APGC
Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation Journal
June 2019
Home favourite wins WAAP in Japan
Contents Home favourite wins WAAP in Japan 1-2 Depth of WAAP field ‘a key test’
3
Nishimura takes out Riversdale Cup
3
Augusta tournament a ‘history-making event’
4
Korea claims Queen Sirikit
5
Augusta response heartens Chairman 5 Women take centre stage
6
Chairman’s message
7
APGC team taking on Europeans
7
Diamond win for Asaji
8
Home favourite Yuka Yasuda, leading a tournament in the final round for the first time, provided a masterclass in frontrunning as she left the field in her wake and won the second Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship (WAAP) at The Royal Golf Club by eight shots in April.
The 18-year-old from Kobe started the final round leading by two shots. After making a birdie on the opening hole, she
never lost the honour over the next 17 tees and finished with a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 to tally 11-under par 277 for the championship. Atthaya Thitikul (71), champion at the inaugural WAAP in Singapore, finished runnerup at three-under-par, while the Korean duo of Ye Won Lee (70) and Yaeeun Hong (73) were third and fourth respectively. “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to win the championship, but
Big win: Yuka Yasuda. Photo: The R&A
so many people came out today and they cheered and motivated me and I am happy that I could play some good golf,” Yasuda said. “This is such a huge win for me. I am trying to become a professional golfer and I am sure this is going to open many doors for me in the future. “I get the opportunity to play two major championships n Continued page 2
Strong competition: A big field assembled in Japan for April’s Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship at The Royal Golf Club.
Photo: The R&A
Home favourite wins in Japan n From page 1
with this win (the AIG Women’s British Open and the Evian Championship) and I am so excited about that. That experience will definitely help me become a better player.” Two shots behind the leaders after a bogey on the 14th hole on Saturday, Yasuda finished with one eagle and three birdies to grab sole possession of the lead by two at the end of the third round, and she increased that advantage to six shots with four birdies in her first five holes on Sunday. Yasuda hit it close with her second shot on the first hole. She seemed to be in trouble on the second when her tee shot went into the trees, but a superb second left her 20ft short of the pin and she made the putt. On the third, she poured in a 15ft putt. At that point, she was eight-under-par for her last seven holes. Yasuda made birdies on the par-four fifth and par-five eighth, but equally important were her difficult par saves from 2 ❘ APGC Newsletter ❘ June 2019
the bunkers on the seventh and ninth holes. That helped her make the turn in 31 and nineunder-par for the championship, seven ahead of Thitikul. On her back nine, Yasuda added two more birdies on the par-five 13th and 16th holes to complete a dominant win. “I played a perfect round of golf today except for a couple of second shots after which I had to make good recoveries. I thought those two pars were very important to keep the momentum going my way,” Yasuda said. “The finish yesterday was important for me because it gave me the lead. Being chased is as hard as chasing the leader, so I needed to begin my final round well. I think the start today was more critical because it helped me settle down.” World No.9 Thitikul, the highest-ranked player in the field, started with a birdie and then three-putted for a bogey on the second from less than four feet. She played solid golf after that but could not rustle up enough birdies to put any
kind of pressure on Yasuda. “I played OK. I missed some birdie putts but Yasuda played such a solid round and she showed me a great performance,” Thitikul said. “I am happy. I came in as the defending champion and I enjoyed being here. We played in some very tough conditions and that is going to be a great learning experience for me.” Japan’s Yuna Nishimura (73), who lost in a play-off to Thitikul last year, was in fifth place at one-over par, while China’s Lei Ye (72) was sixth, one shot behind her. Australia’s Becky Kay (75), who shot an eight-under-par 64 to lead on the opening day, was among four players tied for seventh place along with Abegail Arevalo of the Philippines (70), Ayaka Furue of Japan (72) and Ye-Been Sohn of Korea (73). The Championship has ‘Elite’ status in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). The field is 80 players from 19 countries and includes 17 ranked inside the top 100 of the WAGR. The champion will
earn a spot in two of the five women’s majors – the AIG Women’s British Open and the Evian Championship. She will also receive an invite to the 2020 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. The Women’s Amateur AsiaPacific championship has been developed by The R&A and Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) to unearth emerging talent and provide a pathway for Asia’s elite women amateurs to emerge on the international stage. The R&A launched the Women in Golf Charter last year and is committed to increasing the participation of women in the sport. The WAAP is one of several key championships conducted by the governing body and a significant initiative along with the APGC to drive the popularity of women’s golf in the region. Kabaya Ohayo Group and Rolex are the championship’s official scoring partners; Evian is the official water supplier and Galaxy is a patron partner. IMG are assisting with championship staging and TV broadcast.
