Inclement weather forced organisers to reduce the tournament at the Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao to 54 holes and three rounds.

But it was enough for 24-year-old Settee from Chonburi to achieve his breakthrough win. His combined score of 12 under-par-201 propelled him to his first victory, almost eight years after turning professional.

“I’ve been waiting for this victory for a very long time,” said Settee, who beat Raththee Sirithanakunsak and Thai-Japanese Kosuke Hamamoto by a shot.

“The last time I won it was in a junior event. I’m happy all the hard work and patience finally paid off.”

Settee has come dramatically close to winning several times in the past couple of years. Earlier this year he was runner-up at the back-to-back Chiang Mai (All Thailand Golf Tour) and Hua Hin (Thai PGA Tour), losing in the play-offs to Kwanchai Tanin and Kasidit Lepkurte.

He admitted to worrying that he might let his latest chance slip away again while playing the last hole, but held his concentration to save par for the clubhouse lead at 12 under.

Kosuke Hamamoto 

Only Kosuke had the chance to force a play-off with an ending birdie, but he missed.

“I was afraid I might not win again,” Settee said. “But I told myself to play my game and be prepared for the outcome. I stuck to my plan and it worked. It was a big load off!”

Settee, Bt300,000 richer with the winner’s cheque, will be back on the same course next month for a Thai PGA Tour event. But he’s already started thinking about grander ventures, such as the Japan Tour, European Tour and even the PGA Tour.

“I plan to play in bigger events if possible,” he said. “I have to be more patient and come up with a solid performance. I also need to work harder and get stronger physically.”

Former SEA Games gold medallist Kosuke shot a final 67 for 11 under-par-202 to share second place along with Raththee, who signed off with a 66.

The next All Thailand Golf Tour, Singha Championship, will stop at Rayong Green Valley Country Club from August 22-25.

Raththee Sirithanakunsak

Rolex Rankings No. 1 Sung Hyun Park was one stroke off the tournament’s 54-hole scoring record when she found water with her second shot at No. 15 and three-putted for a double bogey. She followed that with a bogey at No. 16 to fall to -20, into a tie with Shanshan Feng, Tiffany Joh and Ariya Jutanugarn.

Yealimi Noh, the 17-year-old Monday Qualifier, is close behind at -19. Amy Yang and Mina Harigae are T6 at -18.

SUNG HYUN PARK READY TO RESET FOR FINAL ROUND

Sung Hyun Park was well on her way to tying the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic 54-hole scoring record on Saturday. She rebounded from a bogey on No. 1 to record seven birdies and approached No. 15 at -23. But after sending her second shot into the water to the right of the fairway, the World No. 1 three-putting for double bogey. A flustered Park then bogeyed No. 16, which landed her among a crowded leaderboard at -20.

“I believe I played a good round the front nine. My shots and my putts were good. I made a few mistakes on the two holes, so that’s a little regretful,” said Park.

Park has the chance to be the first consecutive winner on the LPGA Tour since Shanshan Feng in 2017 and lead the season in wins with three. In her eyes, it would mean the world to land on top once again.

“It would definitely mean a lot. It would be good. Winning back-to-back is one of my goals on the LPGA Tour,” said Park. “I believe that tomorrow’s round is important, and I’ll try focus on my play and play without regrets.”

PARK IMPRESSED BY UPSTART YEALIMI NOH

Sung Hyun Park played alongside Yealimi Noh, the young professional making waves in Oneida. She said Noh’s maturity at a young age surprised her.

“She spoke very good Korean so I had time to speak with her some. I asked her how old she was and she said she was 17,” said Park, who later joked that she was not as good as Noh at age 17. “Even though she’s a young player, her swing is really good, her playing is really good. I look forward to her play in the future.”

Noh held her own playing with the world’s top player. Noh matched Park’s 69, eagling the par-5 ninth to go along with two birdies and one bogey.

