Bogor, Indonesia, March 24: Overnight leader Shohei Hasegawa of Japan was declared the winner of the OB Golf Invitational when officials decided to cancel the final round due to inclement weather on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Hasegawa was delighted to clinch his maiden Asian Development Tour victory, which was also his first professional win since he joined the play-for-pay ranks in 2015.

Hasegawa emerged victorious by one shot at the US$ 70,000 event held at Gunung Geulis Golf and Country Club.

“The weather didn’t look good this morning and I thought I would still have 18 holes to play a better round today. But they decided to shorten the tournament I was just upset that I didn’t get the opportunity to play in the final group which I was looking forward to. I was going to use today to gauge how I perform under pressure since I had a big group chasing me from behind. It’s not something you experience every day and it is great practice at this level of competition,” said Hasegawa who won with his three-day total of 10-under-par 203.

The final round was scheduled to start at 7.30am local time but was delayed till 8.30am and suspended again at 8.57am due to lighting threats before officials subsequently announced the cancelation of the final round at 11am.

“After deliberation, the organizing committee decided to cancel the final round due to heavy rain which was expected to last throughout the day. Conditions were also deemed unplayable,” said Asian Tour Tournament Director, Fritz Katzengruber.

Hasegawa, an Asian Tour Qualifying school graduate who resides in Hiroshima, Japan, has been riding on good form coming into this week with a tied-sixth finish in Brunei earlier this month.

Relishing the opportunity to play against an international field on the Tour’s secondary circuit, the Japanese went home with a winner’s prize purse of US$ 12,250 and is now looking forward to gaining more playing experience on the ADT.

“There wasn’t much pressure this morning because I was more excited. I have been in the final groups in local events back home but this is the biggest tournament that I have been able to get into this position. I am very impressed with the level of competition on the ADT and having played in the last two events since I got my card, I have met so many friends and watched how different players compete. I look forward to winning a tournament by playing all four days and that will be my next goal.

“It feels so good to finally win my first professional victory. I am going to tell all my friends back home and call my family after this is over. I feel good about where my game is at right now and I am proud of how I performed on this course,” said Hasegawa.

American Sydney Chung settled for second place on 204 while fellow compatriot John Catlin finished in third place, one shot back of Chung. Indonesia’s George Gandranata signed for a 206 to secure fourth place while Singapore’s Johnson Poh took outright fifth place with his 208 total.

“I had a great opportunity today to win after coming off two low rounds so I am definitely disappointed about not being able to play today. I was just one shot behind and a few guys told me the weather radar this morning wasn’t looking good, so once the rain came I wasn’t surprised about the announcement to shorten the event. But it is what it is and it’s still a great boost for my confidence, especially seeing my name on the leaderboard,” said Chung.

All ADT events are afforded Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status. The winner of each tournament receives a minimum of six OWGR points while the top-six players and ties earn points on a sliding scale.

The leading five players on the ADT Order of Merit at the end of the season will earn playing rights on the premier Asian Tour for the 2019 season.

Ends.

Leading Final Round scores

203 – Shohei HASEGAWA (JPN) 68 65 70

204 – Sydney CHUNG (USA) 73 65 66

205 – John CATLIN (USA) 67 69 69

206 – George GANDRANATA (INA) 70 69 67

208 – Johnson POH (SGP) 69 70 69

209 – Lee SONG (KOR) 69 74 66, Oscar ZETTERWALL (SWE) 71 69 69, Shinichi MIZUNO (JPN) 70 64 75

210 – Stephen LINDSKOG (SWE) 69 73 68, Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE) 69 73 68

211 – Matt KILLEN (ENG) 72 69 70, Blake SNYDER (USA) 72 67 72

About Asian Development Tour

The Asian Development Tour was launched in 2010 with the aim of creating a career pathway for professional golfers in Asia. Sanctioned by the Asian Tour, the Asian Development Tour will ultimately create a new playing platform for emerging stars from across Asia and around the world. Through the Asian Tour Qualifying School, players will qualify for the Asian Development Tour and enjoy the opportunity to hone their games and talent through a secondary circuit in Asia. Designed in the same structure as the Web.com Tour in America and European Challenge Tour, the Asian Development Tour is a stepping stone to the Asian Tour and the exciting world of international golf. The Asian Development Tour has been structured to ensure the best opportunities for its members. The leading five players on the Asian Development Tour will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for the following season, ensuring a proper career pathway for aspiring professionals. All ADT events receive Official World Golf Ranking points.

