Jazz Janewattananond Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Dodge dives into halfway lead at International Series Thailand

Golf Digest Middle East — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 11:13:57 +0000

American Dodge Kemmer backed up his opening round eight-under-par 64 with a fine 66 to take a two-shot at the halfway mark of the International Series Thailand at Black Mountain in Hua Hin.

The 35-year-old leads the way on 14-under, ahead of the giants of golf in Thailand, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Jazz Janewattananond.

Kemmer is an emerging story. At last year’s season-ending Indonesian Masters in December he agonisingly missed keeping his Asian Tour card by one place on the Order of Merit (OOM), but immediately bounced back with two top-four finishes on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), which helped to finish in the top 10 the ADT OOM, which also provides passage on to the Asian Tour.

He said: “[After the Indonesian Masters] I had to turn around the next week and go and play ADT and I did really well those two weeks. I came back nicely, and I was proud of myself, to earn my card from the ADT season.”

The American caught the birdie train again on Friday, making eight and dropping just two shots. He was 15-under with two to play but his final bogey of the day came on his penultimate hole.

“I have been hitting it nicely, struggled on the greens last week, but if I can get a few more of those to fall I will be right in there,” said Kemmer, whose best finish on the Asian Tour is third at the Bangladesh Open in 2017. “It would be great [to win this week], it was tough last year.

“The greens were super fast in the practice rounds, they have slowed down a little bit but they are still really good. You have to think your way into the greens, and around the greens. There are no easy two putts, especially above the hole, so it takes a lot of strategy and I enjoy going through that.”

Kiradech, the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion 10 years ago and a three-time winner on Tour, got off to a surprisingly slow start, going round his first nine in even, par but ripped through the second half in five-under.

“I am very happy with my first two rounds, especially the way I started today quite slow,” the Thai star said.

“My putter was a little cold, couldn’t sink any birdie on the front nine. One single birdie, one three putt. I woke up on the back, birdied five of first six holes, they helped me get back into it.

“I don’t think I am far off from my ‘A’ game, but to be honest I know I shot good scores over first two rounds, but it’s not my ‘A’ game out there, I left a couple of strokes out there. I think I know what I have in my pocket, I am playing quite smart, in middle of the green sometimes, which is not normally my game. But I am concentrating on everything and focusing.

Jazz, the Tour’s No. 1 in 2019, is enjoying performing well on what is his home course and where he says he rarely excels in tournaments.

“I’m pretty happy,” he admitted. “I mean, before the tournament I didn’t have much of an expectation, because it’s my home course and I’ve never really performed well, but just changed a lot of my mentality this year. Just take it easy, do whatever, if it comes it comes.”

Last year’s International Series Morocco winner added: “I feel like every year so far when I play my home course, I take it so seriously. I’m not even like stressed out about the tournament this time, but more like practising, grinding it out and stuff.

“Just because when I’m at home I feel like I have to practice, and if I don’t practice, I feel like I’m missing out. So, this year, I just take it very easy, didn’t even do much practice and just come out here and chill. And the score kind of perform a lot better than the past year, so maybe going forward I’ll do this.”

?ACE ALERT?@johnlyras96 sinks the first hole-in-one of the season on the 11th hole at the @bmgolfclub!?#ISthailand #InternationalSeries #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/5KU7RFUFzC

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) March 10, 2023

India’s Honey Baisoya came in with a 62, helped by a front nine of eight-under-par 28, but as preferred lies are being played it could be counted among the official records. Meanwhile, Australia’s John Lyras managed a hole-in-one on the 190-yard 11th hole with a 7 iron.

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Jazz Janewattananond’s relief at getting back in the winners’ circle at Asian Tour International Series Morocco

Golf Digest Middle East — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 07:37:04 +0000

By GolfDigestME.com
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond won for the first time in nearly three years when he triumphed in the $1.5 million International Series Morocco after a brilliant eagle, birdie finish at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

The 2019 Asian Tour No. 1 closed with a fine six-under-par 67 to finish on 12-under and beat Canadian Richard T Lee by one stroke.

Lee, who missed a 16-foot birdie putt on the last to force a play-off, shot a 70 while LIV Golf’s David Puig fired a 73 to finish third, a stroke further back.

Jazz, playing in the third from last group having started the day four shots behind overnight leader Puig, burst through to victory thanks to a stunning five-under-par back nine.

