She is that good. And on Friday, her poise and talent were in evidence at Angus Glen Golf Club of Markham, Ontario, where she claimed her second consecutive World Junior Girls Championship title by two strokes over Ye Won Lee of the Republic of Korea.

In the team competition, it is the Republic of Korea that claimed the gold medal, their second World Junior Girls title after winning it in 2015 at The Marshes GC of Ottawa. After rallying to take the lead following Thursday’s weather delay, the Korean team never looked back. They registered an aggregate score of 3-under (141) in the final round to take the laurels.  After claiming bronze at Camelot Golf Club in 2018, Thailand upgraded its 2019 haul by winning silver, while last year’s champions Italy finished third to earn the bronze medal.

“It’s very, very nice to win. I’m so happy now. But I’m a little disappointed that I couldn’t catch the (girl in) first place. But only ten percent disappointed (laughs),” said team gold and individual silver medalist Ye Won Lee.

The 2019 gold is Korea’s fourth World Junior Girls Championship medal in only five participations in the event, a tournament record.

In the individual contest, Thitikul managed to keep her playing partners at bay on the front nine, taking a stroke back from the silver medallist, Republic of Korea’s Ye Won Lee, thanks to three birdies against only one bogey. Despite committing two more bogeys on the back nine and briefly finding herself only one stroke up, Thitikul, who fired a final round of 70 (-2), scored a superb eagle on the par-5 16th hole which Ye Won Lee couldn’t match, albeit adding a birdie of her own to the score card.

When asked how important that shot was to her victory, Thitikul declared that “It helped me a lot, you know. When I putt it, in mind I was like ‘Yes! I will get this.’ It made me feel more confident when walking to the 18th hole.”

Italy’s Alessia Nobilio, an individual silver medallist in both 2017 and 2018, shot 71 in the final round to finish the tournament at 6-under, in third place. She is now the World Junior Girls most decorated competitor in tournament history with three individual and two team medals.

As the organizing federation, Canada delegated two teams to participate in the Championship.

Canada 1, consisting of Brooke Rivers (Brampton, Ont.), Euna Han (Coquitlam, B.C.) and Emily Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.) had a strong finish to the tourney, posting their first negative team score of the week (-2) which allowed them to climb to 7th in a tie with Switzerland. Canada 2, composed of Lauren Kim and Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C., with Ellie Szeryk (London, Ont.), scored plus +7 and dropped to 19th, ahead of Ireland.

The 2019 World Junior Girls Championship was conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with Golf Ontario and supported by the R&A and the International Golf Federation. Recognized as an “A” ranked event by the World Amateur Golf Rankings, the seventh edition of the World Junior Girls Championship will be presented at Angus Glen Golf Club in 2020.

2019 TEAM COMPETITION RESULTS

Gold            Republic of Korea

Jung-Min  Hong, Ye Won Lee, Yoon Ina, *143-139-140-141-563 (-13)

Silver         Thailand

Kan Bunnabodee, Yosita Khawnuna, Atthaya Thitikul, *144-137-142-144-567 (-9)

Bronze        Italy

Carolina Melgrati, Alessia Nobilio, Benedetta Moresco, *147-140-143-143-573 (-3)

