Korea’s Jeongwoo Ham completed a wire-to-wire victory at the Singapore Open presented by The Business Times, closing out a tense final-day battle at Sentosa’s Serapong course.
Ham carded a 3-under 68 to finish at 16-under, securing a two-shot win over Australia’s Cameron John at the US$ 2 million International Series event. Both players earned spots in this summer’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
The final round was disrupted by weather, with play suspended for over three and a half hours due to lightning, adding another layer of difficulty to an already demanding day.
Among the Indians, Pukhraj Singh Gill and Gaganjeet Bhullar were the best performers, finishing tied 26th at 4-under 280. Gill (71-70-72-67) produced one of the standout rounds of the day with a closing 67, climbing sharply from tied 45th overnight.
“This is one of the biggest paycheques I’ve had. It was my first International Series event, and I’m glad I made the most of the opportunity,” said Gill.
The young Indian, who earned his spot through the IGPL pathway, used his length to good effect. “The setup suited me. It was longer, and I could take advantage off the tee. I think I birdied all the par-5s,” he added.
Bhullar (67-68-72-73), who had been inside the top six through the first three rounds, slipped after a final-round 73 that included four bogeys and a double. He did, however, finish with birdies on his last two holes.
At the top, Ham began the day with a four-shot cushion and maintained control despite pressure from John. The Australian briefly threatened but couldn’t close the gap down the stretch.
Ham sealed the win at the par-5 18th, reaching the green in two before a routine birdie, while John’s par wasn’t enough to force a playoff.
“Honestly, I struggle in this heat, so I just tried to play quickly and not overthink,” Ham said. “That actually helped me stay relaxed.”
The win makes Ham the second Korean to lift the title after Younghan Song in 2016.
For John, it was still a breakthrough week. “I’ve dreamed of playing Majors all my life. To qualify like this means everything,” said the 23-year-old.
Karandeep Kochhar, the other Indian to make the cut, struggled to a final-round 76 to finish 70th at 11-over 295.
What it means: Ham caps a dominant week with a composed finish, while Gill’s rise highlights India’s growing depth through new pathways.
What’s next: The Asian Tour moves forward with momentum building in The International Series, as players continue chasing places in the LIV Golf League and Major championships.
Photo – Asian Tour
