After his off-the-charts 11-under-par 59 yesterday here at the Hong Kong Golf Club, he signed off with an equally fine 66 today to finish on 22-under, for a convincing three-stroke victory over New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, the defending champion.

Campbell ended his excellent defence with a 65, while Japan’s Kazuki Higa shot a 63 to claim third, another shot back. Australian Wade Ormsby, a winner here in 2017 and 2020, shared fourth with Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana. They both fired 65s.

Hong Kong’s top golfer Taichi Kho returned a 66 to tie for sixth – his best result of the year, and his best finish in an event which means so much to him.

Any concerns that Reed, who started the day three ahead, would have difficulty shooting another low round following yesterday’s heroics were quickly dispelled when he birdied four in a row from the third for a six-shot cushion. And at the turn he had a gaping seven-shot advantage to be in complete control. Dropped shots on 15 and the last while his nearest challengers were making birdies closed the gap, but it remained a foregone conclusion.

“Nothing like coming to a place that I know pretty well and love the golf course,” said the 34-year-old Texan, who plans to play in the final two events of the season: next week’s International Series Qatar and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the week after.

“I love how it makes me think about golf shots and you have to be creative around this place. So, to be able to come out and play the way like I did on the weekend. I mean, it always helps shooting 59 yesterday, but the biggest thing, the hardest part, was today.”

It is his maiden title on the Asian Tour and also his first victory since the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour in 2021 – not including his two team wins with 4Aces GC on the LIV Golf League in 2023.

He added: “Kind of going out there and forgetting about the 59 and going out, even though I had a three-shot lead, to try to expand on that. And the goal was to go out there and make a couple birdies early quickly, get up on top, so then on the back nine I could just kind of hit fairways and middle of the greens.

“When I was able to birdie 13 there, then it just kind of got into really boring golf which led to two mistakes. But, you know, the last one, I was not ever going to take that on.”

Campbell had a phenomenal back nine, making five birdies but Reed was simply too far ahead.

“Another frustrating day with the putter,” he said.

“I hit it really well but yeah, for the weekend the putter was pretty cold unfortunately. Obviously, it’s still a good result, but just frustrating it was not to be. I feel like I should have been right up there and pushing Patrick. So, yeah, it is what it is, but it was close.”

Hong Kong Golf Club Ambassador Kho finished in a blaze of glory by nearly holing his second shot on the par-four 18th, where he tapped in for a birdie. It completed a strong finish, as he was not in the running for much of the day but came back by also making three successive birdies from 13.

Kho, who has only just returned following a back in injury, said: “Feels great. Had so many friends and family out there, and so much credit goes to them, and I felt so supported out there. So yeah, super happy with this performance. It’s been a while since I played on the Asian Tour, so overall a really good week.

“It feels so great to have so many people I know out here, and even people I don’t know, I just feel so supported out here. And yeah, even though Patrick’s running away with it a bit, I felt like it was a small win for me today, and I felt like I made a lot of good progress this week.”

Justin Rose from England, the winner here in 2015, fired a 67 and ended in a tie for 18th on 13 under.

Source: The Hong Kong Open

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Indian Rashid Khan and Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand share second place, three behind the leader. Khan shot a 63 and Nitithorn a 66.

Defending champion Ben Campbell from New Zealand, the leader at the start of the day, is one shot back following a 68.

It is only the second 59 recorded on the Asian Tour – the caveat being that preferred lies were played so it does not stand officially.

The only other 59 was registered back in May when American John Catlin recorded the magic number at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn.

Remarkably, Reed played with Catlin on that day, and it was also in the third round.

Reed sealed the deal with a confident 15-foot birdie putt on the famous par-four 18th here at Hong Kong Golf Club.

“Yeah, you know, it was kind of one those days,” said Reed, who is attempting to win for the first time in four years and claim his maiden Asian Tour title.

“I got up, I felt a little tight but felt ready to go and got out here and had probably one of the worst warm-ups ever.

“I looked at my caddy, and he goes, hey, a warm-up is a warm-up, let’s go out and just play golf. He goes, some of your best rounds have come from a poor warm-up.”

Reed also made birdies on seven and 13 and was bogey free. He has only dropped two shots in three rounds.

