Asian Tour Yearbook: 2023

professional and joining the ranks of the Asian Tour. Fast forward to August, and a two-week swing in the United Kingdom where golf fans in both England and Scotland had the chance to see the cream of the Asian Tour and a host of world-class names from around the world in action. First up, and American Ogletree was at it again in the International Series England, the 25-year-old carding a final-round 64 to run away with a seven-shot victory at Close House, with LIV Golf League stars Ian Poulter and Lahiri his nearest challengers on the Colt course. A week later and the series moved further north to the ‘home of golf’, for the St Andrews Bay Championship and a real thriller on the Torrance Course at the Fairmont St Andrews. In the end it was LIV Golf League’s Spanish star Eugenio Chacarra who had the stamina and nerve needed to edge out Matt Jones of Australia on the 10th sudden death play-off hole, a record on the Asian Tour. The pair had both birdied the final hole in normal time to finish tied on 19-under, one ahead of Andrew Dodt and Jaco Ahlers. A month later, Chacarra’s compatriot and fellow LIV Golf League star David Puig ended his long search for a first maiden win at the International Series Singapore. The Torque GC player, who had come close several times on The International Series since turning pro in 2022, secured a dominant five-shot wire-to-wire victory, finishing 19-under on the Tampines course at Tanah Merah, without ever being troubled by nearest challenger Jaewoong Eom of Korea. The final three International Series events of the season all took place in a three-week swing, bringing the Asian Tour’s finest to three legacy events in the heartland of Asia. First up, Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut claimed victory in the Volvo China Open, with a third-round 65 and final day 64 enough for a six-shot win, with promising Hong Kong youngster Taichi Kho and local hope Chen Guxin his nearest challengers. The following week, Ben Campbell from New Zealand completed an incredible victory at the Hong Kong Open, taking the lead for the first time in the entire four days on the final hole to see of former Open champion Cameron Smith and Phachara Khongwatmai in a thrilling finish at Fanling. That result also confirmed Ogletree as the Order of Merit winner with one tournament left, securing his place on the LIV Golf Leage roster for the 2024 season. Finally, Gaganjeet Bhulllar put in one of the performances of the season for a wire-to- wire victory at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club, winning the series-ending BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE by five shots from Indian compatriot Karandeep Kochhar, with in-form Campbell and Puig a shot further back. With tournament winners coming from Japan, America, Australia, Zimbabwe, Spain, Thailand, New Zealand and India, there can be no doubting the truly international aspect of The International Series over the course of the 2023 season. 19 Gaganjeet Bhullar (FAR LEFT) post celebrations in Indonesia, and Wade Ormsby (LEFT), the champion in Thailand.