“It was so fun watching her play,” said Noh. “She’s really friendly and just, man, I was like really impressed with her distance obviously and then just how many birdies. I lost count during the front nine.”

FENG AND JOH ENJOY THIRD ROUND SUCCESS TOGETHER

Two huge LPGA personalities played together Saturday and shared in the joys of Moving Day at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. Shanshan Feng and Tiffany Joh shot -7 and -6 respectively to land in a four-way tie for first. Tomorrow, the two will tee off in the final pairing, a time that both players can not wait for.

“Every time I see Shanshan on the pairing sheet next to my name I get really excited,” said Joh. “She plays really quick. She’s really refreshing. I just love watching her play. I could say I’m a big fan fan.”

The nine-time LPGA Tour winner shared Joh’s sentiment. “I was really happy to play with Tiff, too. She was being really tough on me. I made that eagle on 13th hole and I still didn’t get the honor to tee off on the next hole,” joked Feng. “I would say I really enjoyed the whole day. We both played really well and I felt like we were almost on one team and trying to go low.”

Feng said her mind is set on adding another win to her list. “My goal was actually try to get in the winning circle as soon as possible. I was trying to get every part of my game together, so I think I’ve been doing pretty well for the first three days,” said Feng.

Joh said her play has boosted her confidence going into the final round. “It’s really nice. I think regardless of what happens tomorrow I can take a lot out of these three rounds that I’ve just kind of strung together,” said Joh. “I think tomorrow I’m just going to go out there and have a bunch of fun, and whatever happens, happens.”

ARIYA JUTANUGARN WORKING OUT PUTTING WOES

As soon as Ariya Jutanugarn finished make the media rounds following Saturday’s round of 67, she made a beeline straight for the putting green. The 23-year-old Thai was just satisfied with her putting performance, despite needing only 26 putts on Saturday.

“Of course I want to bring my best game tomorrow because I still have a lot of things to work on,” said Jutanugarn. “Today I’m getting better with my 3-wood, but you know, my putting struggled a little bit. So hope tomorrow everything can come together.”

The former World No. 1 has seen her Rolex Women’s World Ranking fall to No. 9, and she is looking for her first win since the 2018 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open. Jutanugarn has not been outside the top 10 in the Rolex Rankings since June 2016.

SZOKOL ADDS TO ACE COUNT FOR 2019 SEASON

On the second hole at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic, Elizabeth Szokol recorded the first hole-in-one in tournament history. Szokol rolled it in on the par-3 from 129 yards with a pitching wedge.

“It was actually my first hole in one, so that was pretty great. Landed just past the pin and spun back. It was pretty exciting. So great that $20,000 is donated for that,” said the 2019 LPGA Tour rookie.

All aces in the 2019 LPGA Tour season are recognized via the CME Group Cares Challenge, a charitable giving program that turns aces into donations. CME Group will donate $20,000 for each hole-in-one made on the LPGA Tour in 2019, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $500,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Szokol’s ace was the 17th of the 2019 LPGA Tour season, raising the year’s total donation to $340,000.

WITH A WIN…

Sung Hyun Park would earn the eighth win of her LPGA Tour career and become the first three-time winner of the 2019 season

Park, who won last week’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, would become the first player to win consecutive events since Shanshan Feng won the 2017 TOTO Japan Classic and the 2017 Blue Bay LPGA

With the $300,000 winner’s check, Park would move from 66th to 63rd on the All-Time Money List with $5,278,043 and become the 66th player in LPGA history to cross the $5 million threshold

Tiffany Joh would become the fifth Rolex First-Time Winner of the 2019 LPGA Tour season, joining Celine Boutier (ISPS Handa Vic Open), Bronte Law (Pure Silk Championship), Jeongeun Lee6 (U.S. Women’s Open) and Hannah Green (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship)

Ariya Jutanugarn would earn the 11th win of her LPGA Tour career and become the 29th player in LPGA Tour history to cross the $8 million threshold in career earnings with $8,068,272