He made birdie on 11 and 15 but it was the short and driveable par-four 17th that proved to be pivotal. Lee, playing in the final group, had appeared to be in control and on course to win for much of the back nine but that all changed when Jazz found the green with his tee shot on 17 and holed a 20-foot eagle putt. The Thai golfer then drew level with Lee after holing a five-footer for birdie on the par-five 18th. To the surprise of everyone Lee then dropped a shot on 17, the easiest hole on the course, after finding trees off the tee before failing to draw level with Jazz on the last.

“It feels amazing. It’s been a long journey and I’m just so happy to end the year on a high note,” said Jazz, whose girlfriend and fellow professional golfer Sarina Schmidt caddied for him this week.

“I had three holes left and I wasn’t even nearly at the top. I just had a really good finish — everything was really quick. When that last putt dropped I just felt so relieved, the waiting game began, and now I’m here.”

He last won in December of 2019 at the Thailand Masters, which was one of his four wins that year.

“It’s been a long time since my last trophy — since before COVID. Now everything’s changed, I’ve found my way through and we’re here,” said the Thai, who has now tasted victory on seven occasions on the Asian Tour.

“This was my first time in Morocco and the city of Rabat has been amazing — the culture, the food, the people, everything. I heard a lot about this golf course already from people I play with and I knew it was going to be hard, but it’s exceeded all my expectations. I’ve been out nine weeks in a row and I’m tired now and my back’s hurting, but I came in with an open mind to exploring Morocco and Rabat, and I think that helped me win, because I didn’t come in with high expectations.”

Another LIV Golfer, Scott Vincent, finished in fourth, three behind the winner, after carding a 71, while his brother Kieran (74), Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma (66), Korean Taehoon OK (67) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand (70) were equal fifth, one shot further back.

The Asian Tour visits Egypt next week for the first time for the $1.5 million International Series Egypt at Madinaty Golf Club, from November 10 to 13.

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Pavit Tangkamolprasert has his nose in front at Asian Tour International Series Korea as LIV Golf’s Justin Harding looms

Matt Smith — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 09:11:20 +0000

By Matt Smith
While the biggest names on the Asian Tour were joined by some of the LIV Golf stars for the $1.5 million International Series Korea, it was one of the tour’s lesser lights who stole the show on the opening day.

Thailand journeyman Pavit Tangkamolprasert shot an eight-under-par 63 to lead by two at Jeju Island’s Lotte Skyhill Country Club. Home hope Eric Chun is in solo second on six-under, while the more familiar names of Jazz Janewattananond, Brett Rumford and LIV Golf star Justin Harding are lurking on five-under.

Pavit, a 33-year-old two-time winner on the Asian Tour, roared out of the blocks with seven straight birdies, before his solitary bogey on hole 8 put the brakes on his astonishing streak. He still reached the turn on 29 before a solid back-nine produced two more birdies and ensured he would have the lead to himself going into Friday’s second round.

Another LIV-er Andy Ogletree sits joint eighth on four-under, while Dubai-based Indian star Shiv Kapur is T12 in a large chasing pack on three-under.

Second-placed Chun produced one of the finest rounds to sign for a six-under 65.

“I haven’t been playing well recently so this is a good turn around for me,” he said. “It is actually not an easy course, you have to hit good drives and make putts. So just going to start again tomorrow and try and shoot 65 every day.”

Janewattananond, who won four out of his six Asian Tour titles when he claimed the Tour’s Order of Merit list in 2019, added: “It was just a normal round, easy going. Nothing went wrong, nothing went special – it was a boring round which is what I like. Maybe it is because I’m back in Asia and feel a bit more like at home.Hopefully it will continue tomorrow.”

South African Harding, who has two DP World Tour and two Asian Tour titles to his name and has earned more than $1.3 million in his first three LIV Golf events, made six birdies and dropped one shot.

“I am pretty pleased with it to be honest,” he said. “I came out of the blocks nicely. I gave myself a lot of chances and rolled in a couple of putts. It felt pretty solid and then had a wobble halfway through. Hit some poor shots but managed to keep the pars on the card.

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Dubai-based Shiv Kapur revels at historic Asian Tour International Series as Chang Wei-lun leads in Newcastle

Matt Smith — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 19:00:24 +0000

Shiv Kapur. Asian Tour

By Matt Smith
History was made on Thursday as the International Series England teed off at Slaley Hall outside Newcastle — the first Asian Tour event in the UK.

Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun upstaged a stellar field to take the first-round lead with a six-under-par 65.

Hot on his heels is Dubai-based Indian veteran Shiv Kapur, who posted a 67 alongside some big names including Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, Tanapat Pichaikool, and Kasidit Lepkurte, Korean Joohyung Kim and fellow Indian SSP Chawrasia.

Kapur shot a blemish-free four-under days after he urged his fellow Asian Tour players to revel in the opportunities they now have, thanks to Saudi investment in the game

Little-known Chang, a winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2017, birdied his last three holes — after a handy tip. “My family gave me some advice before I flew here,” said Chang. “My grandfather is a professional golfer, and my uncle is a coach. They told me the first and third days are the most important. So, I was just trying to stay focused out there. They told me to just play consistently.

“Coming into this week, I wasn’t thinking too much. I have been playing well this season, but I know I can do better. The weather was much cooler than I expected. I was actually more concerned about the weather, so I prepared myself for bad weather conditions, but today’s condition is actually not too bad.”

Six-time Asian Tour winner Jazz said he has really benefited from catching up with his coach Pete Cowen this week.

“My game is getting better, training the right way since beginning of the year. Hitting good, just waiting for the scoring to come back,” said Jazz.

“I haven’t seen my coach Pete Cowen much. I saw him in Dubai but that was a while ago, and I saw him at the British Masters, and he is here this week with G-Mac [Graeme McDowell] so it has been really great, as obviously it’s just me and G-Mac so I can have as much time with him as possible.”

American Sihwan Kim, who currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit, started well with a 70, while playing partner Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat, the 15-year-old amateur sensation from Thailand, shot a 71.

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Korea Open Golf Championship back on Asian Tour after three-year break

Matt Smith — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 14:50:22 +0000

By Matt Smith

The 64th Korea Open Golf Championship is back on the Asian Tour agenda with a bang after three years out due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The tournament was last won by Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond during his epic 2019 season, will be played at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club from June 23-26.

It will be the 10th leg of this season’s Asian Tour and the second visit of the year to South Korea, after next week’s 41st Maekyung Open at Namseoul Country Club.

“The Korea Open is one of our mainstay events and always a high point of the year,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour.

“With the Korea Open back on the schedule it shows the Asian Tour is returning to full speed and along with next week’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open means our membership are able to return to one of their favourite tournament destinations.”

Korea’s national Open was held last year and won by local hero Junseok Lee but it was played as a domestic event on the Korean PGA Tour, due to travel restrictions, while the year before it was cancelled.

When Janewattananond won the title in 2019 it was his second victory of the year before also going on to win the Indonesian Masters and Thailand Masters to take the Asian Tour Order of Merit title.

Former winers of the event include Sergio Garcia (2002), John Daly (2003), Vijay Singh (2007) and Ricky Fowler (2011). Scott Hoch also lifted the trophy in 1990 and 1991.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was runner-up in 2011 and 2013.

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Casey chooses Asian Tour’s Singapore Open over Abu Dhabi for Dubai title-defence tune-up

Golf Digest Middle East — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 04:12:01 +0000

Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images
Paul Casey in action during the third round of the SMBC Singapore Open in 2019.

By Kent Gray
Paul Casey will warm up for his defence of the Dubai Desert Classic at the US$1.25 million SMBC Singapore Open, opting for the Asian Tour event over a shot at history in Abu Dhabi.

The 44-year-old Englishman has committed to the final tournament of the convoluted 2020-21 Asian Tour season at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course – paradoxically from January 20-23, 2022.

Yas Links is set to host the DP World Tour’s calendar year opener in the same time slot meaning Casey won’t get the chance to match Martin Kaymer as a three-time winner of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The world No.27 has committed to teeing it up on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club in the 33rd Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic the following week after claiming the famed Dallah trophy by four strokes from South Africa’s Brandon Stone last year.

Casey went close to winning the Singapore Open the last time it was contested in 2019, a closing 65 in the penultimate group seeing the five-time Ryder Cupper finish two strokes behind Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond.

“I had committed to play last year before the tournament had to be postponed because of COVID-19 but when I knew the event was back on this year, I was more than happy to renew my intention to play,” said Casey who has won 21 times worldwide and finished T-10 in his only other appearance at the Singapore Open in 2012.

