Poom Saksansin gets his first Asian Tour win after close to 5 years

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin today, ended his 57 month win-less run by claiming the Yeangder TPC in Taiwan.

Overnight leader Poom fended off a charging Travis Smyth in the final round by shooting a bogey-free 66 to capture his fourth Asian Tour title at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

 

While Travis, who carded a 67 in round four, finished three strokes behind Poom at second place.

 

Poom's winning score was 24-under-264.

 

Poom was delighted after winning the Yeangder TPC,

“I don’t know what to say, happy, is all I can say. I’m so lucky today. I played well and had some good luck. Made some good decisions,” said Poom Saksansin to the Asian Tour website.

 

Apart from his Yeangder TPC win, Poom has three additional victories on the Asian Tour and one on the Asian Development Tour.

 

India's Gaganjeet Bhullar finished solo third.

 

[COVER PHOTO CREDIT: PAUL LAKATOS / ASIAN TOUR]

 

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Guntaek Koh complete hat-trick of victories at the Shinhan Donghae Open

South Korea’s Guntaek Koh was the overnight night joint-leader at 15-under-par.

But on Sunday, Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, who started his round an hour before the final group consisting Guntaek, carded a 63 on his fourth round to finish first on the leaderboard. Later, Guntaek joined Phachara in the clubhouse by carding a 68.

Phachara, Guntaek went to the playoffs. After having a thrilling performance in the regulation play, Phachara played poorly in the playoffs. Because during the first playoff hole, Phachara’s second shot found the pond to eventually card a par on the 18^th hole while, Guntaek scored a birdie on the same hole to win the Shinhan Donghae Open at the Ocean Course in South Korea.

It was Guntaek’s third win of the season on the Korean Tour because before today, Guntaek had won the 18th DB Insurance Promy Open, Honors K •Solarago CC Han Jang-sang Invitational in the last four months.

For Guntaek, today’s victory meant a lot to him because it was a tri-sanctioned event between the Korean Tour, the Japan Golf Tour and the Asian Tour.

“It feels really good. I think it is especially meaningful because it is a jointly hosted tournament with the Japan Tour and Asian Tour,” said Guntaek Koh to the KPGA website.

According to Guntaek, his first win at the 18th DB Insurance Promy Open was difficult one to get, but after that the Guntaek has enjoyed his time on the pro tour.

Earlier, Guntaek had applied his name to Military Manpower Administration of Korea and had planned to enlist his name in the military service at the end of his 2023 season. But after winning the tri-sanctioned event in Korea. Guntaek might rethink about his decision because a win at the Shinhan Donghae Open gives him multiple year exemptions on three different tours (Korean Tour, Japan and Asian Tour).

“I submitted my application for enlistment to the Military Manpower Administration last week. As I said, I planned to enlist in the military after this season. I don't know what to do now. I'll have to think about it first,” said Guntaek during the post-event press conference.

Following his Sunday’s win, Guntaek is now ranked 18^th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit Standings.

The next Asian Tour event is the Yeangder TPC which will begin on 21^st September, 2023.

[COVER PHOTO CREDIT: KPGA]

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September 10, 2023 - By Dhruv Trivedi

50th Pakistan Open to be played on 6th September

Recently, the Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) released the National Golf Calendar for 2023 – 2024 season.

More than 60 golf events will be played in Pakistan from July 2023 till June 2024. The season will begin in Lahore with the 1st President PGA Open (10 July – 16 July 23’) and will end in Karachi with back-to-back PGF Qualifying School’s for Professionals (29 May – 2nd June 24’) and Senior/ Junior Professionals (6 June – 9 June 24’).

The National Golf Calendar also includes one key event of the Pakistan Open Golf Championship.

The 2023 edition of the Pakistan Open will be a historic event for Pakistan, because their national golf championship will have its landmark 50th edition which will be played in Karachi from 6th September till 10th September 2023.

The event was started way back in 1967. Over the years, the Pakistan Open was mostly dominated by Pakistani golfers, but there were instances where the event was won by foreign players. 

Philippines’ Frankie Miñoza was the first foreign player to win the Pakistan Open in 1989 while, Korea’s Tom Kim was the last non-Pakistani golfer to win the Pakistan Open in 2019.

Local golfer Ahmed Baig is the defending champion for this year’s event.

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