From a Correspondent
Hong Kong: Andy Ogletree was on Sunday confirmed as the International Series Order of Merit champion for 2023 after his final round at the Hong Kong Open behind Ben Campbell secured the finish.
The American got the points needed to wrap up the season-long race with one event to play and claim a place in next season’s LIV Golf League.
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell drained a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-four 18th hole to win the $2 million Hong Kong Open after a gripping battle with playing partners Cam Smith from Australia and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai.
Campbell, who had not led at any stage of the tournament until that brilliant last putt, shot a four-under-par 66 to finish on 19-under-par and beat Smith by one and Phacahara by two.
Smith returned a 68 and Phachara a 69 here at the Hong Kong Golf Club, while Canadian Richard T. Lee came in with a 64 to tie for third.
Karandeep Kochhar (67-66-69-68) underlined a welcome return to form as the best-finishing Indian with a share of 25th place on 10 under par 270.
The soon-to-be-married Ajeetesh Sandhu (66-68-69-69), Gaganjeet Bhullar (67-66-68-71), and Veer Ahlawat (68-69-63-72) were tied for 30th place on 8 under 272, while Rashid Khan (69-67-70-69) was T59 on 5 under 275.
Comfortable cushion
In the end, Ogletree carded a final-round 69 for a -12 total, level with International Series Singapore champion David Puig of Spain who shot a 68.
Third-placed Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe finished five strokes further back on seven under with a 65.
Ogletree, winner of International Series events in Qatar and England this season, has now secured a spot on the lucrative LIV Golf League next season as Order of Merit champion, following in the footsteps of Vincent, last year’s overall champion.
He said: “It’s awesome! I am so excited to win the Order of Merit. It’s been a lot of hard work this year and a lot of great golf has gone into this.
“I just want to thank everyone that’s gotten me to this point: the Asian Tour for all that they’ve done, and my team back home for allowing me to play the way I’ve played this year. I couldn’t be more excited, and I can’t wait to play LIV next year.
“I’ll definitely play a few events on the International Series along with all the LIV events that I’m going to play, so next year should be a great year and I just can’t wait to get started.”
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour said: “Andy has played some outstanding golf this year and has been head and shoulders above his peers on the International Series.
Hard work
“The way he has worked his way back to the top after some injuries has been very admirable and it’s a testament to his hard work and determination.
“It can’t have been easy for him to travel halfway across the world to play the Asian Tour and we are glad to have him as our International Series Order of Merit Champion.”
Added Rahul Singh, Head of the International Series: “Andy is a worthy champion and an outstanding ambassador for the International Series.
“As an emerging young international player, competing in this series of marquee Asian Tour events and wonderful venues around the world, he has exemplified what the International Series is all about.
“His example shows the pathway that is open and available to top golfing talent from all over the world, an opportunity we are committed to delivering, and we look forward to seeing him play in the LIV Golf League as well as future events on the International Series.”
The 10-event International Series, a set of elevated tournaments on the Asian Tour, now heads to Jakarta for the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by Tunas Niaga Energi from November 16 to 19.
India’s sole LIV Golf star Anirban Lahiri heads a group in Jakarta that will include Bhullar, Khan, Sandhu, Ahlawat, Kochhar, S.S.P. Chawrasia, Shiv Kapur, Chikkarangappa S., and Goa National Games winner Yashas Chandra. (courtesy asiantour.com)
Also read: LIV opens 2024 induction window as teams look to boost rosters
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