Resurgent Rory making a meal of Selangor Masters
A resurgent Rory Hie of Indonesia has credited chicken tandoori dinners for his superb performance in the USD175,000 PKNS Selangor Masters, after adding a second round 67 to his opening 68 to take the 36-hole clubhouse lead at Seri Selangor Golf Club.
The 35-year-old sits atop the leaderboard of the joint Asian Development Tour (ADT) and domestic Toyota Tour event with a five-under-par 135 total, two shots ahead of local surprise package Muhammad Danial Faidz. Seri Selangor is set up to par-70 this week, with the par-five 5th and par-five 18th holes converted to par-fours.
“Before the first round I ate tandoori chicken and I had the same dinner yesterday, so I’m just going to keep eating tandoori chicken for dinner! It’s at the nasi kandar shop opposite my hotel, which is just across the street from the golf club,” bellowed an elated Hie.
With inclement weather curtailing play at 4.26pm yesterday, half of the 144-player field had to head out early this morning to complete Round 1. When fading light stopped play at 6.40pm today, 65 golfers had yet to complete their second rounds. Round 2 will resume at 7.15am tomorrow, with Round 3 commencing not before 10.30am.
Hie had to finish nine holes of his first round this morning, playing an energy-sapping total of 27 holes today. Unperturbed, he snared an eagle and two birdies against just one bogey in his second 18 to surge up the leaderboard. Hie’s eagle came at the par-five 6th hole, where he also made three early in his opening round yesterday.
“Yesterday I hit a 3-iron from 225 yards to about 20 feet and made the putt, and today I hit the exact same shot straight over the flag and sank a 12-footer for eagle.
“It’s kind of weird how this game is! Last week I was hitting it really bad during a casual round, and then something clicked just before the first round here. I hit it well in both rounds and my short game was good, my putting was good, so overall I’m really happy,” said Hie, who won the 2019 Classic Golf and Country Club International Championship in India for his sole Asian Tour title.
Hie enthused that he loved the tight, tree-lined Seri Selangor layout for the way it challenged every aspect of the game. The last time he played the course was during the 2014 Selangor Masters, when he finished tied 21st.
“I love this golf course! I just like the way Seri Selangor challenges every aspect of your game including your course management, so all around it’s a really superb golf course,” said Hie.
Muhammad Danial Faidz of Malaysia pictured in action at the 2023 PKNS Selangor Masters. Picture courtesy of PKNS Selangor Masters
On an overcast day with intermittent rain, Muhammad Danial emerged as the leading Malaysian after signing in impressive rounds of 68 and 69 for a three-under-par 137 total. The 25-year-old from Ipoh benefitted from keeping things as simple as possible on the course.
“I just tried to keep it as simple as I could, just keep the ball on the fairway and avoid getting into trouble. It turned out well in these two rounds, so we’ll see how it goes the next two days. I was putting really well, and my irons were good too,” said Danial, who had to complete two holes of his first round this morning.
Still hunting for his first professional title since joining the paid ranks in 2017, Danial noted that he will take it one shot at a time over the final 36 holes.
“I’ll just enjoy the game and focus on each shot. If I have a chance to win, of course I’ll try and grab it, but it’s golf and anything can happen in the next two days. So I’ll just enjoy myself and we’ll see how it goes,” he said.
Ho Yu-Cheng of Chinese Taipei is well in the hunt on two-under-par, following up an opening 68 with an even-par 70.
“The drives here are pretty tough because the fairways are a little tight. My game is good, especially my putting, and when I missed the green, I managed to get up and down,” said the 25-year-old, whose best finish on the ADT is sole second at this year’s BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament in Indonesia.
Three-time ADT winner Naoki Sekito of Japan shot a superb second round 65, 10 shots better than his opening 18, to play his way into contention on even-par 140. The 26-year-old is tied with Malaysia’s Daeng Rahman (71, 69).
