Asian Tour Release, 22 June 2019: Thai rising star Jazz Janewattananond put himself in prime position to secure a fourth Asian Tour title after carding a two-under-par 69 to grab a two-shot lead following the penultimate round of the Kolon Korea Open Golf Championship on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Jazz, who started the round one shot back, fired five birdies against three bogeys on a tough scoring day to move atop the leaderboard with a three-day total of seven-under-par 206 at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
Songgyu Yoo emerged as the highest-placed Korean in second place after signing for a 69. His compatriots Dongkyu Jang (69) and overnight leader Innchoon Hwang (73) shared third place on matching 209s in what is their National Open.
American Berry Henson and Thailand’s Prom Meesawat surged into a share of fifth place with local duo Kyongjun Moon (70) and Soomin Lee (71) on 210, thanks to superb finishes on the 570-yard par-five 18thhole.
Henson soared with an eagle on the last where he made a 30-footer from off the green for a 69 while Prom coolly sank a 35-foot long birdie putt for a battling even-par 71 at the KRW 1,200 million (approximately US$1,067,000) event.
Despite stumbling with an outward four-over-par 40, Korean American Kevin Na bounced back with four birdies on his way home, including three straight ones from the 10th hole. He would sign for a 71 to sit in ninth place with Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai (74) on 211.
The 62nd Kolon Korea Open Golf Championship, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Korea Golf Association (KGA), is part of The Open Qualifying Series for the third year in a row.
Two spots to The 148th Open at Royal Portrush will be awarded to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) finishing in the top-eight and ties.
Ends.
Did you know?
- Jazz Janewattananond is using a long putter which he borrowed from good friend Scott Vincent in Japan two weeks ago. He used it in the tournament that week and enjoyed a tied-third place finish.
- According to Jazz, the switch to a long putter was inspired largely by Justin Harding of South Africa, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour in 2018.
- Should Jazz win his fourth Asian Tour title and a second one this season at the Kolon Korea Open on Sunday, he could move to as high as 52nd place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) on Monday.
- A top-three finish would also allow Jazz to regain his lead on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, where he currently trails Australian Scott Hend by about US$56,230 in second place. Hend missed the halfway cut in Korea.
- Jazz led the money list after winning the season-opener in Singapore in January but Hend took over the lead after his victory in Malaysia two months later.
- Jazz has been enjoying a great run of form since winning in Singapore. Apart from notching four other top-10s to sit in a current second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Jazz also enjoyed a tied-14th place finish at the PGA Championship last month.
- Enjoyed back-to-back top-5 finishes on the Japan Golf Tour in the last three weeks to move to 61st place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) on June 10 but unfortunately failed to qualify for the U.S. Open after missing the cut-off mark by one rung.
- Sits in 62nd place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) this week and is set to make his second appearance at The Open next month.
- Prom Meesawat is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour. He first won in Korea in 2006 before claiming his second victory in Chinese Taipei in 2014.
- Prom won his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) title in Brunei in April. Prior to that, he also won the 20th Singha Thailand Masters on his domestic circuit.
- Prom got his season off to a great start when he secured a tied-fifth place finish at the season-opening Singapore Open in January. He also earned a coveted spot at The Open next month, thanks for his solid finish. It will be his second appearance at The Open.
- Berry Henson is a one-time winner on both the Asian Tour and the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2011.
- He recorded the fourth eagle on the 570-yard par-five 18th hole after making a 30-footer putt from off the green today.