Shanshan Feng would earn the 10th win of her LPGA Tour career and become the 12th player in LPGA Tour history to cross the $11 million threshold in career earnings with $11,058,149

Yealimi Noh would become the third Monday Qualifier to win a LPGA Tour event, joining Brooke Henderson (2015 Cambia Portland Classic) and Laurel Kean (2000 State Farm LPGA Classic)

Noh is currently 17 (she turns 18 on July 26), and the minimum age for LPGA Tour Membership is 18. If she wins and wishes to become an LPGA Tour Member prior to her 18th birthday, she must petition Commissioner Mike Whan.

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 26 Shanshan Feng (64-67-65)

• Her 196 is the lowest 54-hole score of her LPGA Tour career; her previous best was 197 at the 2017 TOTO Japan Classic, which she won (a 54-hole event)
• She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens, with 26 putts
• Feng is in her 12th season on the LPGA Tour; she has nine career victories, most recently at the 2017 Blue Bay LPGA
• This is Feng’s 15th event of the 2019 season; her best finish is a tie for fourth at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions
• She is competing in her first Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
• On Nov. 13, 2017, Feng became the first player from the People’s Republic of China, male or female, to be ranked No. 1 in the world, a position she held for 23 weeks
• Won the bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil

Rolex Rankings No. 211 Tiffany Joh (64-66-66)

• This is the first time since the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open that Joh has held or been tied for the lead following 54 holes; in 2011, she went on to finish T12
• Her 196 is the lowest 54-hole score of her LPGA Tour career, shattering the previous low of 203 that she shot at the 2017 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G
• She hit 12 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 28 putts
• Joh is in her ninth season on the LPGA Tour; her best finish is second at the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic
• This is Joh’s 12th event of the 2019 season; her best finish is a tie for 11th at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer
• She is competing in her third Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic; she tied for 56th in 2018 and tied for sixth in 2017

Rolex Rankings No. 9 Ariya Jutanugarn (65-64-67)

• Her 196 is the lowest 54-hole score of her LPGA Tour career; her previous best was 197 at the 2017 Bank of Hope Founders Cup
• She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens, with 26 putts
• Jutanugarn is in her fifth season on the LPGA Tour; she has 10 career victories, most recently at the 2018 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open
• This is Jutanugarn’s 16th event of the 2019 season; her best finish is a tie for third at the LOTTE Championship
• She is competing in her third Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic, finishing T15 in 2018 and withdrawing after the first round in 2017
• In 2018, she swept all five major season-ending awards – Rolex Player of the Year, the Vare Trophy, the Money Title, the Race to the CME Globe and the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award
• Has been No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings for a total of 23 weeks, most recently for the week of Feb. 25, 2019

Rolex Rankings No. 1 Sung Hyun Park (65-62-69)

• Her 196 is the second-lowest 54-hole score of her LPGA Tour career; she shot a 195 last week en route to winning the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G (a 54-hole event)
• She hit 10 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 33 putts
• Park is in her third season on the LPGA Tour; she has seven wins, most recently at last week’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
• This was Park’s 12th event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; she won the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
• This is her second Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic; she missed the cut in 2018
• Park tied with So Yeon Ryu for 2017 Rolex Player of the Year honors and clinched the 2017 Louise Suggs Rolex Player of the Year Award with five events remaining on the schedule, becoming the first player to win Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year awards in the same year since Nancy Lopez in 1978

Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) stole the show to become the first ever FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup E-Pole sitter at the HJC Helmets Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, the only man in the 1:27s after setting a 1:27.456 to end the session nearly eight tenths clear of the competition. That competition comes from Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) in second and Eric Granado (Avinita Esponsorama Racing) in third, with the two split by just 0.011 as they once again showed their impressive pace in the new Cup.