Depth of field ‘a key test’ This may just be the second edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) but the championship has already established itself as one of the most aspirational events in the region following the massive success of the inaugural event in Singapore last year.
The reigning champion Atthaya Thitikul has emerged as a true figurehead of WAAP and her achievements have been pivotal in making it well known across the globe – she was the leading amateur at the 2018 Ricoh Women’s British Open and the ANA Inspiration, the two majors she gained an exemption to after winning in Singapore. Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, is delighted with the way the championship has shaped up, but said a judgement on how successful it is should be based on the depth of the field five years from now. “We couldn’t have wished for a better winner last year for the inaugural event,” Slumbers said while addressing a press conference along with Kei Muratsu, Chairman of Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) after the first round teed off at The Royal Golf Club. “We are delighted with the early success of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific. I think this week we will build on that and it is already becoming a fixture on the golfing schedule. Kei and I share enormous admiration and
aspiration for this event. We want this to be viewed as one of the top amateur events for women in the world. “That will take time to build but with winners like Atthaya, it will happen very quickly. It was very much known around the golfing circuit that this young 15-yearold Thai girl could seriously play, and she represented her country fantastically at Royal Lytham last year. “This is all about creating opportunities. I think five years from now, I will judge success, not just on the competence of the winners and how they perform, but what’s most important, the biggest measure, will be the depth of the field … how well does the depth improve with this opportunity. “So, I look at the bottom half of the scoreboard as much as I look at the top 10, and five years from now, that’s where we’ll be judging it.” The WAAP has been developed by The R&A and APGC to unearth emerging talent and provide a pathway for Asia’s elite women amateurs to emerge on the international stage. The champion will earn a place in two of the five women’s majors – the Ricoh Women’s British Open and the Evian Championship. She will also receive an invite to the 2020 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific is very
much in line with the goals of The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter, which was launched in May last year. “The Women in Golf Charter is something that’s very dear to The R&A. We believe that the future of our great game is to make sure more women are playing the game and more women are working in the game, and that will create a more diverse game and bigger game,” Slumbers said. “Since last year, we have had over 100 national federations signing up to committing to the Charter and that will continue. We are now currently in the phase of working with individual golf clubs who will be also signing up and committing to the Charter. So the pace of change is growing and that is very, very important. “I’ve always said that professional sport requires a pyramid, from grass roots at the bottom to the elite professional game at the top. This Championship filled the vacuum as we saw it in Asia Pacific between the national federation events that are being run by our colleagues at the APGC and the LPGA. Most of the field here will be professionals at some point in the future, and that’s fantastic. “We hope this Championship goes on to give them just that little bit more of a chance at being successful in their professional career.”
Nishimura wins top Australian event Japan’s Yuna Nishimura and Australian Chris Crabtree have claimed the historic and prestigious Riversdale Cup in Melbourne.
Nishimura, 18, produced a final-round 69 that put her three shots ahead of the field at 10-under par, preparing the way for her to turn professional later this year and again emphasising the strength of the young golfers coming out of Japan. Crabtree, 23, is a two-time club champion from Greg Norman’s Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast, but had never experienced such heady moments as the par-four 18th at Riversdale, when he was left with a two-metre, right-to-
Top effort: Japan’s Yuna Nishimura claimed her biggest victory yet when she took out the Riversdale Cup in Melbourne.
left breaking putt to win one of Australia’s most important amateur events. The English-born Queenslander made a birdie
to deny two young men from Melbourne’s Metropolitan Golf Club playing in the same group – Blake Collyer and Aiden Didone. Victorian Institute of Sport
scholarship-holder Collyer went down the 18th tied for the lead but could only make par after his drive went long and left of the green and into deep rough. Nishimura won a national sports festival event in Japan two years ago, but this was her biggest victory. She was also runner-up in the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship last year. She left the field behind with consecutive birdies at the 11th, 12th and 13th holes before rifling a nine-iron shot to less than half a metre at the par-three 14th hole for a tap-in birdie. “I’m really happy,” she said. “It was a good weekend.” – Golf Australia June 2019 ❘ APGC Newsletter ❘ 3
Augusta tournament a ‘history-making event’ Inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Jennifer Kupcho believes the tournament will change the course of women’s golf after her victory at the home of the Masters.
