Top amateurs to debut at Volvo Masters of Asia

In an exciting new development for the Volvo Masters of Asia, which is the season ending Tour Championship on the Asian Tour, the organisers have taken the forward thinking decision to invite leading amateur golfers in the region to compete.

Volvo, one of the most active sponsors of golf in Asia, and the burgeoning Asian Tour recently agreed to continue their aim of helping to promote the game at all levels by moving forward with this new initiative for this year’s event, which tees off at the Thai Country Club, from December 14 to 17.

Letters have been sent to Asian golfing bodies asking them to put forward the names of their leading amateurs.

One amateur from each country will be selected to play in the prestigious event and the final decision will be made by a special committee consisting of the key individuals involved with the Volvo Masters of Asia, which was won last year by Indian Shiv Kapur.

The Volvo Masters of Asia is a restricted field event that features the elite top 60 professional players from the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, taken after UBS Hong Kong Open.

“The Volvo Masters of Asia showcases the stars of today, but with top amateurs playing, Volvo and the Asian Tour hope to nurture the stars of the future,” says Mel Pyatt, President and Chief Executive Officer, Volvo Event Management.

“In the past we have invited some local amateurs to compete but we are now taking a bold new step forward to set a permanent arrangement whereby the finest amateurs can hone their skills against the best players on the Asian Tour,” added Pyatt.

The respective golfing associations have been asked to submit a shortlist of the top amateurs who they feel are worthy of a place in what is the fifth Volvo Masters of Asia.

“We have asked the associations to also send us the resumes of their top amateurs which in particular indicate their playing achievements to date. These amateurs will really be a bonus for the Volvo Masters of Asia and will add to the spectacle of the event,” said Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman, Asian Tour.

“No half-way cut is made in the Volvo Masters of Asia meaning the amateurs will be able to revel in playing all four rounds in one of Asia’s finest events. It will serve as an invaluable learning experience,” added Han.

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh is chasing a hatrick of titles in Volvo events this year having won the Volvo China Open and the Volvo Masters in Spain. He is also on the threshold of winning the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit title and will no doubt be an inspiration to the young amateurs who receive an invite to the tournament.

November 13, 2006

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