“I love the event, the golf course and the city and I definitely have some unfinished business there… I’d love to have my name on that trophy.”

Photo credit: SMBC Singapore Open

Casey has won three Asian Tour titles – the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea in 2011 and the Volvo China Open and TCL Classic, also in China, both in 2005 – to go with 15 titles on the DP World Tour and three on the PGA Tour.

He feels a responsibility to play in Asia, bringing all his experience, including three Ryder Cup successes and victory with countryman Luke Donald at the 2004 World Cup, to a region starved of top-flight golf due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Given the tough two years Asian golf have faced, I felt it was important I continue to support the event. As a global player I feel obligated to help grow the game and impart my knowledge and experiences with the next generation of Asian golfers.”

On the final day in 2019, Casey was five under for his round after 14 holes but saw his title charge s halted by a bogey at 15. Two more birdies followed for a six-under-par 65 but it was not enough to stop Janewattananond who also shot 65 for a winning total of 18-under-par 266 ‒ the SMBC Singapore Open tournament record.

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Eight (sometimes Middle East) reasons why Phuket, not the Bahamas, deserves your golf attention this week

Kent Gray — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 05:35:26 +0000

Photos: Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour
Suttijet Kooratanapisan, Wade Ormsby and Ratchanon Chantananuwat ahead of the $1 million Laguna Phuket Championship.

By Kent Gray
Like most everyone else, at Golf Digest Middle East we’re genuinely excited to see Tiger Woods back on his feet, lighting up social media again – all it took was one swing – and even planting the seeds of a top-level comeback.

About the only thing that would make his annual Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas better would be if the Big Cat was playing himself this week. With that said, the revelations about the seriousness of his Feb. 23 car accident — “I’m lucky to be alive” and “Yeah, it [amputation of his injured leg] was on the table.” — means no one is getting ahead of themselves.

There are still a plethora of PGA Tour superstars teeing it up in New Providence – McIlroy, Koepka, Thomas, Morikawa, DeChambeau etc. etc. – so by all means, enjoy the limited field show and repeated sightings of Tiger.

But if you’re not quite ready for the start of golf’s made-for-TV silly season, there’s a strong argument – and Middle East motives – to switch attention 14,000-odd km away to the $1 million Laguna Phuket Championship.

With the worrying Omicron-enforced demise of the DP World Tour’s South African swing, the second leg of the Asian Tour Phuket Series is the only main tour in full-field action this week.

After its own pandemic enforced shutdown – 20 long and frustrating months – the Asian Tour returned to action with Chan Shih-chang’s victory at the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship last week. But it’s what happened on Monday, namely the release of the 25-star players headed to February’s Saudi International – Johnson, DeChambeau, Schauffele, Mickelson, Watson etc. etc. – that has really upped the ante.

To catch you up, the Saudi International has become the Asian Tour’s $5 million, “flagship” season-opener and the 144-players in Phuket this week are all striving to make it to Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Feb. To achieve that a top-30 finish in the final Asian Tour Order of Merit is required so with just three events of this severely disrupted season to play – at Laguna Golf Phuket from tomorrow and a Singapore double-header next month– there’s a lot on the line.

There’s also the prospect of a 2022 schedule not only bolstered by the Saudi International but also 10-new premier events made possible by a $200 million investment by the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Investments.

But that is for next season. Right now, the inaugural Laguna Phuket Championship has plenty of storylines to draw your attention. Here’s eight, with the prospect of more to emerge as the Middle East discovers more about the emboldened circuit on its geographical back doorstep:

Suttijet Kooratanapisan returns to his beloved Laguna Golf Phuket.

The Asian Tour’s original Mr. 59 returns

Suttijet Kooratanapisan is one of 58 Thais in the field but the only one who can claim to be the first Asian Tour player to shoot golf’s mythical number – 59 . The now 34-year-old achieved the feat on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) at the 2017 Singha Phuket Open, notably on the same layout to be used this week, Laguna Golf Phuket. Another Thai, Naras Luangphetcharaporn, is the only other player to shoot 59 in official Asian Tour competition ‒ at the circuit’s 2019 Q-School. There was also lift, clean and place rules in play then but hey, 59 is 59 no matter how you slice and dice it.
“I remember hole No. 7 was a par-5 last time, now it’s a par-4. I loved that because when I shot 59, I made eagle there,” said Kooratanapisan who has one ADT title to his name but is still searching for main tour breakthrough. “This week is a lot harder though as the rough is very long and the fairways are very narrow. It’s not the same as last time. My goal this week is just to play under par every day. Right now my putting is so good.”