It was a historic day at the Sachsenring as the first ever E-Pole session got underway, with riders getting only one shot at a fast lap. Everything rests on one out-lap, one flying lap and one in-lap, and some familiar names are on the front row. But right behind them it was Friday’s fastest Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) who took P4, only 0.005 ahead of a huge improvement in laptime from Xavier Simeon (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) in fifth as the Belgian rider cut more than a second off his fastest lap from Friday. Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) locks out Row 2.

Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) spearheads the third row in seventh after ending the session 0.066 off Ferrari, with Nico Terol (Openback Angel Nieto Team) a tenth behind him and the two joined on the row by Alex De Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE). Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) completes the top ten, getting the better of Lorenzo Savadori (Trentino Gresini MotoE) by just half a tenth.

Niccolo Canepa (LCR E-Team), Sete Gibernau (Join Contract Pons 40) and Kenny Foray (Tech 3 E-Racing) are up next, ahead of Randy De Puniet (LCR E-Team), who set the first time, and Josh Hook (Octo Pramac MotoE).

Maria Herrera (Openbank Angel Nieto Team) was black flagged for leaving pitlane too early and sadly missed the chance to set a lap, with Jesko Raffin (Dynavolt Intact GP) later doing the opposite and missing his window. Raffin will start ahead of Herrera but both at the back of the grid.

With some riders out of position and some riders seeming to see it click in qualifying, the first ever race is going to be a stunner. Will the pack catch Tuuli when the lights go out and the points come into play? Find out at 10:00 local time (GMT +2) as the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup makes history.

Front row L-R: Garzo, Tuuli and Granado

Front row L-R: Quartararo, Marquez and ViñalesMarquez heads Moto2™ front row covered by a tenthMarquez, Marini and Schrötter set up a showdown to remember at the Sachsenring

Front row L-R: Marini, Marquez and SchrötterSasaki strikes for first career pole at the SachsenringPetronas Sprinta Racing rider leads a Japanese 1-2 as he takes pole ahead of Toba

Tanapat Pichaikool

Rain interrupted play again at the Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao in Chanthaburi province with the second round being extended to Saturday afternoon. The third round was completed afterwards but had to be stopped due to a lightning storm.

Ten players have yet to start the third round, including the two clubhouse leaders.

Pavit, winner of the 2014 Singha Open and 2018 Betagro Championship, shot seven straight birdies (from holes 6-12) for the first time in his career for a second-round 64 and a total nine-under-par 133.

“Actually, the course suits my game although it’s pretty wet out there,” said Pavit, winner of the 2017 Macau Open, his only Asian Tour victory to date. “I’m a bit disappointed that I was unable to start the third round, as I was playing so well in the morning [second round].

“But the weather conditions are beyond my control. I have to live with it. Tomorrow, I will have to be patient. Everybody has an equal chance to win. It depends on who makes the best putts,” the Thai said.

Tanapat, 20, from Bangkok, shot a 67 to share the lead. He is in the run to become the first amateur to win an All Thailand Golf Tour in three years.

Driving McLaren 720 S GT3 No 61, the ABSSA Motosport team timed 1:31.701 hours to land second in the Pro-Am and seventh in the overall event.

The Thai-Japanese duo crossed the line 1.828 seconds behind Pro-Am winners Yuta Kamimura and Hiroaki Nagai of Japan of ARN Racing (Porsche 911 GT 3 No 8).

The overall title went to South Korean Roelof Bruins and German Manuel Metzger ( Mercedez-AMG GT 3 Number 97) of Solite Indigo Racing.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) topped the timesheets on Day 1 of the HJC Helmets Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, but the reigning Champion had some competition at the venue he’s reigned nine times in a row. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was second quickest, but Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) stole a few headlines in both sessions. The French rookie was fastest in FP1, and in the latter stages of the day he was denied the chance to improve his lap first as he got held up by teammate Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and second as he caught Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) at the end of his final push. Does the rookie sensation have more in the tank for Saturday?