“I played 28 holes today, so it was long day! In the first round, I had no idea what to do to shoot under-par on this golf course, as everything is so difficult from tee to green. I didn’t change anything for the second round, but I tried to focus on every single shot and just do my best. And suddenly it worked well,” said Sekito, whose latest ADT win came at this year’s OB Golf Championship in Indonesia.
First round leader Poosit Supupramai of Thailand was among the players who did not manage to compete their second rounds. Winner of the ADT’s 2017 Defence Raya Golf Championship in Pakistan, the 30-year-old is plus-one for the day and four-under-par overall after 12 holes.
Malaysian number one Gavin Green had a torrid time and was eight-over-par for the day after 15 holes, due largely to a quadruple bogey eight at the second hole when his drive went just out of bounds. The 2017 Asian Tour number one is one shot below the projected cutline of six-over-par.
The PKNS Selangor Masters is the first stop of the closing three-event stretch on this year’s ADT and is also the penultimate tournament of the 2023 Toyota Tour. With the lucrative prize money on offer, the tournament will play a pivotal role in determining the top 10 players on the ADT’s final Order of Merit who will earn Asian Tour cards for 2024.
The organizers will be awarding the best Malaysian finisher this week with an additional RM10,000 on top of the tournament prize money.
Since its inception in 2007, the Selangor Masters has seen two Malaysian winners in Ben Leong, who won the second edition in 2008, and Shahriffuddin Ariffin who was triumphant last year. Both Leong and Shahriffuddin are competing in this week’s Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour.
The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) returns as title sponsor for the second year running, while the event promoter is PKNS Golf Management Services Sdn Bhd which is a full subsidiary of PKNS.
Crafted by Australian architect Ross Watson, the Seri Selangor course opened for play in 1998 as Malaysia’s first genuine public facility and provides an enthralling golf experience with its strategic design and speedy greens.
Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai carded a superb five-under-par 65 to take the clubhouse lead following the rain-interrupted opening round of the USD175,000 PKNS Selangor Masters at Seri Selangor Golf Club.
Chasing his second Asian Development Tour (ADT) title, Poosit was in superb form as he fired six birdies – five of which came in a scintillating back nine of 30 – against one bogey at the strategically challenging Seri Selangor layout. Seri Selangor is playing as a par-70 course this week, with the par-five fifth and par-five 18th holes converted to par-fours for the tournament.
Joint 26th in this event at the same venue last year, Poosit tops the leaderboard by one shot from compatriot Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij.
“I played well today. I made bogey on the first hole after missing the fairway, but after that my driver started working and I was also hitting my irons well,” said Poosit, who won the 2017 Defence Raya Golf Championship in Pakistan for his maiden ADT title.
“Most of my birdie putts were not long, around 10 feet, and I almost holed my second shot at the 11th hole. I hope I can play like today and keep the ball on the fairway all the way to the weekend,” added the 30-year-old.
Starting on the 10th hole, Varanyu raked in six birdies including three in a row from Holes 6 to 8, but dropped shots on two holes for a round of 66. The 26-year-old blamed his short game for not being able to post a lower score.
Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij pictured in action during the first round of the PKNS Selangor Masters at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor on November 8, 2023. Photo courtesy of PKNS Selangor Masters.
“I was hitting it well off the tee and putting myself in the correct spots. But my chipping was not so good, and the two bogeys came from simple mistakes.” said Varanyu, who is a three-time ADT winner.
Having finished tied 11th at the 2022 PKNS Selangor Masters, Varanyu certainly has an affinity for the Seri Selangor layout. “I like this golf course. You have to try to play safe because it is very challenging, and even a slight mistake can result in a big number,” he said.
Spearheading the Malaysian challenge in the tournament, which is co-sanctioned with the domestic Toyota Tour, is the country’s top golfer Gavin Green, a three-time ADT winner, and seasoned campaigner Kenneth De Sliva. The duo signed in matching one-under-par 69s to lie in joint third position among those who completed their rounds.
Green was not pleased with how he played, noting that he did not give himself enough birdie chances.