2019 INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION (TOP 10)

1. Atthaya Thitikul, Thailand, *73-63-71-70-277 -112. Ye Won Lee, Republic of Korea, *71-70-68-70-279 -9

   3. Alessia Nobilio, Italy, *72-67-72-71-282 -6

   4. Ho-Yu An, Chinese Taipei, *75-65-74-70-284 -4

   4. Jung-Min  Hong, Republic of Korea, *72-69-72-71-284 -4

   6. Yin Xiaowen, People’s Republic of China, *71-71-72-72-286 -2

   6. Hannah Darling, Scotland, *73-66-71-76-286 -2

   8. Elena Moosmann, Switzerland, *73-74-69-71-287 -1

   9. Lucie Malchirand, France, *73-71-72-72-288 E

   9. Annabell Fuller, England, *72-72-73-71-288 E

   11. Amalie Leth-Nissen, Denmark, *76-70-73-71-290 +2

   11. Anne Normann, Denmark, *78-70-69-73-290 +2

   13. Mimi Rhodes, England, *73-71-77-72-293 +5

   13. Yoon Ina, Republic of Korea, *74-72-74-73-293 +5

   15. Brooke Rivers, Canada 1, *74-73-76-71-294 +6

   15. Paula  Schulz-Hanssen, Germany, *78-72-74-70-294 +6

   15. Chun-Wei Wu, Chinese Taipei, *74-70-78-72-294 +6

   18. Yosita Khawnuna, Thailand, *71-74-76-74-295 +7

   19. Carla Tejedo, Spain, *75-72-75-74-296 +8

   20. Kan Bunnabodee, Thailand, *73-79-71-74-297 +9

   20. Angela Arora, Canada 2, *76-73-74-74-297 +9

   22. Ester Fagersten, Sweden, *72-74-78-75-299 +11

   23. Natacha Høst Husted, Denmark, *76-79-74-71-300 +12

   23. Benedetta Moresco, Italy, *77-73-78-72-300 +12

   25. Emily Zhu, Canada 1, *82-75-73-71-301 +13

   25. Ffion Tynan, Wales, *75-79-70-77-301 +13

   25. Carolina Melgrati, Italy, *75-80-71-75-301 +13

   28. Maria Jose Bohorquez Fonseca, Colombia, *81-73-73-76-303 +15

   29. Marie Bechtold, Germany, *78-70-76-80-304 +16

   29. Darcey Harry, Wales, *80-70-82-72-304 +16

   29. Christina Ochoa, Colombia, *79-74-76-75-304 +16

   29. Cory Lopez, Mexico, *78-77-75-74-304 +16

   33. Louise Rydqvist, Sweden, *76-77-79-74-306 +18

   33. Aada Rissanen, Finland, *81-74-80-71-306 +18

   35. Chiara Horder, Germany, *78-77-78-74-307 +19

   35. Carolina López-Chacarra, Spain, *80-71-76-80-307 +19

   35. Yael Berger, Switzerland, *80-76-77-74-307 +19

   35. Paola Alonso, Mexico, *79-75-81-72-307 +19

   39. Carmen Griffiths, Scotland, *78-81-75-74-308 +20

   40. Li Shuying, People’s Republic of China, *82-80-75-72-309 +21

   40. Lily May Humphreys, England, *86-75-72-76-309 +21

   42. Adela Cernousek, France, *75-79-80-76-310 +22

   42. Sofia Torres Villarreal, Colombia, *80-75-79-76-310 +22

   44. Sara Ericsson, Sweden, *78-77-78-78-311 +23

   44. Aine Donegan, Ireland, *81-81-74-75-311 +23

   44. Ada Huhtala, Finland, *81-78-75-77-311 +23

   47. Euna Han, Canada 1, *77-80-80-75-312 +24

   48. Lilas Pinthier, France, *83-77-79-74-313 +25

   48. Beth Coulter, Ireland, *78-81-74-80-313 +25

   50. Victoria Monod, Switzerland, *77-84-76-78-315 +27

   51. Lauren Daiana Olivares, Mexico, *81-79-81-75-316 +28

   52. Hsin-Chun Liao, Chinese Taipei, *84-76-80-77-317 +29

   52. Lauren Kim, Canada 2, *79-79-82-77-317 +29

   54. Carys Worby, Wales, *86-81-77-75-319 +31

   54. Kerttu Hiltunen, Finland, *88-76-79-76-319 +31

   56. Peng You, People’s Republic of China, *83-86-79-77-325 +37

   57. Nieves Martín , Spain, *84-81-89-73-327 +39

   58. Katy Alexander, Scotland, *83-80-86-79-328 +40

   59. Ellie Szeryk, Canada 2, *85-84-84-86-339 +51

WORLD JUNIOR GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP MEDAL HISTORY

2014 TEAM                     INDIVIDUAL

Gold     USA                     Mika Liu (USA)

Silver   Sweden              Megan Khang (USA)

Bronze  Canada 1            Emma Svensson (Sweden)

2015 TEAM                     INDIVIDUAL

Gold   Korea                  Hye-jin Choi (Korea)

Silver Denmark               Cecilie Bofill (Denmark)

Bronze Sweden                Filippa Moork (Sweden)

2016 TEAM                     INDIVIDUAL

Gold   Philippines      Yuka Saso (Philippines)

Silver Korea                  Jennifer Chang (USA)

Bronze USA                  Caterina Don (Italy)