Added the 2018 Masters champion: “And you know, I stepped up on that first tee and did a great drive, and then from that point on, just quality iron shots, leaving myself a lot of really good looks, and was able to make a lot of putts.”

He has been a regular visitor here over the past 10 years and came close to winning in 2015 when he tied for third.

Khan, who made five birdies on the back nine, two on the front and was also bogey free, is in a battle to keep his Asian Tour card, in 90th place on the Order of Merit. He needs a big finish tomorrow to take the pressure off.

He said: “I feel great. I mean, you know, it’s been very long since I have been in contention playing. You know, to get a trophy home, I’m really working hard and really enjoying myself right now. That’s all I can say. I mean, when you’re playing golf, when you’re playing an event, a competitive round, it’s all about being comfortable on the golf course and just having fun out there.”

He is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, but it has been a while as both those wins came a decade ago.

Campbell was in far less prolific form today but did well to stay in touch with the front runner.

“I just putted really poorly today,” said the Kiwi.

“The putter was ice cold, so it was frustrating. It felt like it should have been a pretty low one out there, I think I only missed one or two greens, and I think I missed one fairway or something like that. So, I hit it easily well enough to have a really good score out there.”

Australian Wade Ormsby, winner of this event in 2017 and 2020, has a chance of adding a third title after carding a 64 to sit six off top spot. He is tied with Hong Kong ace Taichi Kho, after a 66.

England’s Justin Rose, the 2015 champion here, returned a 65 and sits eight behind “Mr 59.”

Source: The Hong Kong Open

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There have been plenty of famous moments on the 18th hole at the Hong Kong Open: Rory McIlroy holing out from a bunker to win in 2011, Miguel Angel Jimenez’s play-off triumph in 2013 and Ben Campbell draining a 15-foot birdie putt for victory last year among them.

If Nitithorn Thippong goes on to lift the trophy on Sunday at Hong Kong Golf Club, then add his chip in for par from the greenside bunker on Thursday, having failed to get out with his first shot from a plugged lie, to the hole’s storied history.

While the Thai golfer’s shot was merely to keep his one-stroke lead after the first round, the eight-under-par 62 could be the morale-boosting performance he needs to get his season back on track.

A three-time winner on the Asian Tour, Nitithorn is presently 81st on the order of merit, and needs two big weeks, at Fanling and in Qatar, to make the season finale in Riyadh at the beginning of December. A win at last year’s Indonesia Open at least means he does not need to worry about losing his card.

“The key for me today was to make myself flow and stick with the plan. I have been thinking too much about my golf and my swing. I have had a problem with my mental game this year.”

Hard on his heels are defending champion Campbell, Kevin Yuan and Kazuki Higa, who all shot 63s.

Source:  South China Morning Post 

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13 OCTOBER, MACAO SAR – Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan captured his second Asian Tour title at the SJM Macao Open 2024, finishing with a four-under-par round on the final day to complete a 20-under total for the tournament.

Wannasrichan, who set the tone with a blistering nine-under-par 61 on the opening day, maintained his lead throughout the week, following up with rounds of 66, 67, and 66 in the final round to close out a dominant performance.

Reflecting on his win, which was shared with his girlfriend Manuschaya Zeemakorn, a Thai LPGA Tour player who served as his caddie this week, Wannasrichan said: “I’m feeling so happy. I can’t describe how I feel besides just being so happy. I really want to thank myself for not giving up during the tough times and for the hard work this season. I wanted to win, but I also didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself.”

Wannasrichan’s victory marks his second on the Asian Tour, following his 2017 triumph at the Thailand Open. He came close to adding another title in 2022 but narrowly missed out in a playoff against Tom Kim at the Singapore International. When asked about the key to his success this week, he emphasised the importance of patience: “The biggest improvement I’ve made is learning to control my patience. I tried not to think about winning, which helped me stay focused and calm.”

Runner-up Gunn Charoenkul could not close the gap on his compatriot, scoring three-under-par today to finish 18-under for the tournament. Charoenkul reflected on his performance, acknowledging how close he came but also the need for continued perseverance: “I’m very happy even though I couldn’t get the job done today. I guess I still have to wait. I had a chance after the 8^th hole, but the bogey on the 9^th killed the momentum a little bit. I guess it’s not my time, but I’m happy with how my putter saved me and gave me some breathing room.”

Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai produced one of the standout performances of the final day, carding a six-under-par 64, which included seven birdies and one bogey, to climb the leaderboard and finish third. Supupramai was particularly proud of his performance given the demanding schedule leading up to the tournament: “I’m very happy with my performance this week because I’ve been really tired from the last two weeks. I played 54 holes in two days and only had time to practise 11 holes here. I just wanted to keep my body fresh, so I’m thrilled to have finished third.”

Meanwhile, Asian Tour Order of Merit leader John Catlin finished tied for fourth after a five-under-par round saw him end with a 15-under total. The six-time Asian Tour winner reflected positively on his performance despite not challenging for the win: “Anytime you shoot four rounds under par, it’s always nice. I never really challenged Rattanon, but you never know what can happen if you get hot at the right time. He’s been playing great golf, so hats off to him for pulling away from the rest of us.”

He was joined in fourth place by the Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena, who thrilled the crowd with a spectacular eagle on the 18^th to cap off his round of 63. Tabuena, celebrating his birthday, described the final day as particularly special: “It was nice to shoot 63 on my birthday. Yesterday, I was frustrated after only managing one birdie and one bogey, but today felt different. The hole looked bigger, and I just tried to stay patient and capitalise on my opportunities.”

This year’s tournament was of special significance, coinciding with the 75^th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 25^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR. As Macao continues to grow its global sporting presence, the SJM Macao Open continues to stand out as one of the most anticipated events on the Asian golfing calendar.

Fans were treated to a week of world-class golf and family-friendly activities at the tournament’s vibrant fan village, which included food and beverage stalls, putting and chipping challenges, and more.

The post SJM MACAU OPEN: THAILAND’S RATTANON WANNASRICHAN WINS SJM MACAO OPEN 2024 appeared first on Golf in Hong Kong.

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Source: South China Morning Post

Terrence Ng and Michael Regan Wong will join the star-studded cast at golf’s LINK Hong Kong Open after claiming the two places up for grabs at this week’s qualifying tournament.

With local hero and Asian Games teammate Taichi Kho carrying his bag, Ng shot a nerveless final-round six-under-par 64 on the Hong Kong Golf Club’s New Course, coming from six shots off the pace to seal a two-stroke victory with a six-under 134 on Friday.

“It’s great to get back into the Hong Kong Open, after not playing very well last year,” Ng said. “It was definitely revenge for me today and hopefully I can play well this time.

“Taichi was a massive help. He helped me read a lot of putts. Obviously, he’s a great player and we just had a great time. We’re very good friends and he helped keep me relaxed.”

Kho last year became the city’s first winner of an Asian Tour event when he triumphed at the World City Championship at the same venue. He is among the leading names to have already signed on for the 63rd staging of the Open, Hong Kong’s longest-running professional event.

The Hongkongers will be joined by the likes of England’s Justin Rose, who won the tournament in 2015, rising South Korean Tom Kim and reigning champion Ben Campbell of New Zealand.

As for Kho’s turn as a caddie, the man himself said: “I’m proud of [Ng]. He played great. I really didn’t have to do much, but it was great to see.”

Hong Kong Golf Club-based trainee PGA professional Wong holed a 12-footer on the final hole for a four-under 136 (64-72) that saw him finish second, good enough to join Ng at the Fanling showpiece from November 21 to 24.

It was the second time in two weeks that Wong had played his way into an Asian Tour event after he took out the Macau Open qualifying tournament last week.

“A big relief and probably the biggest fist pump I’ve ever had [when his putt went in],” said Wong, who last qualified for the Open after winning the Hong Kong Open Amateur in 2014.

“Just having fun has been the key to playing well, solidly over the past few weeks. If I have fun, I’m sure I can play pretty well.”

The post SCMP: Hong Kong Open adds local flavour as Ng wins qualifying event – with famous face as caddie appeared first on Golf in Hong Kong.

Some familiar faces and a few new kids on the block will look to ignite their LINK Hong Kong Open dreams in the event’s qualifying tournament on Thursday and Friday.

“The Voice of Asian Golf”, Dominique Boulet, will be giving his dulcet tones a rest for two days at the Hong Kong Golf Club’s New Course as he takes another crack at playing in a tournament in which he finished fourth in 1996 – still its best finish by a Hong Kong golfer.

