On the Asian Tour
Chopra earns U.S. Open berth aftrer topping Qualifier
Tour veteran Daniel Chopra of Sweden made
his third appearance in the year’s second
Major after he claimed a three-shot victory
at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying held
at the Canoe Brook Country Club in New
Jersey.
After carding a four-under-par 66 at
the par-70 South course in the morning,
Chopra fi red eight birdies against a bogey to
sign for a seven-under-par 65 at the par-72
North course, topping the leaderboard with a
winning total of 11-under-par 131.
Chopra, a former two-time PGA Tour
winner and a one-time winner on the Asian
Tour, lead four other players, who all
fi nished inside top-fi ve at the Canoe Brook
Country Club, to the 117th U.S. Open which
was held at the Erin Hills from June 15
to 18. “I felt really good about my game
coming in here, and I felt like it would be
a good opportunity if I played well and kept
my head on my shoulders.
If I played solid golf, I would have a
great change,” said Chopra, who is born to
a Swedish mother and Indian father. The
43-year-old Swede enjoyed a tied-24th place
fi nish when he made his debut appearance in
the U.S. Open in 2004. He fi nished tied-36th
in his second appearance in 2008.
Daniel Chopra of Sweden
“My goal was to get it to 10 under in
the afternoon. After I birdied the 10th hole,
I told myself to get one more, an insurance
birdie in case something happens. I made
that one and then one more, so it was a bit
cruisy coming in. It was nice playing the last
few holes pretty safe,” added Chopra.
China’s Li Haotong and Wade Ormsby
of Australia had earlier earned their spots
in the U.S. Open after fi nishing second and
tied-12th respectively at the Sectional
Qualifying held at the Walton Heath Golf
Club last week. Asian Tour member Shugo
Imahira of Japan also secured his fi rst start
in the U.S. Open through the qualifi er held
on home soil. Asian Tour International
Ambassador and Honorary Member Ernie
Els, Japan’s Yuta Ikeda and young Korean
talent Jeunghun Wang also featured in the
U.S. Open.
Norris, Chang and Prayad triumph
Shaun Norris of South Africa, Prayad
Marksaeng of Thailand and Korea’s Yikeun
Chang were victorious in Japan and Korea
respectively on Sunday.
Norris, a two-time winner on the Asian
Tour, won the JGT Championship Mori
Building Cup in Japan after shooting a fi nal
round seven-under-par 64. He clinched his
second Japan Golf Tour title with a winning
total of 13-under-par 271. Asian Tour member
Chang qualifi ed for The Open in July thanks
to his victory at the Kolon Korea Open after
defeating countryman Kim Giwhan on the
third play-off hole. The Korean also earned a
ticket to the year’s third Major tournament.
Chang closed with a one-under-par 70 to
tie in regulation play with Kim on 13-under-
par 271 to go into extra time.
Thai veteran Prayad, a 10-time Asian
Tour winner, won the Sumaiida Cup Senior
Golf Championship for his fi fth senior title
in Japan. He fi red a fi ve-under-par 67 to win
on 16-under-par 200 at the Eastwood Country
Club.
Shaun Norris of South Africa
GolfPlus
JULY
2017
29