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Tour stars, officials and key stakeholders gathered to celebrate a successful 2019 season at the Asian Tour Awards Ceremony, held ahead of the season-opening Hong Kong Open this week.

Thai sensation Jazz Janewattananond bagged four awards, which included the 2019 Order of Merit crown and the Players’ Player of the Year accolade.

Order of Merit champion Jazz Janewattananond with Asian Tour CEO Cho Minn Thant (left) and Asian Tour Chairman Jimmy Masrin (right).

The 24-year-old Thai also topped the statistics categories for Lowest Stroke Average, with his record of 68.28 strokes, and Total Birdies made with 265 from 15 tournaments throughout his season on the Asian Tour, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

Jazz enjoyed a phenomenal year with four victories and six top-10s which saw him break the US$1 million barrier in total earnings and rise to a career-high of 40th place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

He is the youngest player to claim six victories on the Asian Tour and only the second player to secure four wins in a single season in the Tour’s history.

“It’s an honour to win the Players’ Player of the Year award. I’m glad the players think I deserve this award. Thanks to all my friends for voting and making me feel worthy of this award,” said Jazz at the Awards Gala, held at the Courtyard by Marriott in Sha Tin.

Sadom Kaewkanjana was named the Rookie of the Year after collecting the most OWGR points from Asian Tour events amongst the newcomers in 2019. The 20-year-old Thai, who came through the Qualifying School, won on his first start on Tour at the 2019 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in Bangladesh.

Adilson Da Silva of Brazil was the most accurate off the tee (84.17%) in 2019 while Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who won his second Asian Tour title at the Sabah Masters last November, hit the ball the furthest with an average drive of 307.50 yards.

Sattaya Supupramai of Thailand emerged as the top scrambler after converting 71.20% of his missed greens in regulation to save par in 2019. Finland’s Teemu Putkonen hit the most greens in regulation (75%).

Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-lun, who successfully kept his card by finishing inside the top-60 on the 2019 Order of Merit, rode the hottest putter as he averaged 27.55 putts per round last season.

The Best Spectator Experience award went to Shinhan Donghae Open, an event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Korean PGA Tour, as an acknowledgement for its digital initiative and activities catered for fans.

The SMBC Singapore Open was voted by the players as the Tournament of the Year and its host venue Sentosa Golf Club, recently named the ‘World’s Best Golf Course’ at the World Golf Awards, was ranked the number one golf course by the players.

The 2020 Asian Tour season gets underway at the Hong Kong Open this week. The US$1 million event is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association, with the European Tour continuing to stage the tournament and it will be held once again at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Asian Tour 2019 Roll of Honour

Order of Merit champion – Jazz Janewattananond

Players’ Player of the Year – Jazz Janewattananond

Rookie of the Year – Sadom Kaewkanjana

Lowest Stroke Average – Jazz Janewattananond (68.28)

Total Birdies – Jazz Janewattananond (265)

Driving Accuracy – Adilson Da Silva (84.17%)

Driving Distance – Pavit Tangkamolprasert (307.5 yards)

Scrambling – Sattaya Supupramai (71.20%)

Lowest Putting Average per round – Wang Wei-lun (27.55)

Greens in Regulation – Teemu Putkonen (75.38%)

Players’ Choice Golf Course of the Year – Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore

Tournament of the Year – SMBC Singapore Open

Best Spectator Experience – Shinhan Donghae Open