Jazz Riffs into Contention as Foreign Drought Faces Crescendo in Korea
Thailand’s Janewattananond shares lead at Maekyung Open, with Bhullar, Cho and Korean youth chasing close behind
Seoul, Korea - Jazz Janewattananond is no stranger to the stage, and on Friday at Namseoul Country Club, the Thai star hit all the right notes to join a crowded chorus atop the GS Caltex Maekyung Open leaderboard.
With a gritty three-under 68 in tricky conditions, the seven-time Asian Tour champion surged into a four-way tie at five-under-par, matching Korea’s Doyeon Hwang (66), Wooyoung Cho (70), and overnight leader Heemin Chang (71) in the clubhouse.
It’s been 21 years since a non-Korean last lifted this trophy – that man, American Mark Calcavecchia, claimed the title in 2004. But with Janewattananond and fellow international campaigners Gaganjeet Bhullar and Scott Vincent lurking, the weekend promises to test that local hold.
Bhullar, twice a runner-up at Namseoul including a playoff heartbreak in 2018, carded a 68 to sit one behind. “Other than the two mistakes late on, it was a decent round of golf,” said the 11-time Asian Tour winner, still chasing that elusive Korean crown.
Cho provided the fireworks late, holing his second shot for eagle on the 17th after a birdie on 16, then added another birdie on the last to finish in style – a timely reminder of the talent that saw him capture team gold at the 2022 Asian Games.
Jazz, meanwhile, believes he’s trending in the right direction: “I definitely found my swing after New Zealand. It just clicked—one shot, and everything made sense.” His round was peppered with touch and tenacity, including a brilliant birdie at 15 and back-to-back scrambles on 16 and 17 that held his card together.
Further back, 15-year-old amateur Seonghyeon An continues to turn heads. He sits at three under, alongside Zimbabwe’s Vincent and Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut. Sixty-one players will complete their second rounds Saturday morning due to Thursday’s weather delays.
But as it stands, the foreign front led by Jazz is in tune, the Korean charge is unrelenting, and history waits in the wings. Play resumes at 7am.