Ogletree wins second International Series title

Doha - American Andrew Ogletree became the first player to win two International Series events when he recorded a convincing victory in the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at the Doha Golf Club on Sunday. The impressive 24 year old from Mississippi closed with a one-over-par 73 to finish on seven under and win by three shots from Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, who fired a 68, helped by an eagle on the par-five 18th. Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai finished one shot back in third following a 72, while his compatriot Phachara Khongwatmai returned a 67 to claim fourth, another stroke behind. Ogletree, who won the International Series Egypt in November and has two wins in just nine starts on the Asian Tour, started the day with a five-shot lead and was never really challenged, when for the fourth day in a row strong wind were unrelenting. At the turn his lead was six and while a double bogey on hole 10, where he was unable to get up and down after an errant second shot went long and left, briefly offered some hope to his pursuers, he proceeded to steady the ship with seven pars and a birdie on the last. “I think it just comes from all the work that I’ve put in,” said Ogletree, who won US$450,000. “I’ve worked really hard this off-season post Egypt, and 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 that I can do that. So, I’m really focused, and trying to win the Order of Merit out here is my number one goal this year, and that’s all I’m really focused on. And you got to win to do that, so this feels great.” Ogletree moved to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) and International Series OOM thanks to an outstanding start to the season. He finished ninth in the season-opening PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers and tied for seventh in last week’s International Series Oman. “I mean, confidence wise, I don’t know how I could get a lot higher. My last five starts internationally, four top-10s and two wins, so I think I’m playing really good golf,” he said. “I’m executing my game plan really well and kind of eliminating some of the silly mistakes. I had a couple today, but throughout the week this week it was really good tee to green. “Eliminating three putts, eliminating short-sided iron shots, eliminating bogeys with wedges and eliminating bogeys on par fives is just kind of the goal. So that’s how I define how I’m playing, if I’m doing those things, and I’ve done that really well the last few weeks.” It’s all a far cry for a player who, hindered by a hip injury, struggled to make an impact when he turned professional in 2020 following a stellar amateur career. The former Georgia Tech college golf star reached the pinnacle of the amateur game in 2019 when he won the US Amateur, and that same year was part of the victorious United States team at the Walker Cup. He said: “Yeah, I mean, obviously, just being able to play pain free is awesome. I’ve had a really good run the past few months, my body has felt great. I’ve never lost my confidence mentally. So super pleased to be champion here. It’s unbelievable. “What a great test we had this week. It was really hard. The course got really firm and fast, there was so much wind. I grew up playing in no wind, so super proud to win a golf tournament in wind like this.” A storming finish allowed Gunn to snatch second at the very end. He birdied 13 and 14, dropped a shot on the next before making birdie on 16 and an eagle on 18. It’s his best finish on the Asian Tour since he came third in the Hong Kong Open at the beginning of 2020. He has also been struggling with injuries over the past few seasons. “I don’t know what to say, it’s been a while since I started playing well again and could say that all the credit goes to my coach Sam Cyr is here,” said Gunn, who has been playing on a medical exemption. “We’ve been working really hard for the past six months and this has been the first time that he’s come out here and working with me. We really did grind it out during the practice days, and he put me in the present moment throughout the weekend, encouraged me throughout the whole day and you know, don’t put my head down. “This is my biggest cheque I’ve received so far, and I mentioned that to Sam as well. And, you know, we’re looking up, and it’s not just here, and he wants me to look forward to like, up there. Top 10, maybe number one in the world. It’s a little crazy right now, but hopefully we get there.” The next event on the Asian Tour is the New Zealand Open, which will be played at Millbrook Resort from March 2 to 5.  

HH the Amir Attends Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2023 Closing

Doha: HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended the closing day of the 21st edition of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, which was held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. HH the Amir watched the tournament's final match between World No.1 Polish Iga Swiatek, and World No.4 Jessica Pegula of US, which ended with the victory of the Polish player 6-3 6-0. The tournament's closing was also attended by HE Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, together with line up of Their Excellencies sheikhs, ministers, senior officials, guests of the tournament and tennis fans.

Qatar to participate in FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2023

Doha: The Qatari national team will participate in the finals of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2023 for men and women which will be hosted by Singapore from March 27 to April 3. The tournament includes in addition to Qatar, the teams of Singapore (the host country), Australia, China, Brunei, Chinese Taipei, India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Caledonia, the Philippines, New Zealand, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Samoa, Tahiti, Thailand, Tonga, and Turkmenistan.

Al-Qadi shines in Big Tour at Amir Sword showjumping

Doha: Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi warmed-up for today’s HH The Amir Sword in style after winning yesterday’s Big Tour class on day two of the prestigious Showjumping and Dressage championship yesterday. At the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s outdoor arena, al-Qadi and his 15-year-old stallion Morocco were comfortable winners in the 145cm class as the pair zipped through the course in 66.82 seconds. Their winning time was more than six seconds faster than the runner-up combination of Mohamed Khalifa Albaker and his veteran mare Verona. Albaker also finished third yesterday, with his another horse Lissabon 56. The pair, in fact, was the second fastest in the field with a time of 69.15 seconds, but a penalty meant they had to settle for final podium spot. Today, the riders will be eyeing for their dream title – The Amir Sword. The Big Tour, which will commence at 1:35pm, will consist of two rounds and carries a prize money of QR90,000, besides a car for the winning rider. Yesterday, the Medium Tour won by Rashid Towaim al-Marri, with Hamad Ali al-Attiyah and Khalid Sanad al-Nuaimi finishing second and third respectively. Mohamed Nasser al-Qadi emerged triumphant in the Small Tour. Sultan Salem Badi al-Naemi was second, while Maryam Ahmad al-Boinin was third. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee and Secretary-General of the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) Sheikh Ahmed bin Noah al-Thani said HH The Amir Sword is most important event organised by the sport’s governing body. Sheikh Ahmed said QEF every year aims to host the championship in a distinctive way, while also focusing on modernisation, development and expansion. He said the prestigious event has unearthed new exciting riders in the past and QEF through this event wants to raise the level of Qatari riders. Sheikh Ahmed wished that the tournament would serve as an incentive to perseverance and excellence for the Qatari riders, and that it would be an inspiration for future generations of riders.

Suradit shows no fear in brutal wind at International Series Qatar

Doha- Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai impressively succeeded when the majority failed again today in wildly windy weather to take the clubhouse lead at the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar. 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 three shots from Australian Travis Smyth. Smyth carded a 72 with half the field still on the course at Doha Golf Club, 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. “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 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. 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. “Mentally just thinking about the start, it’s really tough, just grind through the first six or seven holes and maybe one or two over par would be ok. And then with that start it was an amazing feeling.” Korean Minkyu Kim, winner of last year’s Kolon Korea Open, fired a fine 68, the only sub 70 round of the day so far, to be the next best placed on one under.  

Ogletree zeroes in on 2nd International Series title

Doha- 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.