2017 TEAM                     INDIVIDUAL

Gold   Spain                     Seo-yun Kwon (Korea)

Silver Korea                     Alessia Nobilio (Italy)

Bronze Sweden                Bianca Fernandez (Spain)

2018 TEAM                     INDIVIDUAL

Gold   Italy                       Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand)

Silver USA                        Alessia Nobilio (Italy)

Bronze Thailand            Zoe Campos (USA)

2019 TEAM                     INDIVIDUAL

Gold   Korea                     Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand)

Silver Thailand                Ye Won Lee (Republic of Korea)

Bronze Italy                   Alessia Nobilio (Italy)

Hur recorded six birdies and bounced back to make par on the final two holes after a double bogey on No. 16. After battling through wind gusts up to 25 mph, Hur still felt she had a special kind of advantage.

“You know, living in Texas, which this is like a normal [wind] in Texas, so it helped me a lot when I practice with this kind of wind on the range. Looking forward to other two rounds and then next week as well,” said Hur, who will tee it up near her home at next week’s Volunteers of America Classic.

Hur said she tried to enjoy the wind and that learning to play in it helped her towards her win back in August at the Aberdeen Investment Standards Ladies Scottish Open. Hur also held the lead going into the weekend in Scotland.

Saturday, she will be paired with Sakura Yokomine, who sits in second at -9. Hur calls Yokomine her “older sister.” She said they have known each other since she was 12 years old, and that connection makes her feel more comfortable while playing in difficult conditions.

“[It’s] much fun on the course, especially with this kind of weather. You have to — you need something like enjoy about, so talking a lot with a lot of other players,” said Hur.

Two players, Puerto Rico’s Maria Torres and American Marina Alex, are tied for third at -7. Tiffany Chan, who recorded the lowest round of the day with a bogey-free 65, is in a tie for fifth with Kendall Dye, Amy Olson and Pornanong Phatlum at -6.

OLSON BACK IN THE SWING AFTER BAKING BREAK

Amy Olson needed a timeout from golf. Before the IWiT Championship, Olson said she only practiced about 10 hours total in the break she had after the Cambia Portland Classic. She said it was nice to take some time away from the game, and have “like, a normal life.” Olson showed no signs of rust though after posting a 36-hole score of 138, heading into the weekend five strokes off the lead in a tie for fifth.

“I feel like I’ve played well here,” said Olson, “I didn’t I didn’t play great last year, but I really enjoy playing this course and coming here. This was kind of home for me the last two years, so that was a lot of fun.”

But back at her real home in North Dakota, no golf did not mean no work. Olson’s husband, Grant, is the linebacker’s coach at North Dakota State University. For the last four weeks, Amy has been baking for the 16 linebackers on the Bison’s squad. “Every time the team wins a game, the next Thursday the coaches’ wives make treats for their husband’s position group,” said Olson. “I was literally house-wifing.”

Olson made a variety of treats – chocolate chip cookies and brownies among the weekly baking menu, about three dozen every time. She will miss the next week if the team wins due to the Volunteers of America Classic, but said the other coaches’ wives will cover for her as she travels. As much as she misses being home with her husband and the team, she said she is excited to be back out on the course, after her “mini offseason.”

“I needed that, especially going into Asia, just having kind of a stretch still coming up here. It gets to be a long season,” said Olson yesterday after a first-round 66. “Being able to come out and still play well and know that sometimes what your body actually needs is rest and what your mind needs is rest, it’s just confirmation for me.”

NO EXPECTATIONS KEY FOR TORRES

Almost two years ago, Maria Torres stormed on to the LPGA Tour by winning a three-hole aggregate playoff at the 2017 Final Qualifying Tournament to earn the final LPGA card available and become the first player from Puerto Rico to earn full membership on the LPGA Tour.

Year two on the LPGA Tour has proved more challenging for Torres, as she has missed six cuts in her last seven starts. She’s off to a hot start in Indianapolis, with back-to-back rounds in the 60s to head into the weekend tied for third at 7-under par.

Torres said the main thing she has tried to work on over the last few off-weeks was to stay present, not put pressure on herself and to “go with the flow.”

“I’ve been working on a lot, on I think everything,” Torres said. “My wedges, on my rhythm on the backswing, the tempo. Yeah, so on my putting, too, I’ve been working on that, and starting the ball good and having a good pace. So basically the entire game.”

