Thaworn and Zhang head Brunei star cast

Thaworn Wiratchant's pursuit for Asia's coveted number one crown will take him to the inaugural Brunei Open later this month where he will face a stellar field which includes Visa Dynasty Cup teammates Zhang Lian-wei of China (pictured), India's Amandeep Johl, Singaporean Mardan Mamat and compatriot Boonchu Ruangkit.

Thaworn, currently leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit, has committed to the US$300,000 Championship and will undoubtedly be amongst the contenders at Empire Hotel and Country Club from June 23-26.

The US$300,000 Brunei Open, the sultanate's first ever professional golf tournament, has also attracted seven other players from the current top-15 of the Asian Tour money ranking. They are Simon Yates of Scotland, New Zealand's Richard Lee and Australians Scott Barr, Scott Strange, Terry Pilkadaris, Adam Fraser and Marcus Both.

All eyes will be on the 38-year-old Thaworn, who is the man in form. And the Bangkok-based Thai, who has one victory and two top-fives under his belt already this year, is fired up to make it a winning debut in Brunei.

"I've never been to Brunei and I'll be looking to win the tournament. My game is good right now and that's why I've performed well in recent months. I'm proud to be the current number one on the Order of Merit but it's just halfway through the season.

"I still need to work hard at my game," said Thaworn, who won the Enjoy Jakarta Standard Chartered Indonesia Open in March and was runner-up at last month's Maekyung Open in Korea.

China's self-taught Zhang, a legend in Asia with five career victories and has wins over Ernie Els, Nick Price and Colin Montgomerie, will stand in Thaworn's way as he too is determined to get back into the winner's circle.

Currently ranked 24th on the money list, the 40-year-old Zhang has been consistent with only one missed cut from eight starts this year and yielded a lone top-10 at the recent Macau Open.

At the Visa Dynasty Cup, a Ryder Cup style showdown between Asia and Japan, Zhang became the only player to maintain a 100 percent record in two editions when he won all his three matches, including a singles defeat of Shigeki Maruyama, in Asia's five point triumph in April.

"I am pleased with my performance but the results that I expect are still not quite there," admitted the Chinese star, whose last success was 18 months ago at the Volvo China Open.

"I've gained a lot of confidence from my new equipment after receiving new irons from Honma and playing the new Nike ball and I hope to ride on this crest.

"I'm looking forward to Brunei as it will be my first competitive event since the Macau Open (where he finished eighth). I understand that the Empire course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and that it will pose a good challenge," he added.

Several of the Asian Tour stalwarts who are bound for the British Open at St Andrews, Scotland in July will also use the Brunei Open as their final preparation for the year's third Major.

Singaporean Mamat, Malaysia's Danny Chia and Richard Moir of Australia earned their British Open places through qualifying in Malaysia earlier this year and have taken up the challenge to compete in Brunei's first national Open.

The Brunei Open, supported by Brunei Tourism, Empire Hotel and Country Club and Brunei Darussalam Golf Association, will bring the front half of the 2005 Asian Tour season to a close before the Tour takes its traditional summer break.

The Brunei Open is the 15th leg on the Schedule, with another 13 events slated for the second half of the year which will resume in September.

June 8, 2005

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