American Ogletree becomes first two-time International Series winner in Qatar

      

 

Andy Ogletree has ‘got it done’ in a blustery Doha, claiming a three-shot victory in the inaugural International Series Qatar.   This result marks a second professional victory for the prodigious 24-year-old talent who captured his first Asian Tour win at the International Series Egypt in November 2022.   He said: “[I am] super pleased to be the champion here, it’s unbelievable! What a great test we had this week. It was really hard, the course got really firm and fast I’m so super proud to win a golf tournament playing like this.”

Ogletree followed his opening two rounds, both one-under-par 71s with a flawless 66 on Saturday to take an overnight five shot lead into the final day’s play.   Answering how comfortable he’d been with being in that position, the Mississippi native said: “I worked really hard this off-season, post Egypt and I just have a lot of confidence because I work so hard. I don’t think anyone wants it more than me, I want to keep giving myself more opportunities and this is the route where I can do that.”   Battling the prevailing winds throughout the final day’s play, Ogletree birdied the 4th and 18th holes, closing out with a total of seven-under-par.

Victory takes him top of both the Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merits. Maintaining his status on the latter will see the American qualify to play the ultra-lucrative LIV Golf League.   The low round of the day went to Ogletree’s fellow countryman Jarin Todd who entered the weekend in last place and fired in a round of 65 to climb 13 places up the leaderboard.

A trio of Thai talents made up of Gunn Charoenkul, Suradit Yongcharoenchai, and Phachara Khongwatmai finished second, third and fourth respectively, while Japan’s Hideto Tanihara and Ben Leong of Malaysia tied in fifth place.   1 Andy Ogletree 2 Gunn Charoenkul 3 Suradit Yongcharoenchai 4 Phachara Khongwatmai 5= Hideto Tanihara 5= Ben Leong 7 Travis Smyth 8= Sangmoon Bae 8= Miguel Tabuena 8= Sanghyun Park 8= Miguel Carballo 8= Chapchai Nirat   More information about the International Series Qatar, can be found by visiting: Asian Tour | Professional Golf Tour in Asia

Image Caption:  Andy Ogletree of the USA pictured with the winner’s trophy during Round Four on Sunday February 19, 2023 at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour

Confident Ogletree zeroes in on second International Series title

           

 American Andy Ogletree made a statement of intent to win his second International Series title when he took the third-round lead in the International Series Qatar today, after firing an outstanding six-under-par 66, on another windswept day at Doha Golf Club.

Ogletree, who triumphed in the International Series Egypt last November, put himself in a strong position for a repeat tomorrow, after moving to eight under for the tournament, which gave him a commanding five-shot lead from Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai.

Suradit started the day two in front but carded a 74 while Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat and Malaysian Ben Leong are a shot further back following rounds of 71 and 73 respectively.

After a poor finish to his second round yesterday when he made bogey on 15 and then a double bogey on 16 Ogletree looked like a man seeking redemption today, and he did just that with a confident bogey-free performance, that saw him make an eagle and four birdies.

The 24 year old, playing in the penultimate group, took the lead thanks a brilliant run of holes from nine, which saw him go birdie, eagle, birdie. The eagle on the par-five 10th came after a lengthy chip in, while his birdie on the ensuing hole saw him take a three-shot lead over Leong.

And he satisfactorily got his revenge on the 16th when he reached the short 307-yard par four with an iron off the tee to set up a two-putt birdie, which increased the lead to four.

A double bogey by Leong on the par-five 18th allowed the American to end the day with an even bigger buffer.

“Today was pretty good, didn’t make any mistakes really,” said Ogletree. 

               

“I put it in the right positions all day off the tee. I think I kind of to set up the approach shots. The ground got pretty firm, obviously the wind is blowing super hard so I felt like I set up the angles pretty well, and I missed it in the right spots. I had really good speed on the greens, so it was really a solid day.”

Suradit, also the first-round leader, did well to stay in contention and was three over after six but played the next 12 in one under.

“I felt it was even windier today, so it was difficult, but I am happy I still have a chance,” said Suradit, a winner once before on the Asian Tour at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2019.

“I have had Kiradech’s (Aphibarnrat) caddie on my bag since the Saudi International. He has made a big difference and helped me be strong mentally. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.”

Leong, looking for his first win on the Asian Tour in 15 years, found trouble on the left on the 18th and when trying to play a recovery shot back into the fairway his ball hit a rock and ricochet back down the fairway.

“I hit a rock, took an un-playable, and hit a rock. Fortunately, it went back to the fairway, it could have gone anywhere so I think it was a good seven. Look at it this way, life can be a lot worse than we thought,” said the Malaysian.

“Like I said yesterday I thought with this wind, a couple over, three over, that’s fine. It’s so hard out there even just standing over the putt you start wobbling. So, I’m okay, it wasn’t a great finish but there’s always tomorrow.”

Japan’s Hideto Tanihara, a 17-time winner in Japan, carded a 70 and is in outright fifth, seven adrift of Ogletree.

 

Suradit shows no fear in brutal wind at International Series Qatar

 Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai impressively succeeded when the majority failed again today in wildly windy weather to take the lead at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar, at Doha Golf Club.

After yesterday’s four-under-par 68 which gave him the first-round lead he followed that up this morning with a brave 71 to lead on five under, by two strokes from Malaysian Ben Leong, who shot 70.

American Andy Ogletree (71) and Australia’s Travis Smyth (72) are a shot further back – in the Asian Tour’s third event of the season, and second of 10 International Series tournaments.