Amateur world No.1 Kupcho became the first woman to win an event at 86-year-old Augusta National Golf Club – which did not have a female member until 2012. The first two rounds of the 54-hole event were played at nearby Champions Retreat before the top 30 contested the final day on the famed Augusta layout on Saturday. Australian Julienne Soo missed the cut after rounds of 81 and 77 but still got to play Augusta on Friday, as the full field of 72 players had the opportunity to play a practice round. “I actually wasn’t that nervous and I ended up playing better than the last two days,” Soo told Golf Australia moments after the hike up the 18th. The event was seen as a landmark moment for women’s golf and Kupcho’s performance was equally as special as she duelled with final-round playing partner Maria Fassi of Mexico. Reigning NCAA champion Kupcho, 21, was two shots behind Fassi through 12 holes but she made eagle at the parfive 13th and added three late birdies to ice a four-shot victory. “To be able to get the first win, it’s a feeling I can’t describe,” Kupcho said after her five-under-par 67 gave her a 10-under total. Fassi shot 70 to finish second at six under, while the Philippines’ Yuka Saso (69) and Japan’s Yuka Yasuda (72) tied for third at two under. The event was lauded a success by Augusta National Chairman 2 ❘ APGC Newsletter ❘ June 2019
In the history books: Jennifer Kupcho became the first woman to win an event at Augusta National Golf Club when she took out the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Photo: Augusta National
Fred Ridley, despite it coming under heavy criticism when announced at last year’s Masters. Australian seven-time major winner Karrie Webb was among those who questioned why it would clash with the LPGA Tour’s ANA Inspiration – the first women’s major championship of the year. Four amateurs eligible to play at Augusta declined in favour of the ANA in California, whose third round was played on Saturday.
“Why put them with such a [tough] decision?” Webb posted on social media at the time. Kupcho and Fassi both earned LPGA Tour cards from qualifying school last year but deferred their status until later in 2019. Kupcho said future editions of the Augusta event would influence more women to delay turning pro. “Yeah, I would think so. It said something that the top two players [at Augusta] were the two that decided not to turn [pro],” she said.
Kupcho was presented the winner’s trophy by Ridley in the Butler Cabin – the room in which the Masters champion receives the green jacket. “You are now a part of Augusta National’s history, along with the great Masters champions,” Ridley said. Kupcho believes the event will strengthen women’s golf. “There were so many people [in attendance]; it’s really started a movement in women’s golf,” she said.
Korea claims Queen Sirikit Korea continued their remarkable dominance of the Queen Sirikit Cup with a runaway victory in Adelaide in March.
Strolling to their sixth victory in a row in the tournament, the Koreans startled their rivals with a massive 16-shot victory, with Australia a distant second. Uhjin Seo, Ye-Been Sohn and Ye Won Lee also snared the top three places in the individual standings at Glenelg Golf Club. It was the 21st Korean victory in the 41 editions of what has become the Asia-Pacific women’s teams championship and, remarkably, the 12th time in the past 13 years that they have triumphed. The only interruption to their march was Australia’s win in 2013 in Chinese Taipei. Seo, 17, finished eight under through three rounds, to become the 16th Korean to win the individual prize, ahead of her teammates Sohn (-6) and Lee (-4). “This was not what we expected,” Seo told Golf Australia.
Victorious: The South Korean team of Uhjin Seo, Ye-Been Sohn and Ye Won Lee celebrate their dominant Queen Sirikit Cup win in Adelaide.
