Maan set to fight in Johnnie Walker Tour
JAKARTA (JP): Eager to pit his skill against seven of the world's golfing supermen, Indonesia's Maan Naasim, is gearing up for one of Asia's foremost golfing tournaments, the 1997 Johnnie Walker Super Tour.
The battle of the world's golfing jetset will blast off at Emeralda Golf and Country Club near here on Dec. 9 following the Johnnie Walker International Inter-Club event scheduled for Dec. 7 to Dec. 8 at the same layout.
Flying in will be Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Jesper Parnevik, Boonchu Ruangkit, Felix Casas, Hong Chiang-Yuh and Maan -- each vying for supremacy in one of Asia's most logistically challenging tournaments.
The prestigious Emeralda at Cimanggis, 25 kms southeast of the capital, will be a breathtaking start to the grueling competition, which will see players embark upon a lightning tour across Asia, competing in four different countries in the space of six days.
The golfers will be traveling on a luxury privately chartered jet to ensure they are comfortable and suitably refreshed.
If last year's inaugural event is anything to go by, then the 1997 Super Tour will provide some great golfing moments.
Current U.S. Open champion, 1997 Johnnie Walker Classic champion and 1996 Super Tour winner, Els from South Africa will be defending the title against England's Faldo -- with six majors to his name; one of the most successful players of the modern era,
1996 Super Tour runner up and 1966 Johnnie Walker Classic champion Woosnam from Wales, and Sweden's Parnevik who is enjoying one of his most successful years on tour, including finishing second in the 1997 British Open at Royal Troon are the other non-Asians.
Joining Maan, winner of the 1996 Jakarta circuit and national top money earner this season, will be other big Asian names: Thailand's Boonchu -- winner of the 1997 Myanmar Open; and one of Asia's most respected players, Taiwan's much acclaimed young amateur Hong Chia-Yuh -- who recently became the first non- professional in 40 years to win the Japan Open, and finally, a veteran of last year's Super Tour, the highly rated Casas of the Philippines.
Ready
"I'm ready to face the stiff battle. And to complement my eagerness I've been practicing at Emeralda for the last four days," Maan said yesterday.
After finishing at Emeralda, the players will board the Johnnie Walker Super Tour jet for the next round on Dec. 11 at the Panya Indra Golf Club in Bangkok. The next destination will be Boracay in the Philippines, with the third round teeing off on Dec. 13 at the Fairway and Bluewater Resort Golf and Country Club.
The Super Tour's final leg is in Taipei, Taiwan, at the Ta Shee Golf and Country Club on Dec. 14.
The winner of the 72-hole strokeplay tournament will receive US$100,000 with the runner up picking up $65,000. No player goes home empty-handed however, with eighth position worth $10,000. (rsl)