International Series Japan Round 1

Date
Wed 1st April 2026 (UTC)
Thu 2nd April 2026 (Local)

Timestamp
2026-04-01T22:00:00

Time

22:00:00 UTC (07:00:00 Local)

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League
Asian Tour

Season
2026

Round
3

Status
Match Finished

Location

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Description

The Asian Tour’s International Series kicks off its 2026 season at the renowned Caledonian Golf Club in Chiba. The primary challenge for the 156-player field is the course's intricate layout and lightning-fast greens, which are widely considered some of the best in Japan. The objective for the elite field—featuring LIV Golf stars and Asian Tour regulars—is to secure a strong start in the race for the International Series Rankings and a coveted pathway to the 2027 LIV Golf League.

Strategically, the opening round is a test of precision and local knowledge. The objective for the players is to navigate the "penalizing" bunkering that frames the fairways, particularly on the difficult par-4 closing stretch. The goal for the morning wave is to capitalize on the calmer conditions before the coastal winds typically intensify in the afternoon. With a $2,000,000 prize fund at stake, the tactical focus for the favorites is to identify the correct levels on the tiered greens to avoid the defensive lag putting that Shadow Creek-style surfaces often demand.

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Result List

Result Description

Heungchol Kim (KOR) emerged as the early pace-setter in Chiba, carding a clinical 7-under-par 64 to claim a one-stroke lead. Kim, who recently earned the nickname "King of the Screen" for his indoor golf prowess, translated that precision to the grass with seven birdies and zero bogeys. His objective was met through an exceptional display of iron play, consistently leaving himself with "kick-in" birdie opportunities on the front nine.

The leaderboard is tightly packed behind him, with Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert and LIV Golf’s Young-han Song sitting in a tie for second at 6-under-par 65. Song, a former winner in Japan, utilized his familiarity with the local grasses to navigate the afternoon gusts successfully. Other notable starts include John Catlin and Yuxin Lin, who both posted 5-under-par 66 to remain firmly in the hunt. Meanwhile, local favorites Hiroshi Iwata and Shintaro Imahira stayed within striking distance at 4-under-par, while defending champion Lucas Herbert faced a tougher opening day, fighting to stay near the projected cut line.

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