As a racing fan, Torres is especially fond of this week’s venue inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While in town for the Cambia Portland Classic she witnessed her friend and compatriot Bryan Ortiz win the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup in Portland, and she jokingly told him: “Last week was your turn, now hopefully this is mine.”

ALEX SHOWS UP AGAINST CHALLENGING WIND

Marina Alex may have only shot a second-round 71, but it was enough to keep her in a tie for third heading into the weekend with Maria Torres at -7. Alex said it was a fight to the finish at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course playing against the test that the windy weather brought.

“Conditions were crazy, so much different than yesterday, ton of wind from the start to finish. Some tough hole locations out there, too, with just the wind direction and how you were trying to get to the hole was not that easy,” said Alex.

Alex said despite an unfortunate shot into the water on the par-3 seventh that led to a double bogey, she was happy to make enough birdies the rest of the day and play well on the par-5s.

“It’s a challenge for sure, I enjoy it. It’s just exhausting, though,” said Alex. “At least I’ll get to sleep in. If it’s windy again, I’ll probably feel a little more refreshed. Right now I’m ready to shut it down.”

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 40 Mi Jung Hur (63-70)

• She hit six of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens, with 29 putts
• In 2019 she has made 15 cuts in 17 starts with four top-10 finishes including a win at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open
• Her first-round 63 is her second-lowest career round; she has twice recorded rounds of 62 at the 2019 Kia Classic (third round) and the 2019 ASI Ladies Scottish Open (second round)
• She is competing in her second IWiT Championship; she missed the cut in 2017
• She has three career LPGA wins: 2009 Cambia Portland Classic, 2014 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic and the 2019 ASI Ladies Scottish Open
• Went 112 starts between her victory at the 2014 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic and the 2019 ASI Ladies Scottish Open
• Has one career victory on the Symetra Tour
• Credits her father and watching Se Ri Pak win the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open, as most influencing her career

Rolex Rankings No. 136 Sakura Yokomine (65-70)

• She hit 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens, with 33 putts
• Her 36-hole 135 total is the best mark of her 2019 season
• Her first-round 65 is her lowest round of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; her career-best round is a third-round 61 at the 2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic
• In 2019, she has made 13 of 19 cuts with a season-best T16 finish at the Meijer LPGA Classic
• Yokomine is a 2015 LPGA Tour rookie; her career-best finish is solo second at the 2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic
• She is making her third start at the IWiT Championship; she missed the cut in 2018 and 2017

Rolex Rankings No. 31 Marina Alex (66-71)

• She hit 10 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens, with 29 putts
• Made her Team USA debut at the 2019 Solheim Cup where she posted a 1-1-2 record
• In 2019, she has made 16 of 19 cuts with four top-10 finishes including a season-best T7 finish in her title defense at the Cambia Portland Classic
• Alex is in her seventh season on the LPGA Tour, with one career victory at the 2018 Cambia Portland Classic
• Two-time First-Team All-American (2010, 2012) at Vanderbilt University and was inducted in the Vanderbilt Hall of Fame in 2015
• Graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2012 with a degree in Communications
• She is making her third start at the IWiT Championship; she finished T28 in 2018 and T13 in 2017

Rolex Rankings No. 143 Maria Torres (69-68)

• She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 29 putts
• Her second-round 68 is her third 68 of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; her career-best round is a first-round 64 at the 2019 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
• In 2019, Torres has made 10 of 22 cuts with a season-best T15 finish at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship
• Torres is a 2018 LPGA Tour rookie; her career-best finish is tie for seventh at the 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
• She is making her second start at the IWiT Championship; she finished T44 in 2018
• Torres is the first player from Puerto Rico to earn full membership on the LGPA Tour

Jazz  missed eight greens but found 10 fairways and needed only 23 putts in his commendable round of 66 in the ¥150,000,000 (approximately US$1,338,067) event that is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

“It’s quite hot out there. I think I have played with Shugo Imahira for more than 10 times already. So I know what is his game like and I know Ryo Ishikawa’s as well. There was a huge crowd supporting Ryo today and it’s nice to see.,” said Jazz sitting in 60th place on the OWGR, Jazz is the highest-ranked player in the field this week. He also leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit with a current haul of US$769,297.

