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Randhawa and Mardan gear up for Brunei

Indian ace Jyoti Randhawa and Singaporean number one Mardan Mamat hope to hit high gear and resume their winning ways at the US$300,000 Brunei Open starting on Thursday.

The talented duo have been playing in Europe over the past few weeks but with the resumption of the second half of the Asian Tour season this month, the search for success continues at the Empire Hotel and Country Club.

“It’s nice to be here playing in Asia once again. It’s a good feeling to come back because Asia is where I started. I feel great and I like the heat and humidity,” said Randhawa, who is looking to improve on his 47th ranking on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit.

The 2002 Asian Tour number one, with five titles under his belt, will tee off at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Empire Hotel and Country Club as the firm favourite and he hopes to taste victory again following his last success at the 2004 Volvo Masters of Asia.

“I want to do the minimum of 10 events which is my aim as I want to be ranked here in Asia. If I manage to do that, it would be good. There are some good players here so if I can win, it would be great," said Randhawa, who has also retained his European Tour card for 2007.

Mardan hopes to march on to a solid outing in Brunei after he concluded the first half of the season in third place at the Bangkok Airways Open. It was a mental boost for Mardan who previously enjoyed an emotional win on home soil at the Osim Singapore Masters.

“I came back two weeks ago after spending time competing in Europe. I am looking forward to a good return in Asia,” said Mardan, the first Singaporean to win a co-sanctioned European Tour event. “I am eager to finish strongly for the end of the season.”

Defending champion Terry Pilkadaris of Australia has made his intentions clear with the return of his wife Monique as caddie following an injury earlier in the year.

“Monique is back on the bag. She was supposed to be caddying earlier on in the season but she fractured her ankle so she missed a couple of events but she’s back and will caddy this week and the Barclays Singapore Open,” said Pilkadaris. Monique helped steer the Aussie to his third Asian Tour title in last year’s Brunei Open.

“I am feeling confident. We have Thaworn Wiratchant and Mardan in the field and if anyone is playing well, there is a chance they can win. The key here is to drive it straight and you have to make the putts. If you are good with your short irons, you can attack the course here.”

The other stars who will contend include Thai ace Thaworn who after a blistering pace last season, hopes to rejoin the winning ranks in Brunei. Thaworn, last year’s Order of Merit winner, is brimming with confidence after producing his strongest finish yet this year at the Crowne Plaza Open in China last week with a tied fourth finish

Two time Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee and SK Telecom Open winner Prom Meesawat, however, have pulled out of the Brunei Open. Chinarat Phadungsil, who won his second Asian Tour title at the Crowne Plaza Open last week, has also pulled out of the event due to back problems.

August 22, 2006