He will be joined in the hunt to feature in the 63rd edition of the city’s Open by Hong Kong Golf Club professional Brian O’Donovan, who so memorably made the cut in last year’s tournament.

Also representing the club in its 135th year will be trainee pro Michael Regan Wong, who last week qualified for the Macau Open.

Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3280825/justin-rose-tom-kim-and-who-else-hong-kong-open-qualifying-set-tee

The post Justin Rose, Tom Kim and who else? Hong Kong Open qualifying set to tee off appeared first on Golf in Hong Kong.

Dominique Boulet, regarded as “The Voice of Asian Golf,” will be giving his dulcet tones a rest for two days as he takes another crack at playing a tournament where he famously placed fourth in 1996 – the best-ever finish at the Open by a Hong Kong golfer.

He will be joined by Hong Kong Golf Club pro Brian O’Donovan, who memorably made the cut at last year’s Open with tremendous home support, leaving not a single a dry eye on the course.

Also representing the Club in its 135th anniversary is trainee pro Michael Regan Wong, who qualified for the Macao Open last week.

Joining them this week will be a handful of rising stars, including amateurs Anthony Fang, Andrew Chan and Michael Yuen – fresh from his second consecutive Hong Kong Junior Open Championship.

“The Qualifying Tournament presents a great opportunity for young players, and some who have been around awhile, to be a part of this historic tournament and to play alongside some of the greats of the game,” said Andy Kwok, captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Local hero Taichi Kho is among those who has already signed up for the Link-sponsored showpiece, scheduled for November 21-24 at the Hong Kong Golf Club. He will be joined by British star Justin Rose, who won here in 2015, rising South Korean sensation Tom Kim and reigning champion Ben Campbell of New Zealand.

Source: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/8/266653/Chance-for-city’s-golfers-to-secure-Hong-Kong-Open-places

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Organized by Golf Saudi and the China Golf Association (CGA) and hosted at the sprawling Mission Hills Resort Shenzhen, the competition will see some of the world’s best golfers compete from Friday 4 October to Sunday 6 October on the acclaimed Jack Nicklaus designed World Cup Course. The Aramco Team Series presented by PIF in Shenzhen adds to the many Series stops Golf Saudi has organized around the world, helping further elevate professional women’s golf.

The individual champion from Hong Kong last year, Xiyu Lin, is fresh off her Olympic success, where she claimed a bronze medal for China in Paris.

Set to wow the Chinese fans this week, Lin shared her thoughts on the unique pressures and pride that came with standing on the podium in Paris in August.

“I haven’t really digested it until now,” said Lin speaking to Chinese media. “Although it has been almost two months [since Paris 2024], every time I look back, it’s a special experience. I didn’t go into the Olympic Games in the best form, but I was able to adjust myself, and then get a medal, which was the biggest dream. I feel very thankful!”

Last year, Lin overcame Korean star Jin Young-Ko in unusual circumstances at Hong Kong Golf Club, as an impending Typhoon cut the tournament short by a day, and an early playoff was forced at the start of the final day – with the Chinese star sinking a long putt to claim the individual title.

The conditions for this year are set to be a lot kinder, and while there has been heavy rainfall in Shenzhen of late, Lin has praised the staff at Mission Hills Resort Shenzhen for the condition of the course.

“I am surprised that this course is in such a good condition this week, because my mom and dad are in Guangzhou, and they told me every day that it was raining non-stop. The course has put in a lot of effort to get it to this state, and I think the greens are pretty fast.”

Also representing the host country, Muni He underscored the significance of staging tournaments in China, highlighting the positive effects these events have on the development of women’s golf throughout the region.

With the event co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour (LET) and CLPGA, the field will feature 20 CLPGA players, offering them the chance to rub shoulders with China’s elite women’s players.

He, now in her sixth year on tour, was keen to praise the pipeline of talent coming from China, and recognize the increasing talent pool making the jump to the LPGA Tour.

“This year, there are a lot of Chinese players coming up on [LPGA] Tour. Their results are also very good and consistent. This is China’s golf development plan, and the future is getting stronger and stronger, everyone is working hard towards it.”

Making her highly anticipated Series debut is Celine Boutier, currently ranked World No.12; the winner of the last LET event to be hosted in China at the Sanya Ladies Open in 2017.