“All the birdies I made today were similar. Nothing really stood out. I changed my putting technique to arm lock again and it’s working well so far. So we’ll see. The course is playing tough today actually so I am happy with my five-under.

I’m just one shot back right now. It’s good to get off to a good start. We played in Korea last week and the roughs are pretty much two times higher than we have here. I’m happy to see that the roughs are shorter this week actually,” he added

Jazz is the only player to have won more than once on the Asian Tour so far this season. He claimed his third title at the season-opening Singapore Open in January and secured his fourth victory at the Kolon Korea Open in June.

At the age of 23 years 6 months and 27 days, Jazz becomes the youngest ever player to achieve four wins on Tour. India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar held the record previously after he won his fourth title in 2012 at the age of 24.

Lu wielded a hot putter to grab a share of the opening round lead with Shugo Imahira and Toshinori Muto of Japan as the trio signed for matching six-under-par 65s.

Lu, who played in the final group that started from the 10th today, traded two birdies against a bogey to turn in 35 but picked up five more birdies on his way home to seize a share of the lead at the prestigious Higashi Hirono Golf Club.

The 40-year-old Lu would match the efforts of Imahira and Muto, who both returned with bogey-free rounds highlighted by six

by one shot in fourth place alongside Korea’s Yikeun Chang and Kazuki Higa of Japan, who claimed their respective breakthroughs on the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour earlier this month.

Australian Brendon Jones, one of the five past champions of the tournament in the field this week, closed with two straight birdies to settle two shots off the pace in seventh place with three other players, including Argentinean Miguel Carballo, who won his first Asian Tour title recently in Indonesia.

The Panasonic OPEN Golf Championship will be the concluding leg of the 2018/19 Panasonic Swing. The popular event is celebrating its 10th edition on the Asian Tour this week and is returning to the Higashi Hirono Golf Club following a seven-year lapse.

Korea’s Sungjae Im and Byeong Hun An continue to make strong push for Presidents Cup captain’s picks

MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia – Korea’s Sungjae Im and Byeong Hun An have maintained their push to earn a captain’s pick for the International Team at the Presidents Cup following top-3 finishes at the Sanderson Farms Championship over the weekend. 

The 21-year-old Im, voted the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, finished runner-up after losing in a playoff to fellow Presidents Cup hopeful Sebastian Munoz of Colombia while An, 28, settled for third place in what was the second tournament of the 2019-20 PGA TOUR Season. 

After the top-8 automatic qualifiers for the International Team did not feature a player from Korea, Im and An are among those making a push to ensure Korea is represented on the International Team. Captain Ernie Els will name his four picks in the first week of November. 

Im’s runner-up finish at the Sanderson Farms Championship was an encore to a stellar rookie season marked by 35 starts – the most on TOUR last season – and a trip to the elite 30-player field at the TOUR Championship, where he was the only rookie to qualify. He nabbed seven top-10 finishes and finished 11^th in the Presidents Cup standings. 

An, meanwhile, collected his second top-3 result in his last five starts. In search of his first Presidents Cup appearance, he has three career runner-up finishes on the PGA TOUR to go along with three other worldwide wins. In 2009, he became the youngest winner of the U.S. Amateur Championship at 17 years old, surpassing 2008 champion and 2015 Presidents Cup participant Danny Lee of New Zealand. 

An held the 36-hole lead last week after starting with consecutive 66s and believes he is getting closer to a breakthrough victory on the PGA TOUR. “It’s still a decent week. There’s a lot of positives to take,” An said. “I know I can compete out here. I know I can win.” 

His good play will help his Presidents Cup candidacy. An, who finished 15th in the International Team’s final standings, is likely on the short list of candidates for one of Els’ four picks. An said: “I hope I’m way up there. I need to step it up a little bit. It’ll be nice if I make the team. That definitely was my main goal for this year and the next couple of events.”

Muñoz, the second Colombian to win on the PGA TOUR after Camilo Villegas, An and Im are scheduled to return to competition at the Safeway Open this week. Other players vying for a Presidents Cup captain’s pick in the field this week who finished inside the top 30 in the Presidents Cup standings include Corey Conners, Dylan Frittelli, Emiliano Grillo, Adam Hadwin, Sung Kang, Si Woo Kim, Jhonattan Vegas and Xinjun Zhang. 

