Asian Tour Yearbook: 2023

MA NDI R I I NDONE S I A OPEN P ON D O K I N DA H GO L F CO U R S E | AU G U S T 3 - 6 , 2 0 2 3 | P R I Z E MON E Y U S $ 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 alongside his successes the previous year at The DGC Open presented by Mastercard and the International Series Singapore. “I didn’t think I was going to win this year, to be honest. I just planned to keep doing my best,” admitted Nitithorn, who revealed that a leisurely round with his girlfriend the week before had played a part in restoring his self-belief. Nitithorn, whose victory earned him US$90,000 and saw him soar 40 spots to 11th on the Order of Merit, said: “My confidence had been very low and I’d been really struggling with my swing. But I figured something out while I was playing 18 holes with my girlfriend. “During the practice round here (at Pondok Indah), I hit the ball much better and felt good. It really worked out.” Lewton, seeking his first win since the 2014 Mercuries Taiwan Masters, made a birdie on 18 to close the gap but left himself just too much ground to make up. Six shots off the pace in joint third overnight, it was the second year in succession that the Englishman had tied for second at the Mandiri Indonesia Open. He said: “I thought I’d have to shoot really low 60s (in the final round). And when I got to hole 14, the par-five, I looked at the board and I had a putt to get to 17-under. I wasn’t as far behind as I thought I would be. I just missed and after that I didn’t capitalise on a couple of good approach shots.” Lee dropped strokes on 16 and 18 tomiss out on a first Asian Tour victory, but took The runners- up: Scott Hend (LEFT], Steve Lewton (BELOW LEFT), and Lee Chieh-po [FAR RIGHT]. I’D BEEN STRUGGLING WITH MY SWING. BUT I FIGURED SOMETHING OUT WHILE I WAS PLAYING 18 HOLES WITH MY GIRLFRIEND. DURING THE PRACTICE ROUND HERE, I HIT THE BALL MUCH BETTER. IT REALLY WORKED OUT. – NITITHORN THIPPONG positives fromhis performance. He said: “I amnot disappointed. I gavemyself a chance. I’mhappy with the result. I didn’t think I had a chance when we went out today.” Korean Yongjun Bae tied for fifth after breaking the course record with a stunning last-day 63, made up of 10 birdies and a solitary dropped shot. Four of those birdies came in the last four holes. On day two, South African MJ Viljoen, a Qualifying School graduate, posted a sensational 62 to claim the half-way lead in what was only his fourth Asian Tour appearance. However, playing with lift, clean and place due to early rainfall, it wasn’t recognised as an official course record. With weekend returns of 74 and 76, the two-time winner in South Africa ended tied for 33rd place. 84