Thammanoon ready to defend his title
JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Thammanoon Sriroj of Thailand is ready to defend his title at the US$300,000 1977 Tugu Pratama PGA Championship.
Thammanoon said at a press conference yesterday that he was in good shape for the tournament scheduled from today to Saturday at the Bumi Serpong Damai golf course.
"I'm in good shape and I think the guy sit next to me, Mike Cunning, will be my toughest rival here," said Thammanoon, through his interpreter.
Thammanoon, who was ninth in the latest Omega Tour Order of Merit list after the Bangkok Omega Tour Championship last Sunday, has won US$83,597 this year.
But American Cunning said that he would have to work hard to win on the course designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Cunning tops the Order of Merit with $141,849.
Indonesia's Kasiadi, who is in 25th position with $44,984, said he was hopeful of winning the tournament.
"I think my preparations have been good enough. I also have a high motivation to win before our own public," said Kasiadi, who is number three on Indonesia's Order of Merit with Rp 45.7 million (US$12,650).
The three golfers will also face tough challenges from Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, who finished first in the Bangkok tournament and is number two on the Order of Merit with $118,435.
Indonesia's Maan Nasim, who is top of the national Order of Merit with Rp 73.5 million, Kenny Walker, who finished third in Bangkok, and South Korea's Jun Tae-hyun will also be hard to beat.
Other golfers who may pose a threat are Singapore's Murugiah, Eric Meeks of the United States, M. Ali Kadir of Malaysia and veteran Indonesian Ilyasyak.
Lack of practice
The executive director of the Asian PGA, Ramlan Dato Harun of Malaysia, expressed his satisfaction that the tournament had produced many good Asian players.
"The main problem for Asian players, including Indonesians, is that they lack practice and tournaments outside their own countries. If they have a bigger chance to compete in tournaments outside Asia, I believe their experience and skill will improve," he said.
The organizers decided not to invite any of the world's top players and give more places to Asian golfers as a way to realize this ambition.
They said 126 professional golfers, including 32 locals, will compete in the championships, which offers prize money of $300,000, up from $250,000, with $48,000 going to the winner.
The tournament will also offer $20,000, doubled from last year, for Sunday's Pro-Am tournament.
Bonuses of Rp 10 million will be given to golfers who manage to a hole-in-one.
Anton Ponto, marketing director of Tugu Pratama Indonesia, said the increased prize money was to make the event more enticing for pro golfers. (yan)
Latest Asian PGA Omega Tourleading rankings (after Bangkok tournament): 1. Mike Cunning (USA) US$141,849 2. Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) $118,435 3. Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) $105,375 4. Gerry Norquist (USA) $102,674 5. Des Terblanche (RSA) $98,696 6. Ted Purdy (USA) $96,891 7. Adrian Percey (Aus) $95,037 8. Zaw Moe (Mya) $91,662 9. Thammanoon Sriroj (Tha) $83,597 10. Park No-seok (Kor) $81,850
National Order of Merit (top five after Aceh Open): 1. Maan Naasim (PGPI) Rp 73.486.000 2. Steven Atako Lindskog (PGPI) Rp 58.957.200 3. Kasiadi (YGC) Rp 45.733.200 4. Burhan Bora (MGC) Rp 34.781.117 5. Ilyasaak (JGC) Rp 22.351.700