“I didn’t hit as many fairways as I would have liked to, and that cost me. It was just hard to judge the shots out of the rough; I expected fliers, but the ball jumped a lot more than I thought it would. My scrambling was good and my putting was decent, but it’s just not easy out there,” said the 29-year-old, who won the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2017.
The 32-year-old De Silva meanwhile was pleased with how he plotted his way around the golf course.
Malaysia’s Gavin Green lines up a putt during the first round of the PKNS Selangor Masters at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor on November 8, 2023. Photo courtesy of PKNS Selangor Masters.
“I hit a lot of greens today and, when I did miss, I missed in the right spots and managed to get up and down. I had one long birdie putt, on Hole 17 when I made a 20-footer,” said De Silva, who won the 2012 Sarawak Masters for his first and only ADT title.
De Silva noted that he owed his good start partly to a driving tip from young compatriot Ervin Chang. “I’ve been struggling with my driver recently, but Ervin gave me a swing tip yesterday and it worked well today,” he said.
Play was suspended at 4.26pm due to an impending thunderstorm and the threat of lightning, and was eventually cancelled for the day with 72 golfers yet to finish their rounds. Round 1 will resume at 7.15am tomorrow, followed by Round 2 which will not commence before 8.15am.
The PKNS Selangor Masters is the first stop of the closing three-event stretch on this year’s ADT and is also the penultimate tournament of the 2023 Toyota Tour. The tournament will play a pivotal role in determining the top 10 players on the ADT’s final Order of Merit, who will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for 2024.
The organizers will be awarding the best Malaysian finisher this week with an additional RM10,000 on top of the tournament prize money.
Since its inception in 2007, the Selangor Masters has seen two Malaysian winners in Ben Leong, who won the second edition in 2008, and Shahriffuddin Ariffin who was triumphant last year. Both Leong and Shahriffuddin are competing in this week’s Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour.
The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) returns as title sponsor for the second year running, while the event promoter is PKNS Golf Management Services Sdn Bhd which is a full subsidiary of PKNS.
Crafted by Australian architect Ross Watson, the Seri Selangor course opened for play in 1998 as Malaysia’s first genuine public facility and provides an enthralling golf experience with its strategic design, tree-lined fairways and speedy greens.
Main photo: Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai pictured in action during the first round of the PKNS Selangor Masters at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor on November 8, 2023. Photo courtesy of PKNS Selangor Masters.
The PKNS Selangor Masters returns to Seri Selangor Golf Club this November 8-11 with a beefed-up total purse of USD175,000, an increase of USD25,000 from last year.
One of the richest events on this year’s Asian Development Tour (ADT), the PKNS Selangor Masters will be co-sanctioned with the Toyota Tour, Malaysia’s domestic professional circuit. The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) returns as title sponsor for the second year running, while the event promoter is PKNS Golf Management Services Sdn Bhd which is a full subsidiary of PKNS.
The field of 144 will be made up of the leading 75 available players from the ADT and 40 from the Toyota Tour, with the remaining 19 spots allocated for tournament invitations. The invited players will include the boys’ champion of the preceding week’s Selangor International Junior Golf Championship at the same venue.
The country’s top player Gavin Green will spearhead the local challenge, hoping to become the third Malaysian winner of the event after Shahriffuddin Ariffin (2022) and Ben Leong (2008).
Winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2017, Green competed in the 2013 Selangor Masters at Seri Selangor as an amateur and finished as top Malaysian in tied sixth place on four-under-par 280.
“I’m really looking forward to playing in the PKNS Selangor Masters as it’s always nice to compete on home soil,” said Green, who plays on the DP World Tour (European Tour).
“Seri Selangor is definitely one of my favourite courses and hopefully I can bring my ‘A’ game and do well next week,” added the 29-year-old.
Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO Cho Minn Thant noted: “We’re delighted to confirm the PKNS Selangor Masters’ place on the ADT schedule this year, and to be partnering with the Toyota Tour. We’re thankful to the Selangor State Development Corporation for their continued support and for ensuring the PKNS Selangor Masters remains one of the richest events on the Asian Development Tour.”