[divider] [/divider]

Have we mentioned the precociously talented Thai teen Ratchanon Chantananuwat?

Why yes, yes we have – here and here in the past week – and right here again. So what’s all the fuss about? For starters, the Bangkok schoolboy became the third-youngest player in Asian Tour history to make the cut at last week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship. Then he stormed home with a Sunday 65 to finish his Asian Tour debut T-15. Not bad for a 14-year-old. It would be something else if he can make it back-to-back cuts but perhaps no surprise either given he finished second in the Singha Laguna Phuket Open – an All Thailand Golf Tour event – at Laguna Golf Phuket recently. Whatever happens, Chantananuwa looks set to play a big part in the Asian Tour’s suddenly bright future.

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Jordanian trailblazer Shergo Al Kurdi

Followers of MENA Tour will know how critical the regional development circuit has been in the rise and rise of Jordanian teen Shergo Al Kurdi, including an OWGR feat for Middle East and GCC golfers at the opening event of the 2020 MENA Tour season. What Middle East fans may not know is that Al Kurdi turned professional at last week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship. Things didn’t quite go as planned, rounds of 76-74 seeing the 18-year-old miss the cut by seven strokes. But with his pro debut out of the way there will be added resolve this week. The three other MENA Tour regulars in the field be looking for better weeks as well; at +2, Englishman David Langley (76-70) was the best performed at Blue Canyon but still three strokes shy of making the weekend. Compatriot Curtis Knipes (75-73) finished +4, a shot worse than Scot Ryan Lumsden (70-77).

Teenager @SHERGOKURDI shares his thoughts ahead of the Laguna Phuket Championship and talks about his hopes to inspire others ?

The 18-year-old ?? became the first Jordanian to tee up on the Asian Tour last week.?@LagunaGolfHKT #LPC2021 #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/jKdJFlAi68

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) December 1, 2021

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Saudi stepping-stones

Faisal Al Salhab, H.R.H. Prince Khalid Saud Al Faisal, Advisor to the Chairman and CEO of Golf Saudi, Saud Al Sharif and Othman Almulla.

Saudi Arabia’s investment in the Asian Tour – separate deals incorporating the Saudi International and the 10 new premier events starting 2022 – will help fast-track the development of the Kingdom’s leading players. It won’t be smooth sailing as the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship highlighted with pro Othman Almulla (+4) the best performer. But the only way to learn how to cope at the highest level is to experience the highest level and amateurs Faisal Al Salhab (81-72), Saud Al Sharif (78-85) and Abdulraham Al Mansour (81-85) will measure improvement by trying to improve on their respective +9, +19 and +22 aggregates. The Saudi trio join Ratchanon Chantananuwat among six amateurs in this week’s field.

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Tight at the Top

OOM leader Wade Ormsby finished T-23 last week.

Wade Ormsby won the season-opening Hong Kong Open (way back in Jan. 2020) and led the Order of Merit when the Asian Tour shut-down after the Malaysian Open in March 2020. The Aussie still leads the moneylist (US$237,003 ) after a decent T-23 finish at Blue Canyon but it’s getting tight at the top. Blue Canyon champion Chan Shih-chang ($211,775) is up to second while the monster birdie putt Joohyung Kim binned on the 72nd hole Sunday earned the 19-year-old Korean a share of second place and bumped him up to third overall ($194,628). Who will lead going into the Christmas break and January’s Singapore double-header? Don’t be surprised if it is Kim who won has kicked on from his Asian Tour breakthrough at the 2019 Panasonic Open in India to become the highest-ranked player this week at No. 130 in the OWGR.

Joohyung Kim.

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A little more Jazz

Jazz Janewattananond.

If there was a genuine shock at last week’s season resumption it was that Jazz Janewattananond, a former MENA Tour winner and the reigning Asian Tour No.1, missed the cut by four strokes. Count on the Thai getting his bid to become the first back-to-back OOM winner firmly back on track at Laguna. He enters the week in 7th on the moneylist with $113,000.

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Are you not entertained?

So you haven’t paid much attention to the Asian Tour until now and wonder what’s the standard like? Allow us to present Chan Shih-chang’s tee shot on the tricky par-3 14th at Blue Canyon during last Sunday’s final round as an example of the quality shot-making that marked the week.

