admin
THE International Series began its six-event sprint to the season finish on Thursday at the Black Mountain Championship, and there are some familiar LIV Golf League names in the hunt after Round 1 in Thailand.
Brothers Scott Vincent and Kieran Vincent from Zimbabwe, who played for Iron Heads GC and Legion XIII, respectively, in 2024, both shot 4-under 68s and are four strokes off the lead entering the second round.
LIV Golf reserve John Catlin, who saw success in his fill-in role this season on the LIV Golf League, shot a 3-under 69. Catlin is the leader of both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings.
At stake at the end of The International Series is a coveted spot on the LIV Golf League in 2025.
On Thursday, former touring professional turned CrossFit Games athlete Pierre-Henri Soero muscled into a share of the lead at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand.
The American carded an 8-under-par 64 along with Thailand’s CharngTai Sudsom, Liu Yanwei from China and Australian Todd Sinnott.
Soero played on the Asian Tour in 2011 and fully justified his invite to The International Series event this week by making an eagle, seven birdies, and just one bogey.
“I used to do this for a living, that was my job, playing 25 events a year but I was able to be successful at something else,” Soero said. “It’s all mental, I am in a good head space here. I am here on vacation with my wife. It’s all a bonus. If I play well, I play well, if not it’s still a vacation.”
Now based in Florida, he is a personal trainer and has competed in the CrossFit Games on six occasions.
That solitary bogey of his came on the last, the ninth hole as he began on No 10, meaning he just missed out on the outright lead.
“It was a good bogey actually,” he said. “I was in the rough, a lot can happen, so I am okay with that. Golf is about muscle memory. I used to grind six hours a day practicing, so it’s still there.”
CharngTai and Liu, paired in the same group, both pounded the course in synergy, making eight birdies apiece.
They are both battling to keep their Asian Tour cards this year, with CharngTai languishing in 85th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and Liu 109th – so their opening salvos will give them great hope as the season enters its final stages.
“Today, my drive was quite good, and my putting was quite sharp, kept it simple,” CharngTai said.
CharngTai and Liu mirrored each other on the back nine, making birdies on Nos 12 and 13, plus the final three holes. – LIV Golf/Sports Reporter
Online Reporter