Johor Bahru, Malaysia, April 7:  Singapore’s Johnson Poh broke through on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in sensational style when he romped to a four-shot victory at the PGM Johor Championship on Saturday.

The 26-year-old  dominated the event after shooting a sensational seven-under-par 65 to defeat Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski, who settled for second following a 67 at the RM225,000 (approximately US$58,000) event held at Palm Resort Golf and Country Club.

Ben Leong posted a 70 to finish as the best Malaysian in third place while Singapore’s Mardan Mamat rolled back the years with a superb 65 to end his campaign in fourth alongside Australia’s Kieran Pratt (67), Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong (67) and Malaysia’s Arie Irawan (70).

Poh, who is coached by his father, was delighted to clinch his first ADT title in emphatic fashion after shooting his lowest four-day total of 21-under-par 267.

He started off solidly after mixing his card with six birdies against two bogeys through 15 holes but produced a grandstand finish with three straight birdies to claim a comfortable victory. 

“Feels awesome to finally win on the ADT and my lowest four-round-total in any tournament that I’ve played. I think the biggest thing for me this week was that I stuck to the game plan and stayed calm on every shot.

“My caddy told me on the last hole, victory is here, and I had to remind him that we still have one more hole to go and we need to finish the last putt before we can celebrate,” said Poh, who won silver medals in the individual and team events in the 2009 and 2015 South East Asian Games

The young Singaporean hopes this victory will help him finish inside the top-five on the final 2018 ADT Order of Merit which comes with a 2019 Asian Tour card.

Despite missing out on the win, Kokocinski took pride in his finish this week and hopes to bring over his form to his next event which will be on the ADT in Bangladesh.

“I actually played really well all week just that Johnson did a little better. I hit all 18 greens today and I only missed four in total all week. I was reading the lines wrong today so if I could just get my putts to drop I could have pushed Johnson further but I am still happy with my finish and I like where my game is right now so I see good things happening pretty soon,” said Kokocinski.

Asian Tour winner, Leong, reckons he needs to continue working on his ball striking as he prepares for the upcoming Asian Tour events.

“I fought my way around today because I am not really hitting it very well. I think I was just lucky today. It wasn’t easy out there today because it was windier but I stayed patient and hung in there. My usual shot shape is left-to-right, and right now it’s just going straight so I need to fix that before my next couple of events on the Asian Tour,” said Leong.

Poh will take home a winner’s prize cheque of US$10,237 and is the third Singaporean to win on the ADT after compatriots Mardan Mamat and Quincy Quek became winners on the ADT in 2012.

Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points are offered on All ADT events with the winner earning a total of six OWGR points while the top-six players and ties earn points on a sliding scale.

The leading five players on the ADT Order of Merit at the end of the season will earn playing rights on the premier Asian Tour for the 2019 season.

Leading final round scores

267 – Johnson POH (SGP) 68 65 69 65

271 – Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE) 68 70 66 67

274 – Ben LEONG (MAS) 67 70 67 70

275 – Mardan MAMAT (SGP) 73 70 67 65, Kieran PRATT (AUS) 70 68 70 67, Nitithorn THIPPONG (THA) 70 69 69 67, Arie Irawan (MAS) 71 65 69 70

276 – Janne KASKE (FIN) 65 69 72 70

277 – Miguel CARBALLO (ARG) 71 70 69 67, Smithti TEERATRAKUL (THA) 69 72 69 67, Tarik CAN (USA) 69 68 72 68

278 – Greg MOSS (USA) 70 71 71 66, Quincy QUEK (SGP) 65 73 71 69, Sorachut HANSAPIBAN (THA) 67 69 70 72, KOH Deng Shan (SGP) 70 66 68 74

