Asian Tour Yearbook - 2022

Vincent’s eventful victory journey England landmark for Asian Tour Scott Vincent (ABOVE/FAR LEFT) with the first of likely to be many Asian Tour titles. 69 Obviously I would love my clubs to be here … but that’s not the case right now. We don’t know when they’re due to arrive. -SCOTT VINCENT F or a professional golfer, few things are more disconcerting than arriving at a tournament only to discover that the tools they rely upon to make their living have been lost in transit. After claiming his third victory on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation at the Mizuno Open, Zimbabwean Scott Vincent was on a high when he departed Tokyo on May 30. But following a gruelling 24-hour journey from the Japanese capital, via Helsinki and Amsterdam, Vincent’s mood changed for the worse when he finally arrived at his destination, the north of England’s Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, unaccompanied by his trusted golf clubs. In addition to physical tiredness, there was mental anguish at the possibility of having to use an untried replacement set for the ground-breaking US$2 million International Series England, the first Asian Tour-sanctioned event on United Kingdom soil, the ninth stop of the 2022 season and the second International Series tournament. “Obviously I would love my clubs to be here … but that’s not the case right now. We don’t know when they’re due to arrive,” said the 30 year old, after walking the course some 48 hours before tournament tee-off, while awaiting news on the whereabouts of his clubs. To the immense relief of Vincent, the missing set was located and delivered to the venue ahead of the first round. It proved to be a happy reacquaintance with Vincent recording rounds of 69, 68, 69 and a closing five-under 66. In so doing, the first golfer from his country to play in the Olympics and the World Cup also became the first Zimbabwean to win on the Asian Tour. After a pulsating final-round, back nine birdie battle with overnight leader Travis Smyth, Vincent sealed his success with a gutsy seven- foot par putt on the final green. “It’s amazing. This is the Tour I started on, so it’s nice to get the first win. It has felt like a long time, but my game is trending in a good direction,” said Vincent, who mustered four birdies in six holes to the 16th to take control. But Smyth launched his own scoring spree over the closing holes and drew level at 12-under following a successful 10-foot birdie putt at the par-three 17th. At the last, the talented Australian split the fairway with his drive, while Vincent erred slightly left into the rough. The twists and I N T E R N AT I O N A L S E R I E S E N G L A N D S L A LE Y HA LL HOTE L , S PA & GO LF R E SORT | J UN E 2- 5, 2022 | P R IZE MON E Y US$2 M I LLI ON