The PKNS Selangor Masters returns to Seri Selangor Golf Club with a beefed-up total purse of USD175,000, an increase of USD25,000 from last year.
Launched this year, the Toyota Tour is the result of a tri-party agreement between the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour, UMW Toyota Motor as the naming partner and MST Golf as the delivery agency.
Dato‘ Mahmud bin Abbas, Chief Executive Officer of PKNS, noted: “The partnership between the PKNS Selangor Masters and the ADT provides an important avenue for professionals to progress to the regional circuits and beyond. We therefore feel it is appropriate to further elevate the stature of the tournament by increasing its purse.”
With the top-10 players on the ADT’s end-of-season Order of Merit earning promotion to the lucrative Asian Tour in 2024, the PKNS Selangor Masters as part of the crucial closing stretch will play a key role in determining who makes it through.
Mohd Zubir Idrus, the Chief Executive Officer of Seri Selangor Golf Club, lauded the return of the event.
“We are delighted to be the host venue of the PKNS Selangor Masters again. Our golf course is one of the most challenging in the country and will be in prime condition for the tournament, providing a worthy challenge for the rising stars of the region as they strive to elevate their careers,” said Mohd Zubir.
After a seven-year hiatus, the PKNS Selangor Masters made a welcome return to the regional golfing schedule last year when Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin clinched a two-shot victory over Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub at Seri Selangor. One of the nation’s most talented young players, Shahriffuddin kept his nerve on an exciting final day to claim his second ADT title with a nine-under-par 275 total.
The victory helped Shahriffuddin finish fourth on the 2022 ADT Order of Merit, earning the 24-year-old playing rights on the Asian Tour for this year.
Winner of the PKNS Selangor Masters in 2022, Shahriffuddin Ariffin pictured with the winner’s trophy.
“Winning the PKNS Selangor Masters was a significant achievement for me because it was an ADT event at home here in Malaysia, and it helped me secure my Asian Tour card for 2023. The Seri Selangor course is a great layout and will be a good challenge for the professionals,” said Shahriffuddin.
Shahriffuddin was the second Malaysian to win the event, following in the footsteps of Ben Leong who fought off Thai legend Thongchai Jaidee at the second edition in 2008 when it became part of the Asian Tour.
Established as a statutory body in 1968, PKNS is the development agency for the state of Selangor and is involved in real estate development, trade development, industrial development and investment.
A project of PKNS, Seri Selangor Golf Club offers a challenging 18-hole course designed by Australian architect Ross Watson. The course opened for play in 1998 as Malaysia’s first genuine public facility and continues to provide an enthralling golf experience with its strategic design, tree-lined fairways and speedy greens.
Aramco has agreed one of the biggest and most significant partnerships in the history of the Asian Development Tour (ADT), after confirming title sponsorship of the Saudi Aramco Invitational for the next three editions, with an additional two-year option. The overall prize money will be US$250,000, making it the most lucrative event on the Tour, and establishing it as a prestigious season-ending tournament.
The 72-hole stroke play event will be held at Rolling Hills Golf Course in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, from November 29 to December 2, bringing down the curtain on the ADT’s 2023 calendar in spectacular fashion and taking total ADT prize money for the season beyond the US$1 million barrier.
Nabil Al-Nuaim, Chairman of the Saudi Aramco Golf Association (SAGA) and Aramco’s Senior Vice President of Digital and Information Technology, said: “Aramco has a history of over 75 years supporting golf in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We are proud to continue our tradition across the company and the Kingdom. We believe partnership with the Asian Development Tour is a natural fit with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and Aramco’s mission to promote sports, and particularly golf, among the youth of Saudi Arabia.”
Cho Minn Thant, the Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO, said: “This is wonderful news for the Asian Development Tour, the Asian Tour’s flourishing feeder circuit, and we are truly appreciative to Aramco for their support.
“I know that all those who play on the ADT will welcome this exciting news, which, I’m sure will motivate them to work even harder as they bid to progress their way onto the Asian Tour,” he added.