On the U.S. side, those Presidents Cup hopefuls in the field who finished inside the top 30 in the Presidents Cup standings include Charles Howell III, Phil Mickelson, Kevin Na, Scott Piercy, Chez Reavie, Brandt Snedeker and Kevin Tway. Captain Woods will also have his eye on Collin Morikawa, who won in just his sixth PGA TOUR start as a professional at the 2019 Barracuda Championship.

Hend claimed his 10th Asian Tour title in Malaysia earlier this year but has yet to replicate that fine form as he struggles to find the right set of clubs over the last few months. The 46-year-old Hend has uncharacteristically missed eight cuts in 14 starts worldwide since his victory.

By switching back to an old set of clubs this week, which include the same irons that helped him to his victory in March, Hend is hoping to rediscover some of his best form when he gets his campaign underway at the prestigious Higashi Hirono Golf Club.

American Micah Lauren Shin, placed ninth on the Order of Merit, will be banking on a feel-good factor when he challenges for top honours at the ¥150,000,000 (approximately US$1,338,067) event. He came close to securing his second Asian Tour title in Japan in May before finishing joint runner-up.

Taehee Lee, the highest-ranked Korean in third place on the Merit rankings, is eyeing a good showing as it will ensure that he stays inside top-four at the end of next week to earn a coveted spot at the upcoming World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions.

Yikeun Chang, who broke through in Chinese Taipei two weeks ago, has set his sights on more successes when he tees off for the 10th edition of the Panasonic OPEN Golf Championship.

The 25-year-old Korean believes he still has an outside chance to qualify for the WGC-HSBC Champions should he put up noteworthy performances these two weeks.

The race to finish inside top-three on the Panasonc Swing will also heat up this week as the Panasonic OPEN Golf Championship is the concluding leg of the 2018/19 edition.

The Panasonic OPEN Golf Championship is the fourth event to be sanctioned by both the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) this season. The tournament is also returning to the Higashi Hirono Golf Club this week following a seven-year lapse.

The viewership figure is 29 percent higher than 2018 (average viewership of 13 million across broadcast and online media from REBEL FC’s two events last year) and saw the fights broadcast live on Yizhibo, PP Sports, QiE Live, iQiyi and Baidu Sports.

REBEL FC 9 — Return of the Champion saw Wang Sai of China being crowned the inaugural REBEL FC Middleweight (84kg) champion after an emphatic win over America’s Phil ‘New York Bad Ass’ Baroni. The event also has a new Bantamweight (61kg) champion when Wang Shuo of China beat defending REBEL FC Bantamweight champion, Shuhei Sakano of Japan.

“Wang Shuo is the top ranked China Pro Bantamweight and Wang Sai the second ranked China Pro Middleweight and our ability to groom budding MMA talent as well as attract top, established MMA superstars in China is in line with REBEL FC’s philosophy of developing and promoting top Chinese MMA stars as well as bring the sport into the mainstream in China. The terrific support at the stadium for our Chinese MMA athletes and the significant increase in viewership compared to last year in REBEL FC 9 — Return of the Champion is very encouraging,” says a satisfied Justin Leong, CEO of REBEL FC.

Leong is especially pleased with the quantum leap in the viewership figures from the online media. “We had an average of 8.3 million views from digital platforms from our two events in 2018. For REBEL FC 9 — Return of the Champion, we garnered 18.7 million views. That is a 125% increase in views, and this bodes well for the REBEL FC brand in China. Also, it demonstrates the tremendous potential REBEL FC can accomplish in the digital domain, which has largely replaced traditional broadcast TV and satellite media in China,” he adds.

These latest figures and TV deals bode well for REBEL FC’s pending IPO on the NASDAQ within the next six months and its MMA reality show that is scheduled to be produced in 2020.

About REBEL Fighting Championship

REBEL Fighting Championship is a dynamic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) entertainment company, committed to bringing exciting and engaging MMA entertainment to our customers in Asia and internationally. We are focused on pursuing the highest standards of excellence in our live event production, MMA talent development and promoting awareness of MMA.

Founded in May 2013 and headquartered in Singapore, the company comprises a group of vibrant and creative professionals with diverse backgrounds in production, marketing, business development, event management, public relations and MMA matchmaking.

The 26-year-old, still winless after playing four seasons on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), mixed his card with seven birdies and two bogeys to lead by one shot from local hope  Joshua Andrew Wirawan at the US$100,000 event.

