The Open: Kim, Lee, Saksansin and Kinoshita claims Sandwich spots
(L-R): Joohyung Kim, Poom Saksansin, Richard T. Lee and Ryosuke Kintoshita qualified for The 149th Open at the SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore. Credit The R&A/Getty Images.
Joohyung Kim, Richard T. Lee, Poom Saksansin and Ryosuke Kinoshita have secured their places in The 149th Open after qualifying at the SMBC Singapore Open.
The SMBC Singapore Open was played over the Serapong Couse at Sentosa Golf Club and was the third event in The Open Qualifying Series, which gives golfers around the world opportunities to book their place at Royal St George’s from 12-19 July 2020.
With a tournament total of 18-under par 266, Matt Kuchar won the SMBC Singapore Open title by three strokes from Justin Rose. Defending champion Jazz Janewattananond finished outright third and a shot further back on 14-under par 270.
With Kuchar, Rose and Janewattananond already qualified for The 149th Open, 17-year-old Joohyung Kim of Korea, secured the first qualifying position. He finished outright fourth on 13-under par 271 after rounds of 67, 66, 67 and 71.
Last week Kim played the opening two rounds of the Hong Kong Open alongside Champion Golfer of the Year Shane Lowry. Thanks to his excellent play this week he will now make his debut in The Open when he joins the world’s best golfers at Royal St George’s in July.
An even-par final round was enough to secure Canadian Richard T. Lee the second qualifying position on offer at the SMBC Singapore Open after finishing outright fifth on 12-under par 272.
A double-bogey at the par-4 13th hole in the final round looked to have derailed the Canadians chances but birdies on the 15th and 18th holes ensured his place in The 149th Open.
The final two qualifying positions went to Thailand’s Poom Saksansin and Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita who finished tied sixth on 11-under par 273.
Saksansin recorded the lowest round of the final day, a 65, to earn his place at Royal St George’s where he will make his debut in The Open.
Birdies on the closing two holes will provide Kinoshita a birthday present to be remembered when he celebrates his 29th birthday during the first round of The 149th Open.
The next event in The Open Qualifying Series will be the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Bay Hill from 5-8 March.
Joohyung Kim: “There are only four qualifying spots into The Open and every single player in the field is playing for them. I am very fortunate to play well this week and qualify.
“The Open is the oldest major and has so much history, for that to be my first major is a feeling I can’t describe.
“It was a tremendous honour; I remember looking at my tee time and it said I was playing with Shane Lowry (at the Hong Kong Open) and I had a lot of goosebumps. Seeing him play made me realise what it takes to win The Open.
“I hope to do my best at The Open and I will make sure to prepare my hardest before going to Royal St George’s.”
Richard T. Lee: “I got myself a ticket to The Open! I kind of struggled today with some of my shots and my putting but I turned things around on the back-nine and I am very glad about the way I finished.
“The Open is going to be the second Major that I will play in so I am definitely going to work really hard and get ready for it in July. I love playing links courses so I will try to find my best.”
Poom Saksansin: “Going into today I didn’t think I could qualify for The Open but now I have, it was a surprise, but I am very proud.
“I am looking forward to the experience of playing in The Open. It’s going to be the biggest stage that I have ever played so I am very excited.”
Ryosuke Kinoshita: “It’s amazing. It was a goal of mine to qualify for The Open while I am still in my 20’s, so I am very happy to have achieved that.
“Now I have to really prepare myself for Royal St George’s. I have spoken to other Japanese players who have played in The Open. They said that it is a championship that suits us, so I am looking forward to playing.”
The Open Qualifying Series will offer the following qualification places in The 149th Open:
The Open Qualifying Series — Event Detail
OQS-Australia — Emirates Australian Open, The Australian, Sydney — 5-8 December 2019
3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties
OQS-South Africa — South African Open hosted by The City of Joburg, Randpark, Johannesburg — 9-12 January
3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties
OQS-Singapore`— SMBC Singapore Open, Sentosa, Singapore — 16-19 January
4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties
OQS-USA— Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, Bay Hill, Orlando — 5-8 March
3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties
OQS-Japan — The Mizuno Open, The Royal, Ibaraki — 28-31 May
4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties
OQS-Ireland — Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, Mount Juliet Estate, Co. Kilkenny — 28-31 May
4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties
OQS-Morocco — Trophee Hassan II, Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat — 4-7 June
1 place to the leading player (not otherwise exempt) who finishes in the top 5 and ties
OQS-Canada — RBC Canadian Open, St George’s, Toronto — 11-14 June
3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties
OQS-Korea — KOLON Korea Open, Woo Jeong Hills, Cheonan — 25-28 June
2 places to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 8 and ties
OQS-USA — Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands, Connecticut — 25-28 June
2 places to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 8 and ties
OQS-Final Qualifying — Fairmont St Andrews, Notts (Hollinwell), Prince’s, St Annes Old Links — 30 June
Minimum of 3 places to the leading players at each venue.
OQS-Scotland— Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, The Renaissance Club, East Lothian — 9-12 July
4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties
OQS-USA — John Deere Classic, TPC Deere Run, Illinois — 9-12 July
One place to the leading player (not otherwise exempt) who finishes in the top 5 and ties