Conditions were warmer in the afternoon and almost the entire premier class field were able to improve their FP1 times within ten minutes of FP2 on a day of good weather in Germany – sometimes easier said than done – and two action-packed sessions, including 66 degrees of lean for Marquez and Quartararo’s determination to try and dethrone the king of the Sachsenring didn’t disappoint. And although the Frenchman didn’t manage that in the end, Quartararo’s rookie run of form in recent sessions is akin only to Marquez’ speed in 2013 – with the rookie now in the top three for 16 sessions in a row; a good omen for the rest of the weekend.

Assen winner Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), who finished on the podium here last season, was the man in P4 after the first day and just over a tenth off Quartararo, with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) next up to complete the top five; the Spaniard putting in another stunner of a performance for Austrian factory KTM.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was P6 despite struggling through the pain barrier after a cycling mishap, just ahead of the fastest Ducati on Day 1: Jack Miller (Pramac Racing). Miller led a Borgo Panigale 7-8-9 as he headed Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) by half a tenth, with Petrucci’s teammate Andrea Dovizioso only a further 0.005 in arrears. Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) completed the top ten on Friday and therefore currently holds the last of the provisional places in Q2. The ‘Doctor’ was also in the top three in the morning.

Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was an infinitesimal 0.005 off that fastest ten, and he’ll be the first pushing to try and crack it on Saturday morning in FP3, ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT), rookie Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and home hero Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team), who is standing in for the injured Jorge Lorenzo. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) completed the fastest fifteen.

It was a day with low rates of attrition and only Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) suffered a crash, the Italian going down in FP1. He missed FP2 as he headed for a check up in Chemnitz in the afternoon, rider ok.

That’s it from Day 1! The top ten after FP3 will go through to Q2, and that final chance to move up the timesheets starts at 9:55 (GMT+2) on Saturday morning at the Sachsenring. Does Quartararo have an ace up his sleeve? Can Marquez move the benchmark once again? Qualifying begins at 14:10 to decide the grid.

Friday’s fastest:1 – Marc Marquez (SPA – Honda) 1:20.705

2 – Alex Rins (SPA – Suzuki) +0.341

3 – Fabio Quartararo* (FRA – Yamaha) +0.360

4 – Maverick Viñales (SPA – Yamaha) +0.488

5 – Pol Espargaro (SPA – KTM) +0.560

*Independent Team rider

Binder supreme at the SachsenringSouth African tops his second Friday in successionBrad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) won the 2018 German GP, and as we return to the venue for the HJC Helmets Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland this season, it’s the South African on top once again. Binder was a stunning 0.380 clear on Friday, with Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) in second and Iker Lecuona (American Racing KTM) in third, but with an identical laptime. That speaks volumes of the competitive field behind Binder; second to P26 covered by less than a second.

In the morning it was home hero and replacement rider Jonas Folger (Petronas Sprinta Racing) – a premier class podium finisher at the track – who went quickest, leading compatriot Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) – who made a stunnnig save at the ‘Waterfall’ and suffered a crash – before Binder turned the tables in FP2. The warmer conditions in the afternoon allowed the Moto2™ riders to hit the ground running and the majority of those in the field improved their laptimes, with Folger and Schrötter the only exceptions in the top ten.

Folger therefore ends the day in fourth overall with his FP1 time ahead of Schrötter, with Assen winner Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) slotting into sixth. Key Championship contender Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) ended the day in seventh as a crash in FP2 saw his session come to an early end – rider ok, bike briefly on fire – and it was just after that Binder struck to lead.

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) was right behind Marquez in P8, with Tetsuta Nagashima (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) impressing to finish Friday in ninth. Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) completed the top ten and beat Championship leader Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) to the honour, with the Swiss veteran tailed by two rookies: Fabio Di Giannantonio (MB Conveyors Speed Up) and Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo).

Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up) is currently the last man set to move straight through to Q2, with the Spaniard only 0.035 off the top 14 despite a crash. Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) is also close despite a fall for the Brit on Friday. Will the times shuffle again on Saturday morning in FP3? That’s their last chance to gain automatic graduation so miss a second, with FP3 going green at 10:55 local time (GMT+2) before qualifying from 15:05.

