Inaugural Ericsson Masters tees-off in world class style<\/p>\n
By Bobby Allen Wilson<\/p>\n
BINTAN, Riau (JP): Asia-Pacific pro golfers will get to see
\nthe Jack Nicklaus-designed Championship Course at Bintan Lagoon
\nGolf Resort here when the US$500,000 Asia-Pacific Ericsson
\nMasters tees-off tomorrow.<\/p>\n
The inaugural Ericsson Masters has all the trappings of a
\ntruly world class event in terms of the venue, prize money and
\nthe caliber of golfers as top players from the world's leading
\nprofessional circuits will compete from Sept. 11 to Sept. 14.<\/p>\n
The high profile status of the tournament has attracted many
\nbig name players from the PGA Omega Tour and the PGA Tour of
\nAustralasia to Bintan, just a 45 minute ferry journey from
\nSingapore.<\/p>\n
The tournament is being jointly sanctioned by the two tours so
\nincludes the region's finest players.<\/p>\n
\"The Asia-Pacific Ericsson Masters will be one of the
\nshowpiece events on the Asian golf calender,\" Asian PGA executive
\ndirector Ramlan Harun said.<\/p>\n
\"The tournament is being held in an outstanding setting and,
\nwith so many leading players competing, the Masters should really
\ncapture the imagination of the golfing public,\" the Malaysian
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Top ten<\/p>\n
Seven of the top-10 players on the Omega Order of Merit will
\nbe playing including American Gerry Norquist, who holds top spot.<\/p>\n
Myanmar's Zaw Moe, in second place and winner of last month's
\nSingTel Ericsson Singapore Open, will also compete.<\/p>\n
Number three American Mike Cunning, number five Chinese Cheng
\nJun, number seven American Fran Quinn, number eight South African
\nDes Terblanche and number 10 Thai Boonchu Ruangkit will all be
\ngunning for glory.<\/p>\n
Omega Tour regular Kyi Hla Han will also be among the
\nfavorites. The Myanmar man, winner of this year's Rolex Masters
\nin Singapore, is Bintan Lagoon's Touring Professional.<\/p>\n
The number one player on the 1996\/97 PGA Tour of Australasia
\nFinal Order of Merit list, Australian Peter Lonard, will lead the
\nline-up from Down Under and will be joined by New Zealand's
\nMichael Long, who ended the season third on the merit list.<\/p>\n
Another major contender for the Asia Pacific Ericsson Masters
\ntitle will be one of the world's most exciting young golfers, New
\nZealand's Michael Campbell.<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old Maori already has a winning connection with
\nIndonesia having won the Alfred Dunhill Masters in Jakarta in
\n1995, the same year he ended joint third in the British Open at
\nSt. Andrews.<\/p>\n
The Masters, is the 14th stop on the 24-leg 1997 Omega Tour
\nbeing played in 16 Asia-Pacific countries.<\/p>\n
It offers total cash prizes of nearly US$7 million.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, as the host country, has the right to field five of
\nits best with Kasiadi being the leader of the five who will be
\ntrying to grab the $80,750 winner's check.<\/p>\n
The other four Indonesian golfers will be Burhan Bora, Maan
\nNaasim, Bahtiar and Iljasak.<\/p>\n
Burhan produced a course record 66 to win the East Java Open
\ntitle at the Ciputra Golf Club in Surabaya on Aug. 24.<\/p>\n
Kasiadi made Indonesian golf history in 1989 by becoming the
\nfirst local player to win the Indonesian Open.<\/p>\n
Maan and Kasiadi have played in three Omega Tour events -- the
\nIndonesian Open at Jagorawi last April, the Sabah Masters, and
\nthe Singapore Open last August.<\/p>\n
Kasiadi, who came equal 30th in the Indonesian Open, finished
\nsecond in the Sabah Masters and equal fourth in the Singapore
\nOpen on Aug. 17.<\/p>\n
Burhan, who was seven strokes behind overnight leader Kasiadi
\nas he entered the final round of the East Java Open, beat Kasiadi
\nby one shot after a tremendous finishing the round of a 66 (33
\n33). This was Burhan's first major title since turning pro three
\nyears ago.<\/p>",
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