Accuracy off the tee ?#BCPC2021 #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/DGtgD3aK2F

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) November 28, 2021

It was a pivotal laser beam, setting up the Chinese-Taipei 35-year-old for his third Asian Tour title after a five-year title drought on the circuit. So yes, the quality is world-class. Tune in any way you can. You might just be surprised.

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Speedy Sadom Kaewkanjana

Sadom Kaewkanjana.

It seems everything Sadom Kaewkanjana does he does so quickly. Like securing his Tour card at his first attempt via Q-school before becoming the fastest graduate to win on the Asian Tour (at the 2019 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open)… in his very first Asian Tour start. A 72nd hole bogey scuppered his chances of a second title last week but the eventually second-placed Thai is in sublime form; he’s returned sub-par scores in his last 20 competitive rounds. And he does it all at an impressively giddy pace, as in one of the fastest pro golfers we’ve witnessed on any tour type-cadence. Pull a club, pick a target and pull the trigger. We love it. And Kaewkanjana’s chances this week.

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From MENA Tour winner to DPWTC contender, Robert MacIntyre’s bright future is a product of his Scottish roots

Kent Gray — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 12:38:16 +0000

Robert MacIntyre’s Race To Dubai ranking has earned him a maiden major championship start at Royal Portrush (Getty Images)

The MENA Tour might be on ice for summer but breakout performances by members new and champions past elsewhere around the globe ensures the regional developmental circuit is never far from the headlines

By Kent Gray
Perhaps Robert MacIntyre knew something when he spoke about the merits of the MENA Tour earlier this year.

“There’s a few guys now on the European Tour that have come from the MENA Tour. They go out there to try and improve and it is a great tour to be a stepping stone to go to the European Tour and hopefully even major championships.”

The 22-year-old Scotsman has certainly skipped on from winning the MENA Tour’s Sahara Kuwait Golf Championship in 2017, earning promotion to the European Tour by finishing 12th on the Challenge Tour last season. MacIntyre clearly hasn’t been daunted by the step up either; the left-hander was 15th in the Race to Dubai rankings as we went to press and looking forward to a maiden major championship start courtesy of his steady rookie season, including back-to-back runner-up finishes at the British Masters and Made to Denmark.

MacIntyre qualified for this month’s 148th Open Championship courtesy of being one of the first five players in the top-20 Race to Dubai rankings who hadn’t already qualified for Royal Portrush. He’ll be joined at the year’s final major by another star MENA Tour alumnae, Thai Jazz Janewattananond, and the regional development circuit’s patron, 2011 Open champion Darren Clarke.

Jazz Janewattananond was T-2 heading into the final round of the U.S. PGA Championship before slipping with a Sunday 77 at Bethpage Black (Getty Images)

There could yet be even more MENA Tour members teeing it up at Royal Portrush on July 18: Pavan Sagoo, Nick Marshall, Tom Shadbolt, Rob Harrhy, Jamie Rutherford, Alasdair Plumb, Seve Benson, Conor O’Neil and current amateur order of merit leader Curtis Knipes where all through to final qualifying on July 2.

With a four and a half month break between the end of the MENA Tour’s spring swing and the resumption of the season at the Journey to Jordan 2 championship on September 29, it should be a challenge to maintain the tour’s profile and momentum. But it’s a cinch when current members and past champions continue to perform on the world stage including recent EuroPro Tour wins for Todd Clements and Luke Joy.

Janewattananond, who won the 2017 Mahasamutr Open in his homeland, is a shining light. The 23-year-old Thai was up to a giddy 52nd in the Official World Golf Rankings at press time after securing his third and fourth Asian Tour titles this season at the Singapore and Korean Opens, the former securing his place in The Open.

The Open will be the former teen prodigy’s third major championship start. He missed the cut at last year’s Open at Carnoustie but impressed with his swashbuckling game at the PGA Championship in mid-May, rounds of 70-68-67 earning him a spot in the penultimate final round two-ball at Bethpage Black. Sadly he slid to a share of 14th following a Sunday 77 but showed the undoubted class first evidenced globally in 2010 when he became the youngest player – at 14 years and 71 days – to make a halfway cut in an Asian Tour event at the Asian Tour International.

