Teravainen targets Ericsson Masters
By Bobby Allen Wilson
BINTAN, Riau (JP): Peter Teravainen is tired after an exciting run, but is planning to muster enough energy to make the US$500,000 Asia Pacific Ericsson Masters here his sixth tournament in six weeks.
The 41-year-old American ended a bleak run with a victory at the Japan Open last year. This year he triumphed at the Descente Classic in the same country, and last weekend was runner up to Shigeki Maruyama in the Japan Matchplay Championship in a grueling 36 hole final Sunday.
"That tournament was my fifth tournament in a row so I was extremely tired by the end of it," said Teravainen, whose season has also been highlighted by making the cut in the US Open and the British Open.
Despite his fatigue, Teravainen is now setting his sights on the Ericsson Masters at the impressive Bintan Lagoon Golf and Beach Resort from Thursday.
"I am tired and I have a feeling that I might run out of gas this week but this is such a big tournament that I really did not want to miss it," said Teravainen.
At the weekend Teravainen was once again lapping it up in the Land of the Rising Sun.
In the Japan Matchplay Championship the 41-year-old missed out on his third win in Japan but had the satisfaction of claiming the runner-up spot after a grueling week of golf.
In incessant rain, Maruyama shot five birdies against Teravainen's three birdies and two bogeys on the first 18 of the 36-hole contest, taking a 4-up lead that he maintained through to the 21st hole.
But Teravainen shot three straight birdies starting from the 22nd, reducing Maruyama's lead to 1-up, and caught up with a birdie on the 27th.
The tournament is being played over Bintan's Jack Nicklaus- designed Championship Course.
On Teravainen's side is the fact Bintan is just a 45 minute ferry journey from Singapore, the city where he has made his home for the past nine years.
Indonesia, chosen as the host country was given the right to field five of its best golfers. They are Kasiadi from Surabaya, Maan Naasim from Bogor, Iljasaak, Burhan Bora and Bahtiar all from Jakarta.
The Asia Pacific Ericsson Masters is a jointly sanctioned event between the Asian PGA's Omega Tour and the PGA Tour Australasia.
While the tournament marks the 10th leg of the 1997 Omega Tour it signifies the opening event on the 1997/1998 PGA Tour Australasia.
Both tours are strongly represented with top players from the Asia Pacific region eying the US$80,750 first place cheque.
Another in form player competing is England's Ed Fryatt, winner of last week's Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea. India's Jeev Milkha Singh, who placed third in that event is also playing.
From the Asian PGA's Omega Tour five of the top-10 players on the Omega Order of Merit will be challenging for honors, including American Gerry Norquist, who holds the top spot.
In addition, American Mike Cunning, number three on the list; American Fran Quinn, seventh; South African Des Terblanche, eighth; and Thailand's Boonchu Ruangkit, 10th; will be gunning for glory.
Omega Tour regular Kyi Hla Han is another favorite.
The Myanmar man is Bintan Lagoon's Touring Professional. Leading the PGA Tour Australasia contingent are New Zealand's Michael Long, third on the 1996/1997 PGA Tour Australasia Final Order of Merit List, and Australians Lucas Parsons, Mike Harwood and Scott Laycock.