International Series – 10 upper-tier events on the Asian Tour that offer a direct pathway to the LIV Golf League. It’s the fifth stop of the year on the Series.
Importantly, the Government of Jakarta, has lent its support to the tournament, which will mark the Asian Tour’s second visit of the season to Indonesia. The government is confident the collaboration will help promote Jakarta as a global city while providing an incredible opportunity for local players to compete at the highest level.
Lucas Herbert currently leads The International Series Rankings. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour: “Jakarta has been a popular and regular destination for the Asian Tour for decades, so staging the Jakarta International Championship has great meaning to us.
“It is going to be an incredible addition to our schedule, not only bringing something new to our line-up but also adding importance in terms of a lucrative purse, outstanding golf course and place on The International Series.”
Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Jakarta is the perfect launch pad as we prepare for a thrilling conclusion to the season.
“This tournament, which kickstarts the second half of the campaign, will go a long way to deciding who wins The International Series Rankings race and earns a spot on the LIV Golf League next season.
“The Jakarta International Championship is another milestone moment in a successful season which is taking us to new markets and established destinations, once more showcasing the strength of The International Series brand.”
The Asian Tour now has 13 events remaining this season – with over US$20million in prize money to play for. Action resumes next week at the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea.
Aug 31: Suteepat Prateeptienchai won his fourth Asian Tour title – and the first outside Taiwan – with a sensational round that contained two eagles on Sunday of the US$500,000 Mandiri Indonesia Open.
The 32-year-old Thai, back-to-back winner of 2023 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open in 2023 and 2024 and the 2024 Yeangder TPC, justified his billing as the top-ranked player in the field with a composed eight-under par 64 that gave him a seven-shot win over Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, who closed with a 66.
It was also Suteepat’s fourth professional win on Indonesian soil, having won three times on the Asian Development Tour’s 2022 season, a feat that earned him a ‘battlefield promotion’ to the Asian Tour.
At Pondok Indah Golf Club course in Jakarta, the Aussie duo of Kevin Yuan (66) and Travis Smyth (70) were tied for third place at 16-under. Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin (74), leader by one at the start of the day, made back-to-back bogeys on the 17th and 18th and fell to tied fifth position alongside Thailand’s Pawin Ingkhapradit (66).
Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Indonesia’s Kevin Akbar was the best-placed local player, tying for seventh place with six other players with a bogey-free round of 66.
Suteepat raced ahead of Ariffin on the par-five sixth hole, where he made his first eagle, and then put a final stamp of authority with his grandstand finish on the 18th, where he drained a 10-footer putt for his second eagle of the day.
“I am so excited to come back to Indonesia, because I played here on the ADT and I’ve been in this position three times. I’m so glad to be back here,” said Suteepat, who shot the best round of the day.
“I started pretty good, but the turning point was the eagle on the sixth. I had about 254 yards for my second shot and hit the three-wood to about six-seven feet. That was the turning point because I became the leader by two, and then made birdie on eighth, which is the most difficult hole.
“All my friends on Asian Tour said I could only win in Taiwan, so I am really happy to show them that I can also win outside Taiwan. Really happy about that.”
Taichi Kho of Hong Kong. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Kho, the reigning Asian Games champion, has had five top-10 finishes this season, but the second place this week was his finest effort on the Asian Tour since a tied second position in the 2023 Volvo China Open. A “good bogey” on the 17th looked like dropping him down, but he bounced back with a birdie on the last hole and also benefited from Ariffin’s misfortunes.
The 24-year-old, who laid up on the 18th and hit his third shot to five feet, said: “It was good… I plotted along nicely. I did not feel super comfortable over the ball all week, so I feel like I did a really good job managing that. I was okay with just hitting average shots, and you know, when I did hit a good one, I made the most of it.
“On the 17th, I went for the shorter club and a harder swing, which usually works out for me under pressure, but this time it didn’t. I was up against the back lip of the bunker, so it was a good bogey there.”