Flash forward seven years later, Boutier is set to showcase her skills at an event celebrated for its Major-like atmosphere and the vital role it has played in advancing women’s professional golf since first launched by Golf Saudi back in 2021.

“I’m most excited about the team aspect,” said Boutier. “I’ve heard good things about it; it’s a different format. Having teammates is a fun change since most of the season is individual, so having other players on your team is always nice. The fact that I also get to have a bit of a say in who gets to be on my team is exciting. I’m really looking forward to that.”

Amongst the mix is Alison Lee, who is riding high after her T3 finish in London and celebrating Team USA’s triumph at the Solheim Cup, ending Europe’s recent dominance in the competition.

“This is only my second time in China; I’ve been to Shanghai, but it’s my first time in Shenzhen and at this golf course,” explained the American.

“I haven’t played the course yet, but it looks awesome. I feel like, statistically, it’s going to be a very gettable course – not too long, a par 73 with five par fives. I think there are going to be a lot of birdie opportunities, so I’m really excited about that. I’m really looking forward to playing this afternoon.”

Over the course of two days, 28 teams of four will engage in a thrilling fourball format, combining their two best scores at each hole and culminating in individual competitions on the third day.

With a shared prize pool of $1 million for the event, the stakes are high for the penultimate round of the tournament, beginning on Friday 6 October.

Source: https://aramcoteamseries.com/en-us/latest-news/strength-of-chinese-golf-heralded-as-olympic-bronze-medalist-lin-and-headline-stars-get-set-for-shenzhen/

The post STRENGTH OF CHINESE GOLF HERALDED, AS OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALIST LIN AND HEADLINE STARS GET SET FOR SHENZHEN appeared first on Golf in Hong Kong.

This year’s tournament holds special significance, coinciding with the 75^th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 25^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR. As Macau continues to grow its global sporting presence, the SJM Macao Open stands out as one of the most anticipated events on the Asian golfing calendar.

Among the headliners of this year’s SJM Macao Open are defending champion Lee, 2023 Open Champion Harman, current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader John Catlin and crowd favourite and rising star Taichi Kho.

Joining them in the final field are two former Asian Tour Order of Merit winners – Sihwan Kim and Jazz Janewattananond.

Kim, who turned professional in 2011, enjoyed a breakout season in 2022, clinching his first Asian Tour title at the International Series Thailand. His standout performances throughout the year, including multiple top-10 finishes, saw him top the Asian Tour Order of Merit and earn the Players’ Player of the Year title.

Janewattananond is another formidable competitor, boasting seven Asian Tour titles. His latest victory at the International Series Morocco in 2022 came after a sensational eagle-birdie finish, adding to his impressive collection of trophies. Jazz made international headlines in 2019 when he won the Asian Tour Order of Merit, securing four victories that season, and had a strong showing at the PGA Championship, finishing tied for second after three rounds and ultimately placing 14^th.

Adding to the excitement, several past champions will also be vying for glory, with Scott Hend leading the charge as he seeks a third victory at the Macau Golf & Country Club, having claimed the title in 2013 and 2015. He is joined by a strong contingent of former champions, including Pavit Tangkamolprasert (2016), Jason Knutzon (2004), and Zhang Lian-wei (2001, 2002), all of whom add to the tournament’s competitive field.

In addition to these marquee players, the 144-player field will welcome Michael Wong and Jun Hong Li, who secured their spots through the first-ever qualifying tournament in the event’s 21-year history. The qualifying tournament saw 25 aspiring professionals and top amateurs from across the region compete for a chance to participate in the SJM Macao Open, demonstrating the tournament’s commitment to offering playing opportunities for talented players of all levels. The initiative is part of title sponsor and co-organiser SJM’s broader vision of supporting the development of golf in the region, providing a platform for rising stars, both professionals and amateurs, to gain international exposure and experience at a prestigious event.

Fans are encouraged to register early for free tickets to witness the 2024 SJM Macao Open live, where each person can register for up to 10 tickets. In addition to the thrilling golf action, attendees can look forward to an exciting fan village, featuring food and beverage options, as well as putting and chipping challenges for all ages. For more information and to secure your tickets, please visit www.sjmmacaoopen.com.

Source: https://www.sjmmacaoopen.com/news/final-player-lineup-confirmed-for-sjm-macao-open-2024/

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