“We haven’t played away from Korea before, so to do this is beyond what we thought possible. “The course was fantastic and it really suited the way we played … we are beyond excited about the result,” she said through a translator. Sohn, 17, admitted the burden
of previous Korean success weighed on the team, but paid tribute to national coach Birdie Kim, the 2005 US Women’s Open champion. “The teams who’ve played before are so good, it’s hard to match. But Birdie was very helpful to us, reminding us we could only play our game and
not to worry about anything past,” she said. “It’s great to have her as part of our team.” Lee, 16, said the team had been thrilled with Glenelg and their time in Adelaide. “We have had great food, fun after golf and the course is beautiful … we are very happy here.” Sydney’s Steph Kyriacou played the final day’s best round – a superb four-under 69, including an eagle on the par-five sixth, to power Australia into second place at a one-under total. She managed to force her way into fifth place overall at one under, two strokes behind Bianca Pagdanganan, of the Philippines, in fourth. China showed its continuing improvement with a combined one-under total to finish third overall in the team event, three behind Australia at two over and relegating Thailand (+3) and New Zealand (+5) from the podium. The 2020 edition will be played next March near Jakarta, Indonesia. – with Golf Australia
Augusta response heartens Chairman Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley admits he was stunned by the reaction to the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur event.
Ridley was uncertain what to expect after a mixed response following the announcement Augusta would stage its first-ever women’s amateur championship. He said that following Jennifer Kupcho’s landmark victory he was surprised at how well received the event had been – not just among golf fans, but among staff, partners, sponsors and members. The emotional response of the week was something Ridley said he didn’t anticipate. “I think I was really heartened by our staff and the way that our staff really was motivated and inspired by this effort,” he said. “I think it made us a better organisation. I’m also very proud to hear so many members who have come up to
Delighted: Fred Ridley. Photo: Augusta National
me and say how proud they are, and to say that they have never been prouder to be a member of Augusta National.” Ridley was asked about whether the creation of the ANWA might eventually lead to a new women’s professional event at Augusta. “What we would like to do, and hopefully will achieve, is doing things that will benefit professional golf, benefit professional women’s golf, and all of golf,” Ridley said.
“But by promoting women amateurs, the future stars of the (LPGA), we’d like to think that that is something that’s going to benefit them, as well, and I think that the LPGA would agree. So that’s the track we are going to continue to take.” Ridley also explained why the first two rounds of the ANWA were staged at Champions Retreat instead of at Augusta National – a source of some criticism. Ridley described the Masters as the key to Augusta’s “competitive tournament administration efforts”, which limits how the golf course can be used each spring. “We were trying to balance providing the women competitors with the opportunity to be at Augusta National, to have a championship decided at Augusta National, but yet be cognisant of the fact that we were just a few days away from the Masters Tournament,” he said. June 2019 ❘ APGC Newsletter ❘ 3
Women take centre stage The spotlight was firmly fixed on the women as golfers from the Asia-Pacific region took part in three major international events in the first half of 2019.
Key APGC board member Nicki Hirayama has given a comprehensive overview of the Queen Sirikit Cup, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Women’s Amateur AsiaPacific Championship. Nicki was delighted with the standard of play, the organisation and the course set-up at all three events. “The QSC was again a big success, with so many local volunteers support,” she said, adding her thanks to Golf Australia and Glenelg Golf Club. “After 40 years (this year was the 41st), this is such an established event after the extraordinary initiative of Khun Rae-Vadee T. Suwan. “We must not forget her contribution to women’s golf in our region. I believe having top international players nowadays from the Asia-Pacific will be a major legacy for her. “Having the historical QSC, and new WAAP, I am very happy to see the women’s game growing and observing young talented athletes. “It was also my pleasure to observe the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Ever since it was announced by Chairman Fred Ridley during [his] annual press conference at the Masters Tournament in 2018, I have been looking forward to it. “It was so impressive and emotional to watch an international field of top 72 female golfers playing. To see 30 of them playing at the Augusta National was amazing. “The golf courses were set up just right; the first two rounds (qualifying) were staged at the Champions Retreat with Par 72 / 6355 yards, while the final round was at the fabled Augusta 4 ❘ APGC Newsletter ❘ June 2019
Strong showing: Maria Fassi finished runner-up to Jennifer Kupcho in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Photo: Augusta National
National GC, with a Par 72 / 6365 yards set-up. “Players reaching the 13th and 15th holes in two was amazing to watch. “I saw magnificent golf from the players in the last group, Jennifer Kupcho from the US and Maria Fassi from Mexico. Jennifer’s winning score of 10-under par is stunning. “I was also very impressed with the sportsmanship that they showed in the head-to-head match throughout the round.