About Asian Development Tour

The Asian Development Tour was launched in 2010 with the aim of creating a career pathway for professional golfers in Asia. Sanctioned by the Asian Tour, the Asian Development Tour will ultimately create a new playing platform for emerging stars from across Asia and around the world. Through the Asian Tour Qualifying School, players will qualify for the Asian Development Tour and enjoy the opportunity to hone their games and talent through a secondary circuit in Asia. Designed in the same structure as the Web.com Tour in America and European Challenge Tour, the Asian Development Tour is a stepping stone to the Asian Tour and the exciting world of international golf. The Asian Development Tour has been structured to ensure the best opportunities for its members. The leading five players on the Asian Development Tour will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for the following season, ensuring a proper career pathway for aspiring professionals. All ADT events receive Official World Golf Ranking points.

Ends.

Dhaka, April 27: Japan’s Kazuki Higa won his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) event in his very first attempt with a final round two-under-par 70 at the inaugural BTI Open on Friday.

It was a wire-to-wire victory for the 23-year-old Japanese as he closed with a winning total of 17-under-par 271 to emerge triumphant at the US$60,000 ADT event which was held at the Kurmitola Golf Club. 

Bangladeshi Zamal Hossain Mollah signed off with a 70 to finish in second place while Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski shared third place with Argentina’s Miguel Carballo on 276 total. 

“This is truly a special week for me in Bangladesh. It started with my birthday celebrations on Monday and I would end the week with my first ADT win here. It is even more memorable as this is my first ADT event,”said Higa.

Victory for Higa was also a redemption of sorts for the Japanese as he missed out on his Asian Tour card at Qualifying School by a single shot in January.

“After Qualifying School, I just told myself not to give up and try to do better the next time. I’m glad I didn’t have to wait too long for my first win,” said Higa, who graduated from Tohoku Fukushi University which counts Hideki Matsuyama as one of its famous alumni.

Starting the day with a three-shot cushion, Higa began with a conservative approach until the fourth hole where his advantage was wiped out. The Japanese then decided to change his game plan which eventually paid off.

“I did not feel much pressure at the start of the day as I thought I had a good lead. I was playing it safe until the fourth hole when Zamal caught up with me.

 “That was when I decided to drop the safe approach and become more aggressive. It worked out well and I’m so happy now,” said Higa.

The BTI Open was the second ADT event to be staged in Bangladesh this year. The tournament was afforded Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points with the winner receiving six OWGR points while the top-six players and ties earned points on a sliding scale.

Leading fourth round scores:

271- Kazuki HIGA (JPN) 62-70-69-70

274- Zamal Hossain MOLLAH (BAN) 68-68-68-70

276- Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE) 67-70-69-70, Miguel CARBALLO (ARG) 67-71-68-70

277 – Josh SALAH (USA) 69-72-68-68

279 – Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) 70-69-71-69, Md. Sajib ALI (BAN) 69-67-73-        70

280 – Divyanshu BAJAJ (IND) 72-73-67-68, Md Nazim (BAN) 71-74-67-68, John CATLIN (USA) 72-66-71-71

281 – M DHARMA (IND) 68-71-71-71

282 – Udayan MANE (IND) 74-70-70-68, Dulal HOSSAIN (BAN) 69-72-70-71, Shakhawat SOHEL (BAN) 68-75-66-73

283- Shinichi MIZUNO (JPN) 71-75-69-68, Sujjan SINGH (IND) 72-71-74-66, Mithun PERERA (SRI) 68-73-71-71

About Asian Development Tour

The Asian Development Tour was launched in 2010 with the aim of creating a career pathway for professional golfers in Asia. Sanctioned by the Asian Tour, the Asian Development Tour will ultimately create a new playing platform for emerging stars from across Asia and around the world. Through the Asian Tour Qualifying School, players will qualify for the Asian Development Tour and enjoy the opportunity to hone their games and talent through a secondary circuit in Asia. Designed in the same structure as the Web.com Tour in America and European Challenge Tour, the Asian Development Tour is a stepping stone to the Asian Tour and the exciting world of international golf. The Asian Development Tour has been structured to ensure the best opportunities for its members. The leading five players on the Asian Development Tour will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for the following season, ensuring a proper career pathway for aspiring professionals. All ADT events receive Official World Golf Ranking points.