“I was very happy with the 68 yesterday and today I feel even more happy with one under par in this wind. Today was more windy,” said Suradit, who has tasted victory once before on the Asian Tour at the 2019 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

Ben Leong of Malaysia pictured during Round Two on Friday February 17, 2023 at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“Today into the wind I hit three clubs more, and maybe had to aim 30 yards right [on cross wind shots], it was very windy.”

The 24 year old made three birdies and two bogeys and is looking to bounce back from a poor 2022 season when he finished 81st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, when a 10th place finish in the Mercuries event was the highlight of his year.

“My caddie and I feel in these conditions the par is about 75. I have been driving the ball well, and when I miss they haven’t been bad misses. I have very good distance control with my irons considering the strong wind, and have also been putting well,” he added.

Leong, who played in the afternoon and started on the back nine, tried hard to catch the Thai leader and reached four under with seven to play but dropped his only shots of the day on five and seven before recovering with a birdie on the ninth as darkness descended.

“Phenomenal, I’m just glad I could finish today,” said the Malaysian, whose sole victory on the Asian Tour came 15 years ago at the Selangor Masters.

Travis Smyth of Australia pictured during Round Two on Friday February 17, 2023 at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I think the key for today was just driving the ball really well, surprisingly with this tough condition. And coming back in from the front nine, I drove it well, misjudged the wind a little on my second shots. So yeah, all in all very happy.”

Smyth has also won once before on the Tour, in last year’s Yeangder TPC in Chinese Taipei following a string of good results, and was delighted to reach the clubhouse under par.

He said: “It’s like the best feeling ever, finishing Friday midday, just sitting back relaxing, watching the carnage unfold. Yeah, brutal conditions, I’m super stoked to be under par.”

He missed a four-foot putt on his last, the par-five ninth as he began on 10, for birdie, in stark contrast to his opening eagle on 10, also a par five, when he holed a pitch shot from 50 metres.

“I mean, it’s so strange, I’ve never seen anywhere like it where it’s windy all the way through the night, all the way through the morning. It’s like it’s the exact same basically the last two days,” he added.

“The forecast is meant to be the same over the next two days. But yeah, got off to an amazing start, the eagle was a great feeling.”

Andy Ogletree of the USA pictured during Round Two on Friday February 17, 2023 at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Ogletree, winner of last year’s International Series Egypt, also got close to Suradit in the afternoon but made bogey on 15 and a double on 16, where he lost his tee shot on the driveable par four.

He said: “I’m just trying to play every hole as best I can, and I felt like I gave up three shots on that one hole because no one saw my ball. So, I’m not going to get over that anytime soon. Pretty frustrated, I should be leading the tournament. And you know, I’m here to win a golf tournament. I’m not here to have a good finish. So, a successful week this week is a win, and that’s the only way I’m gonna look at it, and that’s all I’m focused on.”

Korean Minkyu Kim, winner of last year’s Kolon Korea Open, and Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat fired fine 68s, two of only three sub 70 rounds today, to be the next best placed on one under, along with American Dodge Kemmer, in with a 71.

Four players were unable to complete the second round and will finish in the morning.

 

Charl Schwartzel resorts to prayer to cope with the wind in International Series Qatar

     

At a windswept Doha Golf Club today, Charl Schwartzel stood up to the challenging conditions firing in an opening 70 leaving him just one shot from the lead after round one in the International Series Qatar.   Asked about what it took to play well in the blustery conditions, he answered simply: “I pray.” [A response captured on today’s International Series Instagram Stories here: @IntSeriesGolf]   Teeing up for the third consecutive week on the Asian Tour, the 2011 Masters champion first played in the country 20 years ago. Reminiscing about his Doha debut, he said: “I’ve been coming here since I first got my tour card in 2003, which was my first full year out.

“This was always one of the better stops. They’ve lengthened it and made other changes but being here brings back nice memories. I haven’t been here for a while so it’s nice to be back.”   The South African is joined by 10 fellow countrymen in the 132-man field and reflecting on his earlier years as a professional, recognizes the role he now plays.   He said: “Last night there was a bunch of young South Africans standing around me, asking me questions, and I thought, you know... that was me 20 years ago, asking Ernie Els and Retief Goosen all these questions, those are my idols. Now, all of a sudden these guys are looking up to me.   “It’s interesting how time evolves. I feel as fit and as strong as I’ve ever been but you’ve got these young 20 year, 21-year-old kids. They hit the ball far, they're fearless and they've got opportunity to play for a lot of money now and make names for themselves. I think that this International Series will help a lot of the Asian side of it to get exposed to more competition and make them better players.”   The International Series comprises of 10 events on the Asian Tour schedule, enhanced to provide more playing opportunities with elevated prize funds and a pathway to the biggest stages in golf.   Staged throughout the year across Asia, Europe and the Middle East to a mix of established and emerging golf markets, each event guarantees a minimum prize purse of $2m. This week, golfers are playing for a share of $2.5m.   The 38-year-old, whose most recent of his 16 professional victories came at the inaugural LIV event in London, added: “These International Series events are fantastic for the Asian Tour, to help them grow, get stronger fields and at the end of the day, someone will be able to get a spot in LIV, which for an up-and-coming player that'll be an amazing achievement and a chance to play against 48 to the best players in the world. So, I think what they're doing is a great idea and I'm happy to be a part of it.”   More information about the International Series Qatar, can be found by visiting: Asian Tour | Professional Golf Tour in Asia

Image Caption: Charl Schwartzel of South Africa pictured during Round One on Thursday February 16, 2023 at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. The tournament is being held from February 16-19, 2023.   Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.