Chinese Taipei’s  Wang Wei-lun and American Trevor Simsby carded identical 69s to take third place while Sam Gillis of the United States, Jesse Yap of Singapore and Udayan Mane of India are tied for fifth at a further shot back  at the Parahyangan Golf.

Lau, who started on the back-nine 10, dropped a bogey on 13 but quickly recovered with three birdies over the next four holes to turn in 34.

The Malaysian continued his solid display after crossing over, picking up four more shots including a hat-trick of birdies on holes six, seven and eight to offset his second blemish of the day on five.

“I’m very pleased with a 67 today as this golf course could play pretty tough in the wind.

“I played simple golf today and I stuck to my game plan. Hit fairways and greens and fortunately made quite a few putts within eight feet and in which helped a lot.

“But other than that I just minimised mistakes today and put the ball in play that was basically it,” said Lau.

Lau insists the good start would count for nothing if he cannot replicate the same consistency  over the next three rounds.

At the PGM Northport ADT Championship last month, Lau also fired 67 to be just one shot off the pace after the opening round, but failed to build on it and settled for tied 25th.

“Consistency will happen through experience. So, I won’t try to put four good rounds together.

“I’ll just play my game and let it happen. Not going to think about it and take it one round at a time,” he said.

Wirawan credited his strong iron play after he impressed with a round of seven birdies, with five coming from the opening eight holesand three bogeys.

“In the first-nine, my iron play was really good. I hit a lot of greens and most of them landed on within 10 feet, and I made the most of my putts.

“I could not do as well in the back-nine though as the wind started to pick up. I was struggling to figure out on my club selection, especially on par-three. But overall I’m happy with my game today,” said Wirawan, who has one domestic title won in 2017 under his belt.

Wirawan hopes to take advantage of the solid start and try turn it into a possible victory.

Inspired by compatriot Rory Hie’s recent Asian Tour triumph, Wirawan hopes to bring further glory to Indonesia in golf.

“I had a chat with Rory after his win in India. He was trying to lift my confidence by saying ‘you have to play to win, not just to make cut. If I can do it, so can you’. That was truly inspiring and hopefully I can do the same too!” said Wirawan.

George Gandranata remainsthe only Indonesian golfer to have emerged ADT winner when he clinched the PGM LADA Langkawi Championship in 2016.

By featuring on the ADT schedule, the Combiphar Players Championship will offer Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.

The winner will receive six OWGR points while the top six players and ties will also earn points based on a sliding scale.

For more information on the ADT, please visit http://www.asiandevelopmenttour.com

Ends.

Leading first round scores:

67 — Brandon Lau (MAS)

68 — Joshua Andrew Wirawan (INA)

69 — Wang Wei-lun (TPE), Trevor Simsby (USA)

70 — Sam Gillis (USA), Jesse Yap (SGP), Udayan Mane (IND)

71 — Jakraphan Premsirigorn (THA), Sorachut Hansapiban (THA), Chinnarat Phadungsil (THA), Tarik Can (USA), Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (THA), Greg Moss (USA), Ryuichi Oiwa (JPN), Brett Munson (USA), Worrasorn Suwanpanang (THA), Shahriffuddin Ariffin (MAS), Wolmer Murillo (VEN)

Boasting an epic field, fittingly at the beginning of a year that will see the summer Olympics staged in Tokyo, the US$1 million tournament will be played on the award-winning Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club from January 16 to 19.

For the fifth successive season the event will be jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organization.

“The SMBC Singapore Open has attracted many world class players over the years but it is fair to say the 2020 edition will be an extra special tournament with the calibre of players competing and their list of achievements,” said Ross Tan, President, Singapore Golf Association.

“We look forward to welcoming them to Singapore for what is one of the biggest and most important golf tournaments in Asia. It is also the perfect way to start a year when the Olympics returns to Asia.”

Rose and Stenson have played in Singapore’s national Open before – Rose tied for ninth in 2011 and Stenson missed the cut the same year – while this will mark the first time Kuchar has competed in the Lion City.

The Englishman became golf’s first Olympic champion since 1904 when he won the gold medal in Rio. He also made history when he recorded the first hole-in-one in Olympic golf.

Rose was tied with playing partner Stenson going into the final hole at the Olympic Golf Course in Rio, but secured victory by making birdie. Stenson three putted for a bogey to finish two off the lead while Kuchar finished a stroke further back.