Ends.

Phuket, Thailand, March 9: The Singha Laguna Phuket Open will welcome Laguna Golf Phuket as a new joint title sponsor when the popular event returns for its second consecutive edition on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) from May 10 to 13.

Sanctioned by the ADT and All Thailand Golf Tour, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2018, the Singha Laguna Phuket Open will offer a prize purse of ฿2 million (approximately US$63,860) and will be staged at the award-winning Laguna Golf Phuket.

The Singha Laguna Phuket Open celebrated a worthy champion in Thailand’s Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol last year and witnessed a spectacular 59 recorded by Sutijet Kooratanapisan of Thailand in the final round. It was the first ever on the ADT and Asian Tour.

Paul Wilson, Assistant Vice President and Group Golf Director of Laguna Golf Phuket, hailed the return of the tournament and spoke about the course enhancements.

The changes include the removal of some bunkers and the addition of new tee boxes. Fairways have been narrowed and the rough will also be increased when players return to the holiday isle for the tournament in May.

“There was an immediate increase in domestic and regional visitors to the course and resort following the 2017 tournament, aided by live television coverage in Thailand and highlights packages aired in 19 other countries,” said Wilson.

Laguna Golf Phuket is a drawcard for golf visitors to Phuket from Thailand and around the world. It has twice been awarded the mantle of Thailand’s Best Golf Course and in 2016 was named Asia’s best golf course at the World Golf Awards in Portugal.

Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Chief Operating Officer, lauded the addition of the popular Singha Laguna Phuket Open on the ADT schedule.

“Phuket is an awesome destination and our players love going there. We also have good memories from the Singha Thailand Open held at the same course in 2009, before it was remodeled.

“We are again looking forward to some low scoring this year. It is also great that recreational golfers who play at Laguna Golf Phuket will be able to see how the pros play the course,” said Cho.

Jakraphong Thongyai, All Thailand Golf Tour Commissioner, said the return of the Singha Laguna Phuket Open offers another opportunity for young professionals and amateur golfers to improve.

“It provides another venue for up-and-coming stars of the future. They are all very excited to compete in such an appealing location,” he said.

An international cast from the region’s secondary circuit are set to tee up against a strong line-up from the local front in the event, which will be the eighth leg of the ADT schedule and the Tour’s first stop in Thailand this season.

For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com

Photo caption: Asian Tour Chief Operating Officer Cho Minn Thant (left), All Thailand Golf Tour Commissioner Jakraphong Thongyai (middle) and Laguna Golf Assistant Vice President/Group Golf Director Paul Wilson (right) with the Singha Laguna Phuket Open 2018 trophy.

Ends.

About Asian Development Tour

The Asian Development Tour was launched in 2010 with the aim of creating a career pathway for professional golfers in Asia. Sanctioned by the Asian Tour, the Asian Development Tour will ultimately create a new playing platform for emerging stars from across Asia and around the world. Through the Asian Tour Qualifying School, players will qualify for the Asian Development Tour and enjoy the opportunity to hone their games and talent through a secondary circuit in Asia. Designed in the same structure as the Web.com Tour in America and European Challenge Tour, the Asian Development Tour is a stepping stone to the Asian Tour and the exciting world of international golf. The Asian Development Tour has been structured to ensure the best opportunities for its members. The leading five players on the Asian Development Tour will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for the following season, ensuring a proper career pathway for aspiring professionals. All ADT events receive Official World Golf Ranking points.

Bandar Seri Begawan, March 10: Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat cruised to a six-shot victory by firing a final round of three-under-par 68 at the US$60,000 Richard Mille Brunei Championships on Saturday. 

The world number 36 dominated the inaugural event where he completed a stunning wire-to-wire victory to clinch his third Asian Development Tour (ADT) title at the picturesque Empire Hotel and Country Club.

Kiradech ended his campaign on 23-under-par 261 to win by six shots over John Catlin of the United States, who returned with a superb 65 to finish in second place.

The 28-year-old Kiradech got off to a solid start by making the turn in 34 before adding three birdies against two bogeys on his homeward nine to claim his second title in 2018 following his victory at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth last month.

