Syndicated Thumbnail Navigation player featuring a selection of clips taken from Golf Bug TV. For use on the Golf Today website. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1175881076http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=495713462 RELATED STORIES ASEAN Golf Tour launched with five tournaments Chia aims to make up for early 2006 Brunei exit Que happy with his Malaysian week's work Lam aims for Singapore golf history at Carnoustie ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Open: Choi takes lead with two closing birdies Open: Liang makes first major cut with fighting 71 Open: Lam makes cut and Singapore golf history Open: Late bogies mean early exit for Prayad IGF forms Olympic Committee with eye to 2016 Mission Hills to host AP Summit GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES R 3: Norman takes a two shot lead R 3: Duval stumbles to an 83 R 3: Injury bonus for Harrington R 3: Wakefield boosts local hopes R 3: KJ Choi remains in contention R 3: Garcia disappointed with a 74

Established names among first ASEAN Tour field

The first event on the ASEAN Golf Tour tees off tomorrow in Indonesia and to the delight of organizers it has been extremely well supported by the region’s professional golfers.

A total of 110 players have entered the inaugural International Championship presented by Telkomsel, including established names such as Malaysians Danny Chia and P. Gunasegaran, Filipino Angelo Que, Lam Chih Bing from Singapore and Indonesian IIyasak.

The US$50,000 tournament is being played at Imperial Klub Golf near Jakarta and is one of five events on this year’s ASEAN Golf Tour - which has been set up in order to provide more playing opportunities for professionals who do not have the chance to compete in the region’s bigger events.

Quick to seize upon the opportunity this week are a total of 68 players of Indonesia, 22 from Malaysia, 12 Thais, plus competitors from Singapore, the Philippines and Myanmar.

Que, who is currently ranked 51st on the Asian Tour, is thrilled that the new Tour is up and running. He said: “This is really good for the ASEAN region. It is a chance for up and coming players to get more tournament experience while also earn some money.”

The Filipino, who has won once on the Asian Tour, is one of three players from his country playing this week but is confident that many more will play in the forthcoming events. Four more events are planned this year in the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand.

“A lot of Filipinos had planned to come over but there were a few visa problems and some players had other commitments but there will be a lot more playing in the future. We only have about five or six small events back home so we are crying out for events like this,” added Que, who is also joined by compatriot Carito Villaroman.

Malaysia’s most successful golfer Chia, also a winner on the Asian Tour, is looking forward to the first ball being struck on Tour.

“The Tour is a great idea. Players from the ASEAN countries do not get as many playing opportunities as they should. You really have to play fantastic golf to get into the top events in the region so chances are limited. It is the same in Malaysia where there are not enough events,” said Chia.

Other notable players competing this week are Malaysians Murthi, Shaaban Hussin, and Siva Chandran, Singaporeans Poh Eng Wah and Gary Gwek, and Indonesians Junai Ibraham, and Sansui.

Rising star Andik Mauladin and Benni Kasiadi – the son of former Indonesian Open winner Kasiadi – are two of the five top Indonesian amateurs playing.

Young Vuttipong Puangkeaw, who has played three events on the Asian Tour this season and is hungry to play more tournaments, is the leading Thai competing.

The four-round tournament finishes on Saturday with the winner earning a cheque for US$8,075.

The promoter of the International Championship presented by Telkomsel is International Sports Tour while it is sanctioned by the Indonesian PGA - whose team of Tournament Director Pak Ray Hindarto and referees are overseeing the smooth running of the event.

September 4, 2007