International Series Japan: Smyth Wins With Final-Hole Eagle As Kochhar Finishes Fifth

India's Karandeep Kochhar carded a clutch final round in Chiba. He closed with four birdies, including three in a row, to finish fifth. The US$2 million International Series Japan ended Sunday at Caledonian Golf Club. Australia’s Travis Smyth won after an eagle on the par-five 18th.

Kochhar stayed bogey-free after a tough third round. He picked up birdies on the 4th, 16th, 17th, and 18th holes. His total was 12-under 272 for the week. That left him three shots behind champion Smyth. The result gave India a strong finish in the opening International Series event.

Travis Smyth seals title with final-hole eagle

Smyth began the last day two behind the co-leaders. He birdied the 1st, 2nd and 6th to close the gap. Birdies on 13 and 16 moved him within one. His 20-foot eagle putt on 18 gave him a seven-under 64. He finished at 15-under, winning by one shot.

Thailand's Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Japan's Ryosuke Kinoshita shared second. Both finished at 14-under, one behind Smyth. Pavit fired a round of 62 from the 10th from last group. Kinothe shita shot 63 from the sixth group. Their low scores changed the shape of the leaderboard late.

Early leaders slip on the final day.

Korea's Hongtaek Kim and Japan’s Shugo Imahira started Sunday tied. Both had trouble matching the low scoring. Kim signed for a 69 and tied for fifth with Kochhar. Imahira shot 70 and finished equal seventh. The course played nearly three shots easier during the final round.

Smyth reflects on childhood, putting dreams.

Smyth said his winning putt felt like childhood practice. “That's what dreams are made of right there,” he said. Here, I called playing games with friends as a kid. He compared the moment with a similar downhill putt. That earlier putt came in a win two weeks ago.

This victory is Smyth’s first on The International Series. The International Series is the upper tier of Asian Tour events. It offers a pathway to the LIV Golf League. Smyth now has two Asian Tour wins, after the 2022 Yeangder TPC. He also leads the International Theories Rankings.

Smyth captured the ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship last month. That win put him on track for the 2025/26 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit. He has opened the Asian Tour season strongly. He recorded third and fifth place in the first two events. He now tops the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Truslow’s unusual route to eagle

American AEagle Truslow finished alone in fourth, two back. He closed with 65, highlighted by an unusual eagle on 16. His first tee shot hit overhanging cables, so he replayed. The second drive found the green. He holed from about 30 feet. He missed another long eagle try on 18.

The Asian Tour schedule now shifts focus to Singapore. The next stop is the Singapore Open presented by The Business Times. The tournament carries a US$2 million purse. It will be played on The Serapong at Sentosa Golf Club. The dates are 23 to 26 April, and it is also an International Series event.