Frost backs Asians at HK Open Golf C'ship

By Bobby Allan Wilson

HONG KONG (JP): South African David Frost has tipped an Asian player to win this week's star-studded Andersen Consulting US$850,000 Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Despite the presence of big-name players at the prestigious Hong Kong event due to tee off today, which this year for the first time is a specially approved event on the Asian PGA's Omega Tour, Frost feels a player from the region could repeat Filipino Rodrigo Cuello's winning performance of last year.

"You can't help but notice the progress that has been made by Asian golf," said Frost, winner of the event in 1994.

"The standards are getting better all the time. There are definitely the players coming through (from the Omega Tour), which is great for the sport. I saw a guy from India (Jeev Milkha Singh) has come through qualifying school for the European Tour, which is obviously a sign that Asian golf is on an upward curve."

"It's making enormous strides," added the South African, who will be joined by star players Frank Nobilo of New Zealand, Italian Costantino Rocca, Ireland's Ronan Rafferty, England's Barry Lane and Richard Boxall and Scotland's Raymond Russell.

Frost's comments are particularly appropriate this week with the Open having such an important bearing on the Omega Order of Merit race.

American Mike Cunning leads the Merit list on $164,179 from two emerging Asian players Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, who has earned $123,805, and European Tour-bound Singh, on $105,313.

Just two counting events remain on the Omega Tour, this week's event, boasting total prize money of $350,000 and next week's $500,000 Omega PGA Championship, also being played in Hong Kong.

Cunning leads the money list despite having not won this year on Tour.

Not surprised

Prayad has claimed two titles, the Yokohama Singapore PGA Championship and Lexus International, while Singh is also winless.

The South Africans comments were echoed by Nobilo who was full of praise for last year's Omega Order of Merit winner Kang Wook- soon of Korea.

"I was very impressed with him, both as a player and a man which is important," said Nobilo, who played against Kang at this year's Alfred Dunhill Cup at St. Andrews in Scotland.

Prayad followed up his win in the Lexus International with joint 10th place in last week's Tugu Pratama PGA Championship in Indonesia while Singh will be raring to get back into Asian action after qualifying for the PGA European Tour.

Leading Omega Order of Merit rankings: 1. Mike Cunning (USA) US$164,179 2. Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) $123,805 3. Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) $105,375 4. Ted Purdy (USA) $105,313 5. Gerry Norquist (USA) $102,674 6. Des Terblanche (RSA) $98,696 7. Clay Devers (USA) $95,563 8. Adrian Percey (Aus) $95,037 9. Zaw Moe (Mya) $91,662 10. Thammanoon Sriroj (Tha) $84,917 11. Jim Rutledge (Can) $82,987 12. Park No-seok (Kor) $81,850 13. Charlie Wi (Kor) $81,711 14. Daren Cole (USA) $80,750 15. Fran Quinn (USA) $80,677 16. Mo Joong-kyung (Kor) $80,210 17. Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha) $80,052 18. Cheng Jun (Chn) $79,250 19. Craig Kamps (Rsa) $74,971 20. Chang Tse-peng (Tpe) $72,620 21. Park Nam-sin (Kor) $68,046 22. Arjun Atwal (Ind) $63,923 23. Wang Ter-chang (Twn) $63,503 24. Scott Laycock (Aus) $63,337 25. Christian Pena (USA) $63,013 31. Kasiadi (Ina) $53,406