Frenchman Robin Roussel is the latest player to kick on from an impressive rookie season campaign on the MENA Tour. Winner of the spring swing’s final event, the Troon Series-Royal Golf Bahrain Open in mid-March, Roussel is now on the cusp of following MacIntyre’s path to the European Tour.

Robin Roussel won the Hauts de France – Pas de Calais Golf Open
in June to continue his dream start to the Challenge Tour season. (Getty Images)

After winning the Hauts de France – Pas de Calais Golf Open in June, the 25-year-old was fourth in the Challenge Tour rankings at the time of press; the top-15 at the end of the season earn automatic entry to the main tour in 2020.

“I think the MENA Tour can be very proud of playing a small part in the success these and many more players are seeing in their games,” said MENA Tour Tournament Director Wayne Johnson.

“I think the way the MENA Tour has evolved from its humble beginning in 2011 with stronger and stronger fields competing, and the way it has been able to help develop and nurture some outstanding players over the years is a real testimony to the tour.

“I am very hopeful it will continue to be a catalyst for the continued development and success of many of our tour members with an increased tournament schedule in 2020 and the continued support from the exceptional golf courses and facilities in the MENA region.

“We need to say a big thank you to all of the venues who have been so supportive and played such a big part in providing superb courses in magnificent condition for our members to play and compete on.”

Roussel, 26 next month, is second in the OOM rankings and hopes to return for a tilt at the Journey to Jordan title in at least some of the MENA Tour season’s five remaining events.

Either way, there is a lot to look forward to even before the resumption of the title race. Courtesy of finishing fourth and fifth on the OOM in the first half of the season, Daniel Gaunt and Nick Marsh have starts in the Indonesian Masters (July 4-7) and Indonesian Open (Aug. 15-18) while Troon Series- Dubai Open champion Mathiam Keyser has two further Challenge Tour invites, the Slovakia Challenge (July 4-7) and the Made in Denmark Challenge (Aug. 7-10).

Knipes also has a Challenge Tour start on the horizon, the Northern Ireland Challenge Tour Open next month.

The post From MENA Tour winner to DPWTC contender, Robert MacIntyre’s bright future is a product of his Scottish roots appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Open 2019: MacIntyre, six back at Royal Portrush, making all the right noises in major debut

Kent Gray — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 03:29:02 +0000

Andrew Redington/Getty Images

By Kent Gray
After a memorable opening 68, Robert MacIntyre was in the headlines at The Open again on Friday, this time for calling out two-time PGA Tour winner Kyle Stanley for not yelling fore on the penultimate hole of the second round at Royal Portrush.

It will be a shame if the fallout from the perceived lack of etiquette clouds MacIntyre’s play after a second-round 72 saw the Scotsman comfortably advance to the weekend in his major championship debut.

The 22-year-old lefty was one of only two players with MENA Tour links to survive the 36-hole cut which fell at +1. American J.B. Holmes shares the overnight lead with Irish Open and reigning Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship titleholder Shane Lowry at -8 –- six strokes ahead of MacIntyre. With rounds of 70-71, Englishman Callum Shinkwin, the winner of the MENA Tour’s 2019 Omega Dubai Desert Classic Shootout, starts the weekend at -1.

MacIntyre was unimpressed with how Stanley failed to shout fore after watching the American’s wayward tee shot on the 17th hit the mother of the Scotsman’s caddy, Greg Milne.

“Every golfer, from amateur to professional, knows what to shout. It’s pretty disappointing,” MacIntyre told the BBC.

“I told him I didn’t like what he was doing and asked him to please shout fore over the weekend. He didn’t really accept that, but I stood up for the etiquette of the game.”

MacIntyre couldn’t get his putter going on Friday in his one-over 72 but the European Tour rookie is just happy to have a shot at the claret jug.

“It’s been a success so far, just to make the cut,” said MacIntyre who started the week 21st in the Race to Dubai standings and a shoo-in to tee it up at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November.

“Tee to green I was patient and stuck to my guns. I feel my game is there to be challenging. The scores haven’t gone away, so a good run tomorrow and I’m right back in it.”

Meanwhile, a gritty Friday 68 – 10 shots better than his opening round – wasn’t quite enough to get MENA Tour Order-of-Merit (OOM) leader Matthew Baldwin into the weekend. The 33-year-old Englishman spoke with the MENA Tour’s Joy Chakravarty after finishing +4, three shots outside the cut.