Friday’s fastest:1 – Brad Binder (RSA – KTM) 1’23.948

2 – Xavi Vierge (SPA- Kalex) +0.380

3 – Iker Lecuona (SPA – KTM) +0.380

4 – Jonas Folger (GER – Kalex) +0.406

5 – Marcel Schrötter (GER – Kalex) +0.413

Sasaki tames the Sachsenring on Day 1Japanese rider tops the timesheets on Friday, edging out rookie FernandezIt was close at the top on Friday in the HJC Helmets Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, with Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) just edging out Raul Fernandez (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) for P1, with the Japanese rider fastest in FP2 and the Spaniard in FP1. They were split by just 0.065, with Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) completing the top three despite a crash in FP1 for the Catalan GP winner.

The top 21 riders were within a second on Day 1, and the biggest gap amongst them was back to Ramirez in third as Sasaki and Fernandez ended the day with some breathing space at the top. Only 0.029 kept Assen podium finisher Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PrüstelGP) out of the top three, and it was an even smaller 0.002 back to Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) as he completed the top five.

Championship leader Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Racing Team) was sixth quickest overall, just under a tenth off Toba, with Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) 0.060 behind him. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) had a solid first day in eighth, ahead of Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers) and Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team VR46), who completed the top ten. The Italian also took the famous ‘Waterfall’ side-by-side with Filip Salac (Redox PrüstelGP) in one stunning moment on Friday.

Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) was P11 and didn’t improve in the afternoon, although the now two-time winner was only 0.015 off the top ten, with Kazuki Masaki (BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race) half a tenth in arrears. Foggia’s sparring partner Salac took P12 and showed some impressive form on Friday, ahead of Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse), who completed the fastest 14 and the provisional list of riders heading straight through to Q2.

Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), who was a crasher on Day 1, is the first man who stands to lose out and will be hoping to move forward in FP3, as will Championship challengers Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) – down in P16 – and Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in P19. Their last chance for direct Q2 entry starts at 9:00 (GMT +2) on Saturday morning, before qualifying begins from 12:35.

Friday’s fastest:1 – Ayumu Sasaki (JPN – Honda) 1’26.526

2 – Raul Fernandez (SPA – KTM) +0.065

3 – Marcos Ramirez (SPA – Honda) +0.257

4 – Jakub Kornfeil (CZE – KTM) +0.286

5 – Kaito Toba (JPN – Honda) +0.288

Harding made his debut at The Open in 2013 after winning the African edition of International Final Qualifying (IFQ) but missed the cut in Muirfield then.

However, the world number 49 has since taken his game to new heights, with him notching back-to-back wins on the Asian Tour last year and emerging triumphant at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on the European Tour earlier this year.

He was propelled further into the global spotlight after posting a commendable tied-12th result in his Masters Tournament debut in April and could spring yet another surprise with a solid showing at Royal Portrush in a fortnight.

“I’ve been more consistent over the last 15 months and I’m becoming a little better mentally too. It’s no longer really going through the highs and lows and emotional roller coaster, so to speak.

“But that also comes with not really playing with the aggressive mindset game that I used to have in the past,” said the 33-year-old.

Harding made a spectacular entrance to the Asian Tour in July at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open last year.

He received an invitation to the tournament by virtue of his outstanding form on the Sunshine Tour, and he displayed that same blistering form en route to his maiden Asian Tour victory in Jakarta. The South African promptly took up membership with the Tour after his win.

Harding’s breakthrough in Indonesia was the catalyst that saw him going on to clinch another win at the Royal Cup in Thailand a fortnight later, making him the first golfer in Tour history to win two times in as many starts.

After enjoying another four top-10s, Harding would end the year in third place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

“I’ve been playing good golf and making fewer mistakes. That has been the key for me.  t just about trying to keep yourself in the tournament for as long as possible.

