In-form Cejka heads for Dunhill Masters
In-form Cejka heads for Dunhill Masters
JAKARTA (JP): Fresh from the biggest win of his career, rising
German star Alexander Cejka is setting his sights on a second
successive victory in Thursday's Alfred Dunhill Masters at the
Emaralda Golf Course near here.
The Czech-born 24-year-old underlined his standing as one of
golf's brightest prospects with a stunning triumph at the PGA
European Tour's season finisher Volvo Masters which ended on
Sunday.
Withstanding an onslaught from Europe's finest player, Cejka
(right photo) produced a commendably mature display over the
Valderrama course in Spain to finish as the player under par,
ending two strokes clear at 282 of Scotland's Colin Montgomerie.
Cejka's third victory of the season -- following the Turespana
Open Andalucia in March and the Austrian Open in August -- earned
him a check for 125,000 pound and lifted him into sixth place on
the final 1995 European Tour Money list with total earnings of
almost 300,000 pounds.
Now Cejka will turn his attention to the US$400,000 Alfred
Dunhill Masters which tees off at the par-72 Emeralda Golf and
Country Club on Thursday.
In the wake of his latest win, Cejka is sure to be among the
pre-tournament favorites.
He can expect stiff competition from a host of big-name stars,
including Welshman Ian Woosnam, New Zealander Michael Campbell
and Fijian Vijay Singh.
Like Cejka, all three arrive here after posting good
performances last week.
U.S. Masters
Former world number one and U.S. Masters champion Woosnam, a
hero of Europe's stunning Ryder Cup victory against the Americans
at Oak Hill in September, continued his impressive form by
finishing tied for fourth at Valderrama with a 286.
Kiwi Campbell has enjoyed an outstanding season with a
succession of top-10 finishes in Europe, ending fifth on the
Money List.
While Cejka, Woosnam and Campbell will be jetting into Jakarta
from Europe, globe-trotting Singh comes direct from America where
he finished fourth in the U.S. Tour Championship which ended in
Oklahoma on Sunday.
Singh, one of the biggest hitters in the game, will be hoping
to repeat the success he achieved on his previous Asian sortie at
the beginning of September when he traveled to South Korea and
won the Passport Open on the Asian PGA Tour.
In last year's inaugural Alfred Dunhill Masters at Bali Golf
and Country Club, Singh and Campbell were both in contention.
While victory ultimately went to Canadian Jack Kay, Singh ended
third with Campbell in a joint seventh spot.
Extended coverage of the Alfred Dunhill Masters can be seen on
STAR TV's Prime Sports channel as well as local stations. (rsl).