Kevin Akbar of Indonesia. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
It was Akbar’s best finish on the Asian Tour result to date, bettering his tied 38th place at the 2022 BNI Indonesian Masters presented by Tunas Niaga Energi.
The 27-year-old, winner of one title on the Asian Development Tour, said: “Actually, I was feeling pretty relaxed. I was a bit nervous on the last two holes, as I’ve never been in this position before. My family also walked with me through the round.
“Just kept it simple… fairway, green, fairway, green. I’m pretty happy with the result. I am feeling confident with the way I played. Especially, these last few months when I have practiced a lot with my Trackman. Everything went right this week.”
The Asian Tour schedule will resume after a week’s break with the 41st Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea, to be played at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea from September 11-14.
Aug 30: Shahriffuddin Ariffin, one of the brightest prospects in Malaysian golf, edged ahead of the experienced Thai Suteepat Prateeptienchai with a birdie on the last hole and snared a one-shot lead after the third round of the US$500,000 Mandiri Indonesia Open on Saturday.
At Pondok Indah Golf Club course in Jakarta, the 26-year-old from Melaka shot a four-under-par 68, a round that was matched by Suteepat, to retain his lead with a three-day total of 17-under. His Thai rival needed to make a 15-footer for birdie on the last, but his attempt stayed short of the cup.
Australia’s Travis Smyth was his consistent self in a round of 68 to move to solo third place at 14-under, one better than a group of three players tied for fourth place at -13. That included Taiwan’s Wei-hsuan Wang, (66) and two Americans – Micah Shin (66) and Charles Porter (70).
Local hopes were pinned on young Naraajie Ramadhanputra, who was tied seventh at 12-under following a round of 68.
Shahriffuddin Ariffin. Picture by Graham Uden, Asian Tour.
While Ariffin is looking for his first win on the Asian Tour, Suteepat is already a three-time champion and the highest-ranked player in the field. The last Malaysian player to hoist the trophy on the Asian Tour was Gavin Green, at the 2017 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
Ariffin’s latest mantra of just enjoying the golf course and not being bothered about whom to chase, or who is behind him, seems to be working for him so far. And he intends to do the same on Sunday.
“I’m just enjoying playing golf with the other players, and I am trying not to think too much. It was a bit of a struggle with my putting today. I had four lip-outs, but I said ‘OK. No problem… just keep playing my golf’,” said the two-time winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT).
“So, I am hoping this will be my best Asian Tour event. I hope I can win this tournament. It’s a very, very good opportunity for me to get back to the Asian Tour, but there is no pressure as such.”
Bogey-free for the past two days, Suteepat finally dropped his first shot of the tournament on the 13th hole, before quickly bouncing back with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th.
Suteepat Prateeptienchai. Picture by Graham Uden, Asian Tour.
“It was a slow start for me. My first birdie came on the eighth. It’s been tough today. I did not feel as good as I did on the first two days. I was struggling with my approach shots throughout the round,” said Suteepat, who won the tournament (2023 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open), where Ariffin recorded his best Asian Tour result – a tied second.
“I am just going to play for fun tomorrow, because I am playing with my friend Dino (Ariffin). I will follow the same game plan and we’ll see what happens.”
Smyth did not have the best start to his round, making a bogey after hitting a wedge second shot into the water on the opening hole.
“I played well, but I also hit a ton of really bad shots as well. I wedged it in the water on the first hole, but I didn’t really let it get to me. I was kind of proud of the way that I just sort of stuck in there, and then to finish with birdies on 16 and 18 to wrap up four-under, I will take it,” said the Sydneysider.
“I had a couple of iron shots that were fun to hit, into the 15th and 16th. I just played them a little bit differently, like a punchy Tommy Fleetwood-type shot. I was between clubs, and I decided to go to an extra club and take some distance off. And they felt amazing. So I’m going to kind of draw on that now. I’m going to hone that into my warm-up tomorrow, and if it comes out good, I will probably play most of my iron shots like that. Because they were just two of the best iron shots I’ve hit all week.”