“It’s a matter of doing what I’ve been doing and seeing what happens. Things will take care of themselves if I continue to post good results,” said Harding.

Harding will be joined at The 148th Open by fellow countryman, Shaun Norris who will be making his third consecutive Open appearance.

Norris is a two-time Asian Tour winner and has qualified for the year’s fourth and final Major after finishing second on the Japan Golf Tour’s money list last year.

Like Harding, Korea’s Dongkyu Jang will also be making his second appearance at The Open after his tied-fourth finish at the Kolon Korea Open sealed his passage to the Antrim coast.

“I last played in The Open in 2014 when I won the Mizuno Open and back then I didn’t really know what to expect from links golf but I am sure that the experience will count in may favour at Royal Portrush and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’m also looking forward to playing in front of the Irish fans who are very passionate about golf and who hopefully will give me lots of support when I play there,” said Jang.

Tropical rain interrupted play twice and although conditions eased sufficiently for organisers to let it resume in the afternoon no one had managed to complete their round when bad light forced them to abandon play at 6.38pm.

2017 SEA Games men’s individual gold medallist Hamamoto was 12 holes into his round at the time, while Settee had played one hole less.

Play will resume at 7am on Saturday and those who make the cut will proceed to round three immediately afterwards.

Yu Liu’s bogey-free 62 is the best round of her LPGA career, one stroke better than her second round at Thornberry Creek in 2018, and it ties the tournament scoring record set by Pornanong Phatlum (final round, 2017) and Katherine Kirk (first round, 2018). Seven players are tied for fourth at -8, including major champions Shanshan Feng and Anna Nordqvist.

Defending champion Sei Young Kim, who set the LPGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record here in 2018 at -31, opened with a 3-under 69.

YU LIU ENJOYING RETURN TRIP TO ONEIDA

2019 has been a breakthrough season for Yu Liu, a 23-year-old from Beijing who spent one year at Duke University before turning pro in 2014. After starting the year at No. 84 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, Liu has steadily worked her way up the rankings, pulling into the top 50 after nearly winning the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in March. She reached her current spot of No. 38 in early June, after she finished fifth at the U.S. Women’s Open, her best-ever finish in a major championship.

Now, Liu is looking for her first LPGA Tour victory and the opportunity to join her countrywoman Shanshan Feng as the only LPGA Tour winners from the People’s Republic of China. Thornberry Creek at Oneida treated Liu well in 2018, as she shot a second-round 63 en route to a T20 finish. That 63 was Liu’s best career round until today, when her return to Oneida rewrote her personal record book.

“I really love the course. Really suits my eyes and just enjoying being out here this week,” said Liu. “It was a pretty relaxing day playing with Eun Hee (Ji) and Daniela (Darquea). Had a great group. So just I was able to capitalize most of my birdie putts inside 15 feet. So, you know, things are always easy when the putts can drop.”

This marks Liu’s seventh consecutive week on the road and while she admitted to some understandable mental fatigue, her game is still going strong. Her newly adjusted Bettinardi putter was dialed in on Thursday as she needed only 24 putts, including one-putts on all eight of her birdies and her eagle-3 at No. 13.

“I was rolling the ball really nice, especially when we played in the early morning,” said Liu. “The greens are pretty smooth and pure.”

YEALIMI NOH MAKING HER PROFESSIONAL LPGA DEBUT ONE TO REMEMBER

After a summer to remember in 2018, Yealimi Noh turned down an offer to play collegiate golf at UCLA and instead set off on a professional career. After turning pro at the beginning of 2019, Noh successfully Monday qualified for this week’s Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic to get into her third LPGA event and first as a professional. The work paid off, as she returned eight birdies, one eagle and a bogey for a first-round 63. She sits one stroke behind leader Yu Liu.

“I was actually really nervous on the first hole. I told myself I wasn’t nervous, but it was a little different playing my first LPGA as a pro,” said Noh, who opened with three consecutive birdies. “I chunked it on the first hole, but it was all right. Throughout the round I got a little more comfortable.”