“The SMBC Singapore Open is one of the first tournaments of the year in world golf and what an exciting line-up of players we can look forward to watching next year. And there can be no better venue to stage such an eye catching event than Sentosa Golf Club and the holiday island of Sentosa,” said Andrew Johnston, General Manager and Director of Agronomy, Sentosa Golf Club.

“Sentosa has staged Singapore’s national Open since 2005 and we are proud the tournament has grown to become one of the region’s showpiece events that draws the finest players in the game.”

Rose enjoyed his most successful season to date last year by winning the FedEx Cup and claiming the number one spot on the Official World Golf Ranking – both for the first time.

Winner of the 2013 US Open he has claimed 11 titles on the European Tour and 10 on the PGA Tour. The 39-year-old is currently ranked fourth in the world.

Stenson, world ranked 34, also has one Major to his name, the Open championship in 2016 – the year he claimed the European Tour’s Race to Dubai. In 2013, he made history by winning both the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai titles – becoming the first player to win both, and to do so in the same season.

The Swede famously partnered Rose in the Ryder Cup in 2018 winning both their foursomes matches. Stenson also triumphed in his singles game to go undefeated and help Europe reclaim the Cup.

Kuchar is a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour and won the Money List in the States in 2010.

The 41-year-old American has triumphed in some of the biggest tournaments in the game including the Players Championship in 2012 and the 2013 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. He has also finished in the top-10 at Majors on 12 occasions.

He is currently ranked 21st in the world and like Rose and Stenson he has been a regular in the Ryder Cup matches over the past decade.

“Golf fans in Singapore are in for special treat next year with Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar set to grace the fairways of Sentosa Golf Club,” said Patrick Feizal Joyce, Senior Vice President, Golf – Asia, Lagardère Sports.

“This is certainly an exceptional line-up of star players particularly as they were the medalists at the last Olympics. All three have won nearly every accolade in golf and are known for being true ambassadors of the game, so it will be an outstanding start to the year for everyone involved!”

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond was victorious at the SMBC Singapore Open at the start of this year. He held off challenges from world stars Paul Casey and Matthew Fitzpatrick, both from England, and is expected to be back to defend what will be the 54th staging of Singapore’s national Open in 2020.

Gangjee sensationally ended a 14-year title drought when he claimed his second Asian Tour title at the tournament last year. The 40-year-old plans to dominate the field again, albeit on a different course, when he tees off for the ¥150,000,000 (approx. US$1,338,067) event.

Gangjee will spearhead the 132-man field alongside Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand, Australian Scott Hend, Yosuke Asaji of Japan and Korea’s Taehee Lee, who are the leading four players on the current Asian Tour Order of Merit.

More than 50 Asian Tour winners will feature in the talented field and they include Zach Murray of Australia and Rory Hie, who became the first Indonesian player to win on the Asian Tour when he triumphed in India two weeks ago.

The Panasonic OPEN Golf Championship is the fourth event to be sanctioned by both the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) this season. The tournament is also returning to the Higashi Hirono Golf Club this week following a seven-year lapse.

The race to finish inside top three on the Panasonic Swing series will also heat up this week with the Panasonic OPEN Golf Championship being the concluding leg of the 2018/19 edition.

The Panasonic Swing is based on an aggregate point ranking earned by players at the following five tournaments – 2018 Thailand Open, 2018 Panasonic Open India, 2018 Indonesian Masters, 2019 Maybank Championship (Malaysia) and 2019 Panasonic Open Golf Championship (Japan).

The top-three finishers upon the conclusion of the 2019 Panasonic OPEN Golf Championship will share a bonus pool of US$150,000 where they will earn US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via the reward scheme.

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin leads the current rankings with 2,919 points while countrymen Panuphol Pittayarat lurks in second and Jazz in third.

Did you know?

The fourth-seeded Thai pair lost in straight games 21-16 21-10. 

Late in the evening on Friday, Thai women’s singles hopes Busanan Ongbamrungphanand and Pornpawee Chochuwong bowed out in the semi-finals. 

Pornpawee, who had ousted world champ PV Sindhu of India in the quarter-finals, lost to third-seeded Chinese Chen Yu Fei 22-20 21-13, while Busanan was beaten by second seed and former world No 1 Tai Tzu Ying 21-17 21-10.