Aug 29: A round of 62 last week in the Asian Development Tour was just the tonic Shahriffuddin Ariffin needed as the Malaysian built on the confidence and raced to a solo lead at the halfway stage of the US$500,000 Mandiri Indonesia Open with a second round that contained two eagles on Friday.
At the Pondok Indah Golf Club course in Jakarta, the Malaysian holed his second shot from 107 yards on the par-four 15th hole for an eagle two, and then made another in a more conventional fashion on the par-five 18th. Four other birdies in the bogey-free round gave him a second-round eight-under par 64 – best score of the day.
Play was suspended because of a lightning threat. Eight groups (24 players) were still to finish and will resume their round on Saturday morning. The projected cut is at three-under par.
Ariffin moved to 13-under par total and held a slender one-shot lead over Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai, who returned a second successive card of 66. America’s 6 feet, 9 inches tall Charles Porter also shot a 66 to move up to solo third place at 11-under. Australian Travis Smyth (65) was alone in fourth position at 10-under.
Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Thai stars Itthipat Buranatanyarat (67) and Tanapat Pichaikool (69) were tied fifth at nine-under, where they were joined later in the day by American MJ Maguire (68).
Indonesia’s Naraajie Ramadhanputra provided the cheers for the home crowd with a 65, the best round of the morning session, to jump to tied eighth place at eight-under.
Last Sunday, Ariffin made 11 birdies as he surged to a tied third place in the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament at the nearby Damai Indah Golf course. The two-time ADT champion, who is searching for his maiden win on the Asian Tour, is feeding off that performance and benefiting from some recent changes he has made in his game.
“I’m happy with today’s play. My confidence level is high after I shot that 62 at Damai Indah. And I just kept telling myself that I should just enjoy my game and there was no need to chase the leader. Just play my own game, keep up the momentum and enjoy the golf course,” said Ariffin, whose other eagle on the 18th hole came following a 5-iron second shot to 15 feet.
“My coach, Zafran (Abdullah), just changed my technique a little bit with some swing drill. He also did a few things with my putting stroke. I was struggling with my putter as I had the yips. A few small things and then I just went and shot a 62.”
Charles Porter of USA. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Suteepat, who is now bogey-free for 36 holes, looked like running away from the field with five consecutive birdies from the second hole onwards. But once that run ended, his sixth and final birdie only came on the 18th hole.
Explaining the two nines, the three-time Asian Tour champion said: “The front nine, my tee shots were really good, which is something you need on this narrow course. I think the tee shot is the key, and I executed my plans well. But, on the back nine, I had a little trouble and was lucky not to make a bogey.”
Porter, the 26-year-old from San Francisco, who worked as a security guard on golf courses and retail stores before qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour last season, had a chance to finish with four birdies in a row, but after draining three long putts, including one on the tough par-three eighth hole, he fluffed his chip from thick greenside rough on the ninth.
“It was a good round. We had a really good group, with Settee (Prakongvech). I just stayed super patient. Made a couple of bogeys, but just kind of shrugged it off and continued,” said Porter, who had three top-20s in the Korn Ferry Tour last year, but was unable to keep his card.
“I’d say my second-last hole, the par-three eighth, was the best birdie. That hole is a beast. I hit it to like 20 feet with a five iron and then canned a double breaker for birdie.”
Naraajie Ramadhanputra of Indonesia. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Naraajie, 25, started with a bogey on the 10th hole, and turbo-charged his round with five birdies in a row from the 17th to third holes.
“It was a slow start in the beginning, made a bogey on my first hole. Then, just tried to wait for the birdies and made five in a row from the 17th. Just kept going after that and hit a lot of good shots,” said Naraajie, winner of three titles on the ADT, whose best finish on the Asian Tour is a fourth place at this tournament in 2019 as a 19-year-old.
“My ball striking is pretty good this week. I hit a lot of close shots inside 10-12 feet, and my putting is also good.
“It means a lot to be playing in the Mandiri Indonesia Open, especially since this is my National Open. Hopefully, just do the same thing for the next two days, keep doing my process, keep doing my pre-shot routine, and then we will see what happens on the last day.”
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