“It was great to see Yuka Yasuda from Japan and Yuka Saso from the Philippines finish third. They played well and we should be very proud. It proves how good our players are. “I was very happy to see outstanding golf shown by the ladies and we are very proud of them and also very grateful to Augusta National for hosting the women’s championship. “I feel we are on the brink of an evolution in golf. Tradition is there but changes will
lead to growth, advancement and preparation for the next generation. This will surely inspire greater interest in the women’s game and provide an exciting pathway for these players to fulfil their dreams. “It was our honour to host the second edition of the WAAP at The Royal Golf Club in Japan. We are very grateful to The R&A and I still remember the excitement of the inaugural event played in Sentosa, Singapore in 2018, and Atthaya Thitikul from Thailand becoming the first champion after a four-way playoff. Yuka Saso was one of the four players. “The April weather was not favourable, especially on Friday. It was cold, windy and rainy, and there were more than 10 rulings that the balls on the greens moved, but with everyone’s hard work including referees’ team effort, we managed to play all four rounds. “Yuka Yasuda and Atthaya Thitikul were in the last group with Yaeeun Hong from Korea. It was impressive to see Yuka started out with three consecutive birdies with no bogeys and end up winning by eight shots on her home ground. Defending champion Thitikul tried to hang in there but it was just not her day. “Yuka said her game was almost perfect on Sunday and gained a lot of confidence. She is looking forward to playing in the AIG British Women’s Open and the Evian Championship. She is also invited to play in the ANWA in 2020. “We, the APGC women board members, are very pleased to see the WAAP, which will help grow the women’s game in our region and encourage “good golf” by talented young players. “We are also thankful to The R&A for establishing the ‘Women in Golf Charter’ to help promote and support women’s golf and in general. With the Charter, WAAP and ANWA, now is the time to bring it up to the next level.”
Chairman’s message
APGC Chairman Kei Muratsu No one is about to argue that the biggest event in golf in the first half of this year was the dramatic comeback of Tiger Woods at the Masters after a 14-year absence.
Probably this could not have happened in any other sport. Congratulations to Tiger! And congratulations to the world of golf. How exciting if he could play in the 2020 Olympic Games at Kasumigaseki CC in Japan. Our long-term partner, The R&A, announced the “Inspire Our Future” direction from their Play Book last September. In the book, Mr Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive, said: “As custodians of the sport, we should be inspired to do all that we can to ensure that golf continues to thrive in 50 years’ time.” So The R&A is thinking “Go Long”.
How about APGC? Fifty years ago we were three countries, running one event. Now we are 42 nations, hosting nine events. Our region is large. The longest flight in the world between Doha and Auckland by Qatar Airways, 17 hours and 30 minutes, is within our region. The market is huge, with a population of five billion. Let me play with some numbers. Currently the USA has 24 million golfers, 7% of the population (350 million people). Japan has seven million golfers, 5.5% of the population (125 million people). If 1% of us play golf, we have 50 million golfers, nearly twice as many as the US and more than the entire currently estimated golf population in the world. The strategy planning of how to develop the game in the region is underway
among the board members of APGC. What can we do together with our Member Associations? It is certain that we have to be very innovative. Innovation arises from “diversity” and “inclusion”. That’s exactly where we are. The APGC is very diversified and we are joined in the love of golf. The tools may be different from one country to another, but as I said in the previous message, we could share the notion that golf is a rare game that is rooted in an essential desire coming from the brains of human beings. I am dreaming of golf becoming a part of people’s lifestyle, like swimming or running. Things can happen in 50 years. Let’s think long and go long. Clarity of our goal can be accorded to those who actually participate in our activities. Let’s move!
Top talents: The APGC team for the European Young Masters includes (from left) Pongsapak Laopakdee, Arjun Bhati, Pranavi Urs and Mirabel Ting.
APGC team taking on Europeans The APGC is spreading its wings further afield, sending a four-strong team to the European Young Masters at the Kunêtická Hora club in Dríte, in the Czech Republic.
