Frost backs Asians at HK Open Golf C'ship
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