Asian Tour Final Q School test for Wallace
Booth, Lee Harper and Van De Velde
NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR
Hua Hin , Thailand: A bevy of talented players will chase their dreams of securing playing rights in Asia when the Asian Tour Qualifying School Presented by Sports Authority of Thailand, starts on Wednesday.
Open championship runner-up at Carnoustie in 1999, Jean Van De Velde of France will headline the field that includes past Asian Tour winners, Kane Webber of Australia , Harmeet Kahlon of India , Filipino Artemio Murakami and the American trio of Edward Loar, Clay Devers and Bryan Saltus.
Open championship runner-up at Carnoustie in 1999, Jean Van De Velde of France will headline the field that includes past Asian Tour winners, Kane Webber of Australia , Harmeet Kahlon of India , Filipino Artemio Murakami and the American trio of Edward Loar, Clay Devers and Bryan Saltus.
Scots who have come through the Stage 1 eliminators are rookie pro and last year's Walker Cup team member Wallace Booth (Comrie) and past Scottish boys champion and EuroPro Tour event winner Lee Harper (Archerfield Links).
The Asian Tour Qualifying School will be played over two courses at the Jack Nicklaus designed Springfield Royal Country Club and Palm Hills Golf Club. Players will play on alternate courses for the first two rounds while the final two rounds will be played at Springfield Royal Country Club.
Having missed the cut to secure his Tour card in 2007, Van De Velde will need to shake-off a bout of food poisoning to earn his playing privileges in Asia where 28 tournaments with total prize fund of US$39 million will be staged this season.
“I decided to play more golf in Asia because my wife and kids are based in Hong Kong and Asia is where my life is now. Asia is exciting, there are good tournaments and great players.
“I need a change of scenery as well. After playing 20 years in Europe , I decided that it is time to do something different,” said Van De Velde.
Four Chinese hopefuls, Shang Lei, Liao Gui Ming, Kong Wei Hai and Chen Jian, who are sponsored by Liang Wen-chong, Asia ’s number one in 2007, are also in the mix.
Liang, who sponsored the quartet through his foundation, hopes they will win spots in Asia and further harness their talents.
“Those four young players have rich experience and potential, they share key role in China golf’s development. So we hope they can get a great result and have an opportunity to attend the 2010 Asian Tour,” said Liang.
Murakami, the 2007 Iskandar Johor Open winner, who failed to retain his Tour card last season after finishing in 70th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, is hoping to bounce back and re-capture his Tour card.
“I have been practising a lot in the Philippines , and I’m hitting it much better now. It all comes down to putting as it was the main reason why I have been playing so badly last year.
“I missed all the cuts in the big events last season and it was disappointing. That really cost me. My aim now is to get into the top-40 and try to win again on the Asian Tour,” said Murakami, who won a junior tournament at the Springfield Royal Country Club in 1998.
Rory Hie, who won a tournament in Indonesia last month, is determined to repeat last year’s feat where he became the first Indonesian to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour.
“Last year was a learning curve for me and I hope to put it to good use. A lot of top players are consistent with their game and that’s what I need to do. My form is now back on track and hopefully I can earn my card again,” said Hie.
The Asian Tour Qualifying School will be played over two courses at the Jack Nicklaus designed Springfield Royal Country Club and Palm Hills Golf Club. Players will play on alternate courses for the first two rounds while the final two rounds will be played at Springfield Royal Country Club.
Having missed the cut to secure his Tour card in 2007, Van De Velde will need to shake-off a bout of food poisoning to earn his playing privileges in Asia where 28 tournaments with total prize fund of US$39 million will be staged this season.
“I decided to play more golf in Asia because my wife and kids are based in Hong Kong and Asia is where my life is now. Asia is exciting, there are good tournaments and great players.
“I need a change of scenery as well. After playing 20 years in Europe , I decided that it is time to do something different,” said Van De Velde.
Four Chinese hopefuls, Shang Lei, Liao Gui Ming, Kong Wei Hai and Chen Jian, who are sponsored by Liang Wen-chong, Asia ’s number one in 2007, are also in the mix.
Liang, who sponsored the quartet through his foundation, hopes they will win spots in Asia and further harness their talents.
“Those four young players have rich experience and potential, they share key role in China golf’s development. So we hope they can get a great result and have an opportunity to attend the 2010 Asian Tour,” said Liang.
Murakami, the 2007 Iskandar Johor Open winner, who failed to retain his Tour card last season after finishing in 70th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, is hoping to bounce back and re-capture his Tour card.
“I have been practising a lot in the Philippines , and I’m hitting it much better now. It all comes down to putting as it was the main reason why I have been playing so badly last year.
“I missed all the cuts in the big events last season and it was disappointing. That really cost me. My aim now is to get into the top-40 and try to win again on the Asian Tour,” said Murakami, who won a junior tournament at the Springfield Royal Country Club in 1998.
Rory Hie, who won a tournament in Indonesia last month, is determined to repeat last year’s feat where he became the first Indonesian to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour.
“Last year was a learning curve for me and I hope to put it to good use. A lot of top players are consistent with their game and that’s what I need to do. My form is now back on track and hopefully I can earn my card again,” said Hie.
Labels: ASIAN TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Tuesday, January 12, 2010
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