Asian Tour Book 2024

to sign for a closing, bogey-free 67, the outcome passed into the usually reliable hands of Hend, who made birdies at 16 and 17 to seize the initiative. Requiring a final-hole birdie to win or a par to force extra-time, Hend appeared set to pen his own astonishing winning story as he lined up a 20-footer for victory. To gasps of disbelief from the large gallery surrounding the green, Hend proceeded to three-putt, failing with a three-footer for par. His two-under 69 gave him a four-day tally of 16-under 268 – one shot more than Hataji, who banked a Taichi Kho [left] was just two off the lead heading into the final round. For Scott Hend [right] win number 11 on the Asian Tour agonisingly slipped through his grasp. cheque for US$201,686 from the total purse of US$1.22 million (NZ$2 million). The win proved to be the catalyst for an incredible season for the unheralded Japanese golfer as he went on to win twice on the Japan Golf Tour that year. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Hend who struck the ball sweetly all week in his bid to add to his 10 Asian Tour victories and become the oldest winner of the event. Nonetheless, given the ordeal he’s been through in recovering from prostate cancer, the 2016 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion who’s the most successful Australian golfer in Asian Tour history, was able to adopt a philosophical perspective. “I’m just playing to have fun and try and be there on Sunday with a chance to win,” said Hend, highlighting the innovative Pro-Am component that sees each professional joined by an amateur partner, and distinguishes the New Zealand Open from other tournaments on the Asian Tour calendar. “In this format you’ve got to embrace it and have fun. I’ve got some good amateurs that we’re playing with and it’s a pleasure to meet new people like that and actually have a bit of a chat,” added the former PGA Tour player whose runner-up finish did enable him to close the gap on Asian Tour Career Earnings leader Thongchai Jaidee. At Millbrook, Hend won US$114,289 to take his total earnings to US$5,483,197, just US$280,190 behind the decorated Thai. In what was the third event on the 2024 Asian Tour schedule, there were 59 Asian Tour members in the starting line-up, 32 of whommade the half-way cut. Asian Tour regular Ian Snyman from South Africa completed one of his best performances on Tour, closing with a 69 to tie for sixth, along with Australian Justin Warren – third at the Asian Tour Qualifying School – who shot a 68. Hong Kong hotshot Taichi Kho, the Asian Tour’s 2023 Rookie of the Year, was just two off the pace after round three. But his hopes of mounting a concerted challenge disappeared with a final-day 71 that saw him end equal 14th. Indonesian Jonathan Wijono, who plays on the Asian Development Tour, completed a memorable week, signing for a 68 to finish in a tie for 34th, which helped him and amateur partner Jubilant Harmidy win the Pro-Am part of the tournament. “I’ve been playing well recently, just after missing my card at Q School. It’s a great time to be coming into form,” said the 23-year-old. 44 NEW Z E A L A ND OPEN PR E SEN T ED BY SK Y SPORT M I L L B ROO K R E S O R T , QU E E N S TOWN F E B R UA RY 2 9 - MA R C H 3 , 2 0 2 4 | P R I Z E MON E Y: NZ $ 2 M I L L I ON ( A P P ROX I MAT E LY U S $ 1 . 2 2 M I L L I ON )