Rory started Thursday with a quad bogey, @mattbaldwin26 with a triple.
Rory ended Rd1 with a triple, Matt with a double.
Rory finished today +2 after being +8. Matt finished +4 after being +9.
Unfortunately, both missed @theopen cut despite their brave efforts. pic.twitter.com/scpCm11eHc

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) July 19, 2019

What a shame that one shot has cost me a good Open Championship but what an experience to play! Lots of things to learn from and today I proved that with the right attitude I can achieve my dreams!! Onwards and upwards…. again ??‍

— Matthew Baldwin (@mattbaldwin26) July 19, 2019

Curtis Knipes, the MENA Tour amateur OOM leader, had his heart set on the silver medal for low amateur honours after an opening 72. But a Friday 79 saw him miss the cut on +9.

Indeed, the silver medal won’t be awarded at Royal Portrush as none of the six amateurs made the cut; Japan’s Takumi and new British Amateur champion James Sugrue were the best at +2.

The dream run of our Amateur Leader Curtis Knipes has come to an end at @TheOpen. He cant’s recover from a horror triple bogey-bogey start and in tough conditions. But Knipes should be very proud of his achievement pic.twitter.com/I7quRQbyJ1

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) July 19, 2019

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (2017 Mahasamutr Open) finished +5 while MENA Tour patron Darren Clarke was left to rue a triple-bogey seven on the 36th hole which saw him drop to +3 and miss a fairytale weekend on his home course by two strokes.

The post The Open 2019: MacIntyre, six back at Royal Portrush, making all the right noises in major debut appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Five MENA Tour players, including 18-year-old amateur, to tee it up in 148th Open Championship

Kent Gray — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 04:08:33 +0000

English teen Curtis Knipes, 18, leads the MENA Tour’s amateur Journey to Jordan points race.

By Kent Gray
The MENA Tour has set itself the lofty goal of becoming the best little mini-tour in the world. With five members present and past en-route to the final major of the year, the regional developmental circuit is clearly on track.

Mid-season Order of Merit (OOM) leaders Matthew Baldwin (professional) and 18-year-old Curtis Knipes (amateur) are the latest to punch their tickets to the 148th Open Championship after advancing through final qualifying.

The Englishmen will join former MENA Tour winners Jazz Janewattananond (Thailand) and Robert MacIntyre (Scotland) at Royal Portrush from July 18 after they qualified by winning the Singapore Open and courtesy of a top-20 Race to Dubai ranking respectively.

England’s Callum Shinkwin, who won the MENA Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic Shootout in January and also qualified for Abu Dhabi’s European Tour stop, will also tee it up in Northern Ireland. Shinkwin and Knipes topped the Final Qualifying tournament at Prince’s in Kent while Baldwin earned one of the 12 final spots and his fifth major championship start by finishing third at St Annes Old Links.

“This is a historic moment for the MENA Tour,” said David Spencer, a strategic advisor to the Middle East circuit.

“We have set out with the objective of creating the finest development Tour in the world, and these are moments which help us rededicate ourselves to the cause with a new zeal.”

Baldwin currently leads the MENA Tour’s Journey To Jordan (OOM) by $2,530 over Frenchman Robin Roussel. The Southport 33-year-old led at St Annes Old Links with a superb seven-under par 65 opening round. He then rounded off with a two-under par 70 to finish on nine-under par, good enough for a solo third place.

Matthew Baldwin

Chelmsford teen Knipes, who enjoys a healthy lead of nearly 1,670 points over Josh Hill in the MENA Tour’s amateur Journey to Jordon race, shot 67 in the morning at Prince’s and followed it up with a 68 in the afternoon. Shinkwin started with a 70 but was brilliant in the afternoon as he returned a card of 65 to also finish -9.

Janewattananond, who won the 2017 Mahasamutr Open in his homeland, is one of the MENA Tour’s shining lights. The 23-year-old Thai is up to a giddy 52nd in the Official World Golf Rankings after securing his third and fourth Asian Tour titles this season at the Singapore and Korean Opens, the former securing his place in The Open.

MacIntyre qualified for this month’s 148th Open Championship courtesy of being one of the first five players in the top-20 Race to Dubai rankings who hadn’t already qualified for Royal Portrush.

The second half of the 10-event MENA Tour schedule for 2019 begins with the Journey to Jordan-2 championship at Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba, Jordan, from September 29.

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