Karandeep Kochhar ended the International Series Japan with a remarkable final round, scoring 4-under 67 and securing a Tied-fifth position. This marked his best finish at an international series event and his second Top-5 in three Asian Tour starts this year. Kochhar closed the round with three consecutive birdies, showcasing his strong performance.
Kochhar, known for his consistency, recorded his third bogey-free round in four days, with only one round of 73 proving costly. His overall score for the week stood at 12-under par (67-65-73-65). The Indian golfer started the day with an early birdie and finished strong with three consecutive birdies, elevating him to T-5 alongside Hongtaek Kim of South Korea.
In the same event, Jeev Milkha Singh was the only other Indian to make the cut, finishing T-70 after carding an even-par 71 in the final round. Travis Smyth clinched victory with an eagle on the last hole, finishing one stroke ahead with a total of 15-under par. Smyth maintained his lead in the Asian Tour Order of Merit and the International Series standings.
Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand secured the second position at 14-under par, with a notable round of 9-under 62 on the final day. Karandeep Kochhar, displaying consistent form, had previously secured a fourth-place finish at the Philippine Golf Championship in February this year. Kochhar’s earnings of USD 74,300 this week mark his second-highest payday to date.
Aditi Ashok, competing in the Aramco Championship, faced challenges with a 4-over 76 in the third round, slipping to T-20 with one round remaining. Aditi’s total score for the week stood at 5-over par (74-71-76). Other Indian participants, Pranavi Urs and Avani Prashanth, encountered difficulties with scores of 13-over par and 16-over par, respectively.
Diksha Dagar failed to make the cut earlier in the week, while American golfer Lauren Coughlin maintained her lead heading into the final day. Nelly Korda closed the gap to Coughlin with a round of 3-under 69, securing sole second place. World number one Jeeno Thitikul faced challenges, finishing T-38 with a total score of 8-over par.