The Confederation will be represented by Malaysian Mirabel Ting, Thai youngster Pongsapak Laopakdee and Indians Arjun Bhati and Pranavi S. Urs. Ting, who plays off a 4+ handicap, has been playing golf since the age of three. The 13-year-old attends the Hills International College in Brisbane, Australia, and has already chalked up a number of impressive wins. She collected the Ambak International
Junior this year and in 2018 won the Perak Amateur Open and finished fourth in the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open. Pongsapak, nicknamed ‘Fifa’, recently turned 14 and was named Player of the Year last year by the Thailand Junior Golf Federation. He has also been champion in the Albatross International Junior Golf Championship and the USKG Teen World Championship. Bhati is also 14 and has been playing for the past six years. He has already played about 150 tournaments – remarkably winning 110 of them. In Malaysia in
2016 he snared the US Kids Junior Golf Championship and took out the title again in 2018. Pranavi Urs is 16 and has been playing since the age of six, winning several South Zone and National Rankings tournaments in India. She has represented India at various international events for the past three years and last year finished third in the Thailand Amateur Open. Lining up in the recent Women’s AsiaPacific Amateur Championship in Japan, she came home in 48th spot amidst a top class international field. June 2019 ❘ APGC Newsletter ❘ 5
Diamond win for Asaji Japan’s Yosuke Asaji capped an unforgettable week when he held his nerve to win the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup by one shot on Mother’s Day at the Sobu Country Club.
With his mother and wife following him throughout the final round, Asaji, who earned his spot by topping the Monday Qualifiers, kept his composure as he held on to his overnight lead to eventually close with a one-over-par 72. Asaji’s winning total of three-under-par 281 also earned him a spot at The 148th Open, which will be held at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in July. The Japanese was chasing his first professional victory and admitted he also had a stroke of luck with his closest rivals failing to dislodge him from the leaderboard’s summit. “I’m really happy as this is my first professional victory and it was such a tough battle out there today,” Asaji said. “I was up against so many quality players and I had to play my best golf. I was also lucky some of them did not manage to catch me. But I got a lot of support from everyone this week, especially my wife and my mother, who are here with me this week.” Micah Lauren Shin of the United States tried to mount a late charge but dropped three shots in his inward nine and
Ecstatic: Yosuke Asaji celebrates his Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup win at Sobu Country Club.
had to settle for a share of second place with Japanese amateur Ren Yonezawa. New Zealand’s Danzel Ieremia and Korea’s Y.E. Yang were tied for fourth, while Zimbabwean Scott Vincent secured another top-10 by sharing sixth place with Korea’s Dongkyu Jang. The Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup was the Asian Tour’s first stop in Japan this season and second of four co-sanctioned events with the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) this year. Kiwi rookie Denzel Ieremia was one of only five players to finish the tournament under par, as Sobu Country Club in Chiba proved to be a very stern
test, continuing his impressive start to his professional career. After completing a stellar college career at Iowa State University in December, the 23-year-old made his pro debut at the Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship, where he was tied for 14th, and followed that up with a tie for seventh at the SEC NZ PGA Championship. His quick transition into the pro ranks continued in Japan, where he was tied for fourth, bouncing back after an opening round of 76 with rounds of 6866-73 to end the week at one under to earn a cheque for just under AU$115,000. Second cousin to former
All Blacks rugby player Alama Ieremia and Silver Fern April Ieremia, Denzel’s development has been closely monitored in New Zealand, his third round of six-under 66 the low round for the week and an indicator of his immense talent. Matthew Griffin continued his excellent start to the Japan Golf Tour season to be the best of the Australians in a tie for 16th, with Won Joon Lee two shots further back in a tie for 22nd and amateur David Micheluzzi impressing again in a tie for 27th, level with Queenslander Brad Kennedy. – Asian Tour, PGA of Australia
Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation
Chairman Mr Keisuke Muratsu
Vice Chairman Treasurer Mr Taimur Amin Mr Philip Hassall
General Secretary Mr Kyungjae Lee
Mr Mohammed Rae Vadee Faisal Al-Naimi T.Suwan
Nobuko Hirayama
Dato’ Rabeahtul Mr Ishwar Achanta Aloya Abbas
John Hopkins
Zhang Xiaoning
The Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation encourages all member nations to contribute news from their countries for inclusion in the APGC journal. News items can be emailed to editor Robert Grant at rob.grant1948@gmail.com 6 ❘ APGC Newsletter ❘ June 2019