Asian Tour Yearbook - 2022

T H E I N T E R N A T I O N A L S E R I E S : A R E A L G A M E C H A N G E R 18 Series Merit title with earnings of just over half a million United States dollars, helped in a big way by claiming the International Series England, played at Slaley Hall, near Newcastle, in June – which was his first win on the Asian Tour, and the Tour’s first-ever visit to the United Kingdom. His reward was a lucrative pass onto the 14-event LIV Golf League, although the Zimbabwean will still be a regular on the Asian Tour, acknowledging it is the Tour where it all started for him. After securing the Merit title, a delighted Vincent said: “It feels pretty special to win the International Series Order of Merit this year. It was not something that was on my radar earlier this year. Now that it is a reality, it’s unreal. “The highlight for me was the International Series England. Making a putt to win on that last hole was just really cool. Ten footer, left to right, down the hill; making that putt was special.” On earning his playing rights to the LIV Golf League, the 30-year-old added: “It’s incredible. Getting a taste of LIV this year, you want to go back. You want to compete against the best in the world. The fact that I get to do that now, it’s really cool, and I look forward to the challenge.” The other champions at the International Series events were: Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, at Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore; Korean Taehoon Ok, winner of the Korean event held at Lotte Skyhill Country Club on the holiday island of Jeju; Thai Jazz Janewattananond, who was victorious at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Morocco; American Andy Ogletree, first at Madinaty Golf Club in Egypt; and Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut, who secured top spot at the season- ending Indonesian Masters, the only pre-existing event welcomed into the International Series fold. In addition to the unparalleled success on the golf course, a key accompaniment to the International Series across all events was a charity initiative and philanthropy drive. It was extremely important for the Asian Tour and LIV Golf to support the many local communities it visited so the Bright Dawn Foundation in Hua Hin, Thailand; Cheju Halla General Hospital, on Jeju, in Korea; Ain Hallouf Rural School of Golf, in Morocco; and the junior development programmes of the Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs, in England, the Singapore Golf Association, and the Egyptian Golf Federation were all worthy beneficiaries. International Series Egypt champion Andy Ogletree (LEFT), and the winner in Morocco Jazz Janewattananond (BOTTOM LEFT)