CHIBA, Japan – Hongtaek Kim seized the early lead at the International Series Japan on Thursday, carding a 7-under 64 at Caledonian Golf Club. The 32-year-traditional Korean’s impressive opening round puts him one stroke ahead of fellow countryman Younghan Song and Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, as players vie for valuable points in The International Series Rankings – a pathway to securing a coveted spot on the LIV Golf League.
The stakes are particularly high this week, as the International Series Japan marks the third event on this year’s Asian Tour schedule. For players hoping to climb the rankings and ultimately compete alongside some of the world’s top golfers on the LIV circuit, a strong showing in Chiba is crucial. The leaderboard is already packed with talent, signaling a competitive tournament ahead.
Kim’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole, coupled with six birdies and a single bogey. Starting his day on the 10th tee, he capitalized on favorable afternoon conditions, a factor he acknowledged after his round. “The conditions were a bit better in the afternoon, which helped,” Kim said. “I played pretty solid and took advantage of all the opportunities out there.” He closed strong, adding birdies on the eighth and ninth holes to cement his position at the top.
Driving Consistency Fuels Kim’s Opening Round
According to Kim, the key to his success on Thursday was his accuracy off the tee. “I reckon it was my driving that was great today,” he explained. “I was able to hit a lot of fairways, which set up solid chances to hit greens in regulation. That really helped me keep things consistent.” He anticipates tougher conditions on Friday morning and plans to maintain that same approach. “It could be tougher with the weather in the morning tomorrow, so the key will be to stay patient and keep hitting fairways. Positioning off the tee will be really critical again.”
Kim isn’t a stranger to success. He secured his first victory on the Asian Tour at the 2024 GS Caltex Maekyung Open, defeating Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam in a sudden-death playoff. The Asian Tour reports he’s also a four-time champion on the Korean PGA Tour, with his most recent win coming at last year’s Busan Open. Interestingly, Kim has also earned the nickname “King of the Screen” for his prowess on Korea’s popular GTour golf simulator circuit, where he’s claimed multiple titles.
Song Looks to Build on LIV Golf Experience
Trailing Kim by just one stroke is Younghan Song, a member of the LIV Golf League’s Korean Golf Club team. Song, who finished second at this event last year, carded a bogey-free 65, with three birdies on each nine. He expressed his enjoyment of the LIV Golf experience, stating, “I’m really enjoying it. It’s a fresh environment and everything feels different. The level of competition is very high, with many top-ranked players, so it’s been a great learning experience.”
Song’s impressive career includes a victory at the 2016 Singapore Open, where he defeated then-world number one Jordan Spieth. He credits good memories of the course and favorable weather conditions for his strong start. “I wasn’t playing particularly well coming in, but we had good weather today, which helped. I also have good memories on this course, so I just tried to focus on each shot and that allowed me to play well,” he said.
Saksansin Remains a Threat, Catlin and Others in Contention
Thailand’s Poom Saksansin also sits at 5-under, alongside Kim and Song, demonstrating his consistent performance on the Asian Tour. A four-time winner on the tour, Saksansin is known for his fierce competitiveness despite not being known for his distance off the tee. He echoed Kim’s sentiment about the afternoon conditions. “I was a bit lucky to play in the afternoon with better conditions. My driving was good, and my putting was solid as well,” Saksansin stated.
American John Catlin, the 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, is well-positioned after a 66, tied with China’s Lin Yuxin, winner of this season’s Asian Tour Qualifying School, Japan’s Tatsunori Shogenji, Wang Wei-hsuan from Chinese-Taipei and Korean Yongjun Bae. However, Wooyoung Cho, currently leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit, had a challenging day, finishing with a disappointing 76.
Looking Ahead to Round Two
As the tournament progresses, players will need to navigate potentially challenging weather conditions. Kim’s emphasis on driving accuracy and patience will likely be a key strategy for success. The International Series Japan continues on Friday, with players looking to solidify their positions and climb the leaderboard. The full leaderboard is available on the International Series website.
The competition promises to be fierce as golfers battle for ranking points and the ultimate prize: a place on the LIV Golf League. The coming days will reveal who can maintain their momentum and contend for the title at Caledonian Golf Club.
What are your thoughts on the early leaderboard? Share your predictions in the comments below, and be sure to share this article with fellow golf fans!