Last July, Noh won the Girl’s Junior PGA Championship, U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in three consecutive weeks. Since turning professional without status on any major tour, she has received two sponsor exemptions on the Symetra Tour, finishing T13 at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa and T35 at the Windsor Golf Classic. She has also played on the KLPGA Tour at the KIA MOTORS 33rd Korea Women’s Open Golf Championship. Although she has gotten several playing opportunities, Noh said the last couple of months have felt like a rollercoaster.

“Beginning of the year, I was really struggling just adjusting to pro life,” said Noh. “Not having anything to play I was like really struggling, wasn’t in the best part of my game, but to come back and work hard and just finally play is really good.”

EARLY BIRDIE BLAZE DRIVES JEONG EUN LEE’S DAY

Jeong Eun Lee opened on fire on Thursday, playing the back nine (her first nine) at 9-under 29. She reeled off three consecutive birdies at holes 11-13 and made the turn on a streak of four more birdies. Her game cooled on the front, as Lee returned only one birdie on her closing nine holes. But as the big smile on her face clearly communicated, Lee really enjoyed her round.

“My short game on the greens came together really well,” said Lee, who missed last year’s tournament while rehabbing an injury. “I was able to make long birdie putts that went in and I want to say that those really came into play today.”

Lee is looking for a breakthrough moment in her LPGA Tour career. She joined the Tour in 2015 after spending 2006-14 on the KLPGA Tour. She has just seven top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour, most recently at the 2018 Kia Classic. Her best finish of 2019 is a tie for 18th at last week’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 38 Yu Liu (62)

• Liu’s 62 is the lowest round of her LPGA Tour career; her previous best was a 63 in the second round of the 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
• She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 24 putts
• Liu is in her second season on the LPGA Tour
• This is Liu’s 17th event of the 2019 season; her best finish is a tie for second at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup, which is also the best finish of her LPGA Tour career
• She is competing in her second Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic; she tied for 23rd in 2018

Rolex Rankings No. 102 Jeong Eun Lee (63)

• Lee’s 63 is the lowest round of her LPGA Tour career; her previous best was a 64 in the second round of the 2017 Bank of Hope Founders Cup
• She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 25 putts
• Lee is in her fifth season on the LPGA Tour; her best finish is a tie for third at the 2017 ShopRite LPGA Classic and as a non-member at the 2006 Mizuno Classic, her rookie year on the KLPGA Tour
• This is Lee’s 12th event of the 2019 season; her best finish is a tie for 18th at last week’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
• She is competing in her second Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic; she tied for 55th in 2017
• Lee is the fifth player in KLPGA Tour history to have the name Jeong Eun Lee and plays with the numeral 5 in Korea; Jeongeun Lee6 (1-under 71) is also in this week’s field

Rolex Rankings No. 558 Yealimi Noh (63)

• She hit 13 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens, with 28 putts
• Noh, who turns 18 in two weeks, is playing in the third LPGA Tour event of her career; she finished T46 at the 2018 CP Women’s Open and T59 at the 2018 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship, both as an amateur
• Noh turned professional in February 2019 after winning the 2018 Girl’s Junior PGA Championship, U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and 2018 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in consecutive weeks
• Noh earned a spot in the tournament by tying for the win at the Monday Qualifier; two Monday Qualifiers have won an LPGA Tour event – Brooke Henderson (2015 Cambia Portland LPGA Classic) and Laurel Kean (2000 State Farm LPGA Classic)

TOURNAMENT SCORING RECORDS

18 holes: 62 (-10), Pornanong Phatlum (final round, 2017), Katherine Kirk (first round, 2018) and Yu Liu (first round, 2019)

36 holes: 128 (-16), Sei Young Kim, 2018

54 holes: 192 (-24), Sei Young Kim, 2018

72 holes: 257 (-31), Sei Young Kim, 2018