With the top 10 players on the ADT’s end-of-season Order of Merit earning promotion to the Asian Tour in 2024, the Saudi Aramco Invitational will prove decisive in determining who makes it through.
Cho added: “Where Energy is Opportunity is Aramco’s tagline. The Saudi Aramco Invitational will energise and provide opportunity for the region’s up-and-coming professionals, as well as elite amateur players. We’re grateful to Aramco for their vision and commitment to the development of golf.”
The 120-strong field for the Saudi Aramco Invitational will be made up of 70 players from the ADT, 40 players selected by Aramco and 10 invitees.
Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij of Thailand pictured in action during the OB Golf Championshp at Gunung Geulis Golf Club on September 27, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij triumphed in the 2022 inaugural tournament, which was also played at the Rolling Hills Golf Course.
Located in Dhahran, Rolling Hills is a private course for employees of Aramco.
Headquartered in Dhahran, Aramco is one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, creating value across the hydro-carbon chain and delivering societal and economic benefits to people and communities around the globe who rely on the vital energy it supplies.
“Aramco takes great pride in sponsoring and hosting Asia’s best up-and-coming talent at our beautiful, yet challenging, golf course,” said Mr Al-Nuaim.
“We are always seeking strategic and long-term partnerships and we look forward to further developing our relationship with the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour.”
Ends.
Deyen Lawson of Australia chipped in on the first hole of a play-off to win the second Indo Masters presented by TNE today, beating Thailand’s Charng-Tai Sudsom for his first win on the Asian Development Tour (ADT).
Lawson, who posted the low round of the day with a 65 to push himself into contention, appeared to be facing a disappointing second place from the clubhouse as Charng-Tai teed off on 18 with a one-shot lead at Imperial Klub Golf.
However, when a misplaced lay-up shot by Charng-Tai found the water, and when he could not get up and down from the drop, his bogey finish for a 66 meant the pair had to head out for a play-off.
Naoki Sekito of Japan pictured in action atthe second Indo Masters Golf Invitational presnted by TNE on October 13, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
On the par-five 18th, and with both players unable to make the green with their second shots, the hole was still open. Despite Charng-Tai’s best efforts to get close from a difficult lie, once Lawson chipped in from 20 yards, it was game over.
Said Lawson after his win: “It’s been close for the last few weeks and I’ve been playing solid, so it’s really good to get over the line.
“It was good to chip in to win,” he added. “You practice that shot all the time on the chipping green but you never really expect it to happen in a play-off so that was pretty fortunate. I’m really happy.”
With the win and several top 10 placings this season, Lawson is now leading the ADT Order of Merit as the season draws to a conclusion. “Obviously I want to finish in the top 10 to get an Asian Tour card,” he said, “but you never get sick of winning, no matter where it is, so I’m really excited.”
Four shots back in third place were Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit (66), England’s Joe Heraty (68) and Japan’s Naoki Sekito (69) who finished with a total of 207 over the three days.
Sarut Vongchaisit of Thailand pictured in action atthe second Indo Masters Golf Invitational presnted by TNE on October 13, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
In sixth place, with 208 strokes, were Thailand’s Chonjarern Baramithanaseth (69), Pattaraphol Khanthatcha (69) and Supravee Phatam (71), together with Sweden’s Oscar Zetterwall (70), and Indonesia’s Kevin Akbar (71).
Three shots behind in 11th spot were Thailand’s Vanchai Luangnitikul (71) and Italy’s Andrea Saracino (71).
Australia’s Aaron Wilkin (71), winner of the BRG Open Golf Championship in Vietnam in August, was unable to recover from a poor performance on the opening day but remains in contention for the OOM after finishing in 13th tied with Thatland’s Pisitchai Thippong (72) on 213.
The next event on the ADT’s 2023 schedule is the PKNS Selangor Masters at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor in Malaysia, which takes place from November 8-11. The US$175,000 event is the tenth ADT event of the season and will be played over 72 holes.
Thai duo Supravee Phatam and Charng-Tai Sudsom managed to reclaim some ground on overnight leader Kevin Akbar of Indonesia in the second Indo Masters Golf Invitational presented by TNE today, setting the stage for a shoot-out in the final round at Imperial Klub Golf in Jakarta.
