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).