“On the back nine I lost my concentration a little bit. My target was to try and beat the course record of 61 and I was thinking too much. My putts were not dropping in the first five holes on the back nine. Hole 12 was a bad hole for me, where I hit a bad drive to the right and had to chip it out and then didn’t save par,” said Kiradech.

“Everyone was surprised when I took my driver out on hole 15 because it should just be a three-iron off the tee, but I had nothing to lose and I had a seven-stroke lead so I just wanted to change it up and I made a birdie on that hole.

A huge crowd gathered to watch the popular Thai march to victory. “It surprised me that so many people came out to watch despite the hot and humid weather. It feels fantastic to win again, I didn’t have too much pressure on me today, I was just enjoying my round and playing my own game,” said Kiradech.

“The level of competition on the ADT has definitely improved from what I have seen. I just had a really good week which explains the big gap. But there’s so many top players behind me and I really believe that the ADT gives all these up and coming golfers the opportunity to make it to the bigger tour and I hope to see these guys up there soon.”

With two wins over two months, Kiradech will be heading back to the U.S. next week to play in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match play event before heading to the Masters.

“I wanted to use this to gain confidence before I head back. I have been playing great golf over the last four weeks. I am hitting it well and my mind is in the right place so I am going back to the U.S. in great form,” he added.

Catlin, a two-time ADT winner, gave his best to mount a title charge as he returned with a 65 highlighted by six birdies on his flawless scorecard. Itthipat Buranatanyarat of Thailand took third place  following a 71 while Indonesia’s Danny Masrin shared fourth  with Singapore’s Quincy Quek on 271s.

“I had so many lip-outs today it could have been something really special. I hit a couple of shots between five feet and made those and made a 20-footer on hole 15. Kiradech played unbelievable, I knew I didn’t have a chance to catch him so I was just aiming for second place. It’s been a good week and I’m just going to stay on top of my game before my next event in Indonesia.” said Catlin.

Kiradech took home a winner’s cheque of US$ 10,500 and received nine Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points which will bring him closer to his goal of finishing inside  the top-30 at the end of 2018.

The leading five players on the final ADT Order of Merit at the end of the season will earn playing rights on the region’s premier Tour for 2019.

For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com 

Leading final round scores:

261 – Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 65 64 64 68

267 – John CATLIN (USA) 66 67 69 65

270 – Itthipat BURANATANYARAT (THA) 68 64 67 71

271 – Danny MASRIN (INA) 65 70 71 65, Quincy QUEK (SGP) 71 67 64 69

273 – Miguel CARBALLO (ARG) 70 70 70 63, Nitithorn THIPPONG (THA) 68 69 67 69, Shohei HASEGAWA (JPN) 69 67 67 70, Joshua Andrew WIRAWAN (INA) 70 68 65 70

274 – Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) 66 68 73 67, Johnson POH (SGP) 71 69 67 67

275 – Pannakorn UTHAIPAS (THA) 72 70 69 64, Hyukchul SHIN (KOR) 71 70 71 63

276 – Steve LEWTON (ENG) 67 68 72 69, Nattawat SUVAJANAKORN (THA) 70 69 68 69, Mathiam KEYSER (RSA) 71 68 68 69, Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE) 71 70 64 71, Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI (THA) 68 70 67 71

277 – Thanpisit OMSIN (THA) 67 72 68 70

Ends.

 About Asian Development Tour

The Asian Development Tour was launched in 2010 with the aim of creating a career pathway for professional golfers in Asia. Sanctioned by the Asian Tour, the Asian Development Tour will ultimately create a new playing platform for emerging stars from across Asia and around the world. Through the Asian Tour Qualifying School, players will qualify for the Asian Development Tour and enjoy the opportunity to hone their games and talent through a secondary circuit in Asia. Designed in the same structure as the Web.com Tour in America and European Challenge Tour, the Asian Development Tour is a stepping stone to the Asian Tour and the exciting world of international golf. The Asian Development Tour has been structured to ensure the best opportunities for its members. The leading five players on the Asian Development Tour will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for the following season, ensuring a proper career pathway for aspiring professionals. All ADT events receive Official World Golf Ranking points.