The trio lead by one shot from Indonesia’s George Gandranata (70) and Benita Kasiadi (68), together with Sweden’s Oscar Zetterwall (69), Deyen Lawson (67) of Australia and Japan’s Naoki Sekito (69) on six under.
Akbar (70), who won the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar and Nomura at Gunung Geulis Country Club In August, was pleased with his round but struggled to find the hole in this US$75,000 Asian Development Tour event.
“I played pretty solid today,” he said after his round. “I made a few mistakes but small mistakes. I hit a lot of greens but my putting was a bit cold. Missed a couple of good chances but it’s OK.
Kevin Akbar of Indonesia pictured in action at the second Indo Masters Golf Invitational presnted by TNE on October 12, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
“Tomorrow same thing, try to hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens and hopefully the putter will be hot. I’m not thinking about it too much, anything can happen in 18 holes. I just want to keep the right mindset through the round and hopefully play better,” he added.
Sudsom (68), who turned in a colourful scorecard after his round with eight birdies and four bogeys, was more circumspect but managed to take some positives from his round, even though he started poorly.
“I was struggling on my second hole (11th) when I three putted,” he explained. “I’ve been working on my mental game so I just tried to keep a good mindset and be more consistent in my game.
“The afternoon was quite windy yesterday but it was a lot calmer today. Tomorrow I’m just going to play my own game. A win would mean a lot to me for next year but if not, I’ll be fine, I just hope to keep playing good golf,” he added.
Supravee Phatam of Thailand pictured in action at the second Indo Masters Golf Invitational presnted by TNE on October 12, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
In ninth spot, England’s Joe Heraty (70) maintained his sight on the leaders. together with Thailand’s Pattaraphol Khanthatcha (69) and Chonjarern Baramithanaseth (70).
Italy’s Andrea Saracino (73) shares 12th place with Thailand’s Vanchai Luangnitikul (69), followed by the Thai trio of Sarut Vongchaisit (67), Pisitchai Thippong (69) and Thanpisit Omsin (72).
Australia’s Aaron Wilkin (66), winner of the BRG Open Golf Championship in Vietnam in August, had a woeful opening round after just recently arriving back from Europe, but he managed to claw his way out of the cut zone and resume his fight for the season’s honours with the low round of the day.
Currently second in the Order of Merit following his win in Vietnam, and with leader Yuvraj Singh Sandhu playing in the SJM Macau Open on the Asian Tour, Wilkin revealed he was trying not to think about the pressure from players coming up behind him.
“It does a little bit, to be honest. I had a lot of head noise yesterday afternoon. I shot four over and I had to knuckle down. I did some practice yesterday and I just tried to reset and make the cut at least. That was my goal and hopefully tomorrow I can shoot a real low one.
Oscar Zetterwall of Sweden pictured in action at the second Indo Masters Golf Invitational presnted by TNE on October 12, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
“I’m starting to feel a little better after coming back from Europe, I think I underestimated the travel and jet lag and probably let myself go a little bit mentally yesterday.
“Today I still scored well when I wasn’t really in the fairway, always just off to the sides. I feel you need to be in the fairway to attack some of these pins, so tomorrow that will be my strategy, try and keep it a little bit straighter so I can go at more flags.”
The final round of the Indo Masters Golf Invitational presented by TNE starts tomorrow at 6.27 am. A total of 54 players made the cut from a from a field of 120 in the Asian Development Tour’s ninth event of the 2023 season.
Indonesia’s Kevin Akbar, already a winner on the Asian Development Tour this season, made a strong start to the second Indo Masters Golf Invitational presented by TNE today, posting a five under par 67 to post the early lead at Imperial Klub Golf in Jakarta.
He shares the leading spot with Italy’s Andrea Saracino, who is playing in Asia for the first time this season, and showed signs of steady progress in the region by matching Akbar to share the overnight lead.
