Asian Tour Yearbook: 2023

I N T ER NAT IONA L SER I E S THA I L A ND B L A C K MO U N TA I N GO L F C L U B , H UA H I N , T H A I L A N D | MA R C H 9 - 1 2 | P R I Z E MON E Y U S $ 2 M I L L I ON SUDDEN-DEATH IN THE SHADOW OF BLACK MOUNTAIN FOURTH ASIAN TOUR TITLE AND FIRST INTERNATIONAL SERIES WIN FOR ORMSBY Wage Ormsby (LEFT AND RIGHT) recorded his fourth win on the Asian Tour at the International Series Thailand. E xperience prevailed over youth at the International Series Thailand early on during the 2023 season. Australian Wade Ormsby, with over two decades of Tour experience, went head-to- head against unheralded young Thai golfer Chonlatit Chuenboonngam. Both were in exceptional form, but it was Ormsby who raised the trophy after winning on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off following a gripping finish at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin. He triumphed after holing a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th while Chonlatit missed his birdie attempt from eight feet. The 42-year-old Ormsby had trailed Chonlatit, the clubhouse leader on 20 under, by one shot with three to play but made a birdie on 16 and had a chance to win on the last when he splashed out to 12 feet from a greenside bunker but missed his birdie attempt. The Australian closed with a seven- under-par 65 while Chonlatit, a graduate from the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2022 and playing the tournament of his life, shot a 64. It was the fourth Asian Tour victory of Ormsby’s career and the first since his win in the Hong Kong Open in 2020. The U$2 million event was wide open on the final day with dozens of players in with a chance before Ormsby and Chonlatit edged ahead. Korean Yeongsu Kim (66) and Micah Lauren Shin (67) from the United States tied for third one shot back while Australian Kevin Yuan (67) ended outright fifth. “I can’t believe I am here,” said Ormsby, who competed on LIV Golf in 2022. “I had a tough week down in New Zealand last week. I was so annoyed with myself as I knew I was playing well. I worked so hard with my coach Grant Field. I am so stoked.” 52