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Young guns going for glory in Pulai Springs

An exciting trio of Asian Tour young guns will be looking to blaze the trail of glory in the inaugural Pulai Springs Malaysian Masters next week.

Teenage sensation Chinarat Phadungsil of Thailand, compatriot Prom Meesawat and India's rising star Shiv Kapur represent the future of Asian golf and their talents will be on full display at the Pulai Springs Resort.

They will challenge the likes of last season's top-ranked Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand and former number one Jyoti Randhawa of India for honours in the US$300,000 event.

Amongst the trio, the 17-year-old Chinarat has already won twice in the region while the 24-year-old Kapur and Prom, 22, have also tasted spectacular victories.

After making history last season by becoming the youngest winner with his success at the Double A International Open on home soil, Chinarat reinforced his tremendous potential with a play-off victory over Prom at the Crowne Plaza Open in China last week.

Chinarat's ultimate golfing goal will be to qualify and play on the US PGA Tour but the teenager hopes to continue stamping his mark in Asia. "I would like to finish in the top-10 of the UBS Order of Merit this season," said the 19th ranked player. "Maybe I will try to win the merit title within a few years time."

He withdrew from the on-going Brunei Open this week due to a slight back injury but is ready to launch another title assault at Pulai Springs Resort. Chinarat will also be driven by the memory of his coach Bud Kareeput, who died last month from a heart attack.

"I'm giving this win to my teacher (Bud)," said Chinarat, who held back tears at the prize presentation ceremony in China. "I feel very happy. On every shot, I was thinking of him. I asked for his help on the last hole (in regulation) and he helped me birdie the hole."

Kapur has also grown in stature following his magnificent triumph at the Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok last December. Since that success, he has earned his European Tour card for 2007 but hopes to return to winning ways in the Pulai Springs Malaysian Masters, especially after he had previously won the Malaysian Amateur Open.

"I last played in Asia in May. So Johor will kind of mark my return to the Asian Tour after a few months being in Europe. Now that I've got my European card, I want to get up on the UBS Order of Merit in Asia.

"I'm looking forward to the Pulai Springs Malaysian Masters as it’ll be a good field. I’ve had some success in Malaysia in the past and I'm looking forward to it," said Kapur.

After a stellar amateur career, the burly Prom finally broke through with victory at the SK Telecom Open in Korea against an eliete field that included Korean star Choi Kyung-ju and female teenage phenom Michelle Wie.

Prom came close to toppling his close friend Chinarat last week with a final round 65 to force a play-off but he is still casting an eye on a second Asian Tour title, especially when he feels his vision on the putting greens have improved following corrective laser eye surgery.

"I can read the lines better on the putting greens," said Prom, who is fifth on the UBS Order of Merit. "Chinarat and I are trying to follow our Thai seniors like Boonchu Ruangkit in winning regularly in Asia," said Prom.

August 24, 2006