“It was a pretty solid round,” said Akbar after his round. “I had a lot of luck in the first nine, made some long birdie putts and then chipped in on eight so I was like four under through the first nine. My short irons were pretty good today and I made some putts.
Andrea Saracino of Italy pictured in action at the second Indo Masters Golf Invitational presnted by TNE on October 11, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
Making back to back bogeys on his back nine slowed the momentum somewhat but Akbar was quick to recover. “For me the back nine is a little bit tougher so I just tried to keep the ball in play. There was some bad decision making because the wind was switching around, on the par three I missed long, but it was a good putt for bogey though,” he added.
“A few holes have a pretty narrow fairway, especially if you are playing in the afternoon when the wind is switching around. You just have to try to miss in the right place,” he explained.
Akbar, who won the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar and Nomura in August, was playing in a competitive group, with Aaron Wilkin who won the BRG Open Golf Championship in Vietnam in August and Sangchai Kaewcharoen who won last week at the OB Golf Invitational presentd by Sentul Highlands Golf Club. The three are in close contention in the season-long Order Of merit.
“It was OK, just another round of golf really.” he laughed. “We talk, we have fun, we’ll just have to see how it goes tomorrow.”
Ben Robinson of England pictured in action at the second Indo Masters Golf Invitational presnted by TNE on October 11, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
Saracino, a member of the Italian national team playing with two compatriots, revealed after his round that he’s looking to cement his place in Asia.
“I love it here,” he said. “The weather is always hot, in Italy sometimes it’s too cold for me but I love it here in Asia, I love the people, I love the food,” he explained.
“I’ve been playing in Europe but i’m hoping to make the Asian Tour and also the Asian Tour Q-School. I’ll be playing Malaysia and hope to be playing next year on the ADT or Asian Tour.”
England’s Ben Robinson, making his second start on the ADT, posted a solid score to demonstrate how he’s also finding his feet in Asia, his bogey-free round of 68 earning him a share of third place with Indonesia’s Geroge Gandranata.
In fifth place, on three under 69, sits a sizeable group including the Thai foursome of Thanpisit Omsin, Chonjarern Baramithanaseth, Supravee Phatam and Charng-Tai Sudsom. They are joined by Japan’s Naoki Sekito, who won the OB Golf Championship last month, Joe Heraty of England, Indonesia’s Robby Sugara and Oscar Zetterwall of Sweden.
In 13th spot, on two under 70, are Samarth Dwivedi of India, Indonesia’s Benita Kasiadi and the Thai quartet of Peradol Panyathansedh, Sarun Sirithon, Arnond Vongvanij and Patatraphol Khanthacha, who won the Singha Pattaya Open in July.
Thailand’s Sangchai Kaewcharoen won in dramatic fashion on the second playoff hole to win the OB Golf Invitational presented by Sentul Highlands today.
Having forced himself into a playoff despite starting the day two shots behind the leaders, he chipped in to secure victory over India’s Khalin Joshi after the match was tied after three rounds.
The playoff ended up between just two players after regulation play, although in a tense finish to the US$70,000 Asian Development Tour event, it could easily have been four.
The final group of Australia’s Deyen Lawson, Joshi and Thailand’s Pattaraphol Khanthacha were neck and neck after 14 holes, with Lawson having inserted himself into the battle after making up two shots on the overnight leaders.
While they were trading scores in the leading group, Sangchai was quietly gaining ground, firing in two closing birdies to top a bogey-free back nine score of 31 and join the group at 12 under as clubhouse leader.
Deyen Lawson of Australia pictured in action at the OB Golf Invitational presented by Sentul Highlands on October 6, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
And then disaster struck for Lawson and Khanthacha on the par five 17th. Where others had been confidently knocking in birdies and the occasional eagle, they could only manage a bogey and double bogey respectively, ending their chances and opening the door for Joshi who managed to par the hole.
Although tied for the lead and with one hole to go, Joshi (70) could only manage par on the last and triggered a playoff with the clubhouse leader with a total of 204. Despite halving the first playoff hole, he was unable to match Sangchai’s hole out from the left edge.
