Nick Voke has recorded some impressive results on and off The International Series already this season, and the New Zealander is hoping for some good fortune to go with that fine form as he looks to climb the rankings – starting with a good showing at the Jakarta International Championship in Indonesia this week.
This season has brought two top-20s – a T19 at International Series Macau presented by Wynn and a T12 at International Series Japan presented by Moutai, as well as an impressive victory at the Webex Players Series Sydney on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Things could have been even better for the 30-year-old, who now sits at 42 on The International Series Rankings going into the latter half of the season. He has only played two out of four events despite being in the field for all four events scheduled.
Voke missed out on the high-profile season opener, International Series India presented by DLF which featured an all-star field including LIV Golf stars Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann and Anirban Lahiri, as well as the most recent outing, International Series Morocco, won by 2022 International Series rankings champion Scott Vincent.
Voke explains: “There are just some things that are out of control, right? In India, I was there every day. I was ready. But I had stomach issues from something I picked up the week before, I obviously ate the wrong thing, and all of a sudden I had to go to the doctor every day, I was nearly on an IV drip. I made the trip over but that was unfortunate.
“Then with Morocco, I filed for my green card in the US and you are not able to travel until you get travel authorization. So I was there about five months in the end and could not travel. But I am here now and ready to go!”
Voke showed his potential last season with consecutive seventh-place finishes at the Black Mountain Championship and International Series Thailand.
He is eager to make up for lost time, in an exciting season finale that takes in the Damai Indah Golf PIK Course in Jakarta before moving on for some high-profile tournaments in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore and Saudi.
He said: “I have been playing well for a while. With results like those (on The International Series), it is just a matter of, ‘how do you turn those into top 10s’? I am looking forward to playing this big stretch. I want to get into contention this year. I won in Sydney, and you really know your true stripes when you are under the gun and things really matter. It has been a validation that I am on the right path, and I hope I can get into contention.”
Compatriot Denzel Ieremia admits he is enjoying life as he continues to settle into his first full season on The International Series and Asian Tour.
The former Iowa State man showed he has the potential to mix it with the best last time out by recording a superb T3 at International Series Morocco, a result that lifted him to 17th in the Rankings race.
The 29-year-old secured his Asian Tour card at Q School last year, and he is hoping for another strong show in Jakarta after impressing last season with a T19 in the Mandiri Indonesia Open at the same venue.
Ieremia said: “I was obviously a bit nervous going into it this year, because I have never played a full season out here. I didn't know how many events you need to play, get enough points, keep the card, or do well on the money list. I have been trying to play as well as I can every week.
“I think the thing that clicked in Morocco was probably the course set up; it was really nice for me. I could hit a lot of driver, hit my lines well, I just felt comfortable with the length and how the course was set up.
“I think it is overall a combination of hard work earlier in the year and at the end of last season. I have still never really played a full season, so I think being able to plan out a whole year has given me a bit more time to plan travel, plan practice and go into events a bit more prepared than I have previously.”
The International Series is the most prized pathway in golf. It consists of a set of elite tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour and offers the year-long Rankings Winner & Runner-Up promotion to the LIV Golf League.