“I’m very happy,” said Songchai (68) after his victory. “This is my first win overseas. I want to make top ten in the ADT this season so I can get into the Asian Tour. “
Khalin Joshi of India pictured in action at the OB Golf Invitational presented by Sentul Highlands on October 6, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
His playing partner Yuvraj Singh Sandhu of India also posted a pair of closing birdies, scoring a three-under-par 69 to share third spot with Lawson (69) and a total score of 205.
Khanthacha (72) finished in solo fifth spot with a total of 206, followed by India’s Samarth Dwivedi (67), Ahmad Baig (68) of Pakistan and Andrea Saracino (69) of Italy in sixth with 207 strokes.
Nopparat Panichphol (70) of Thailand finished in ninth with 208 strokes, followed by compatriot Denwit Boriboonsub (68) in 10th on 209.
In 11th spot on 211 strokes were Thailand’s Puwit Anupansuebsai (70) and Jakraphon Premsirigorn (70), Justin Quiban of the Philippines and Japan’s Keisuke Takahashi who shot the low round of the day with an eagle on the 17th and a total of 66.
Thailand’s Pattaraphol Khanthacha and Khalin Joshi of India turned the tables on the overnight leader Newport Laparojkit at the OB Golf Invitational presented by Sentul Highlands today, posting scores of 65 and 67 respectively to reach 10 under par.
Newport meanwhile was unable to keep the momentum going from his first round 61, dropping two shots in the afternoon to finish in a group at third on eight under par at the US$70,000 Asian Development Tour event.
He was joined in third spot by overnight climbers Deyen Lawson (67) of Australia, Sangchai Kaewcharoen (69) of Thailand and India’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu (66), winner of the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament in August.
Yuvraj Singh Sandhu of India pictured in action at the OB Golf Invitational presented by Sentul Highlands on October 5, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
Pattaraphol, who won the Singha Pattaya Open in July, was happy enough with his round, but struggled to capitalise on a scorching front nine, after making the turn in 30 with no dropped shots.
“I played pretty well today, and got off to a good start,” he said after his round. “My game was flowing and I made a few birdies on the front nine, then I hit a solid shot on the sixth hole to make the eagle, but after the first nine, the game was quite nasty.
“I hit a three putt on 11 (par five) and from then on, putting was a bit more difficult,” he explained, having posted just the single birdie on his way into the clubhouse.
Joshi, who won the Panasonic Open India in 2018, has been struggling for form of late but has been recently revitalised after taking part in the recent Asian Games.
Sangchai Kaewcharoen of Thailand pictured in action at the OB Golf Invitational presented by Sentul Highlands on October 5, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
“In general I’ve been focusing more on the putting and my mid irons which ive been struggling with in the last few months,” he explained. “Last week I was at the Asian Games and I had Shubhankar (Sharma)’s coach there to help me out, had a new pair of eyes to look at my swing. It was a great experience, different atmosphere, I’m glad I made it there.”
In seventh place, with a total of 138 for the two rounds, were Thailand’s Nopparat Panichphol (67), Andrea Saracino (69) of Italy and Sweden’s Filip Lundell (72).
Ahmad Baig (70) of Pakistan and Jack Murdoch (66) of Australia are tied for tenth while Justin Quiban (73) of the Philippines, Italy’s Michele Ortolani (71) and India’s Samarth Dwivedi (67) share 12th position.
In 15th spot, Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub (69), Jakraphan Premsrigorn (68) and Puwit Anupansuebsai (72) are joined by Kevin Phelan (68) of Ireland and Malaysia’s Paul San (71).
After two rounds, the cut has been made at +3 which means 51 players will contest the final round in the OB Golf Invitational presented by Sentul Highlands. The event, played from October 4-6, has attracted a field of 102 players and is the first time the ADT has played at Sentul Highlands, an 18 hole championship course designed by Gary Player and officially opened in 1997. Surrounded by several mountains in the Sentul City estate, the course offers sweeping vistas in nearly every direction.
Recent Comments