Lahiri and Chawrasia ready to strike

About the European Tour

The European Tour celebrates men’s professional golf on a global stage. In 2017, the European Tour International Schedule features a minimum of 47 tournaments in 26 countries, including eight Rolex Series events, all part of the Race to Dubai.Celebrating the global connectivity of the European Tour and Dubai, the Race to Dubai is a season-long competition to crown the European Tour’s Number One player, an honour which in 2016 went to Sweden’s Henrik Stenson for the second time, and which since 2009 has also been achieved three times by Rory McIlroy, as well as by Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald. Formerly known as the Order of Merit, points are accumulated based on prize money won, with the top 10 ranked players at the end of the season sharing a $5million Race to Dubai bonus pool.Since its formation in 1972, the European Tour has witnessed 26 Members celebrate a total of 52 Major Championship titles between them, enjoyed ten Members attaining the pinnacle of World Number One and has celebrated its diversity as players from 36 different countries have won on the Tour.The European Tour also manages the Challenge Tour, which featured 28 tournaments in 22 countries in 2016, and the Senior Tour, which featured 13 tournaments in nine countries in 2016. It is also the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe, the body which, alongside the PGA of America, administers golf’s greatest team contest, The Ryder Cup.The European Tour broadcasts live coverage of its tournaments to more than 490 million homes in more than 150 countries every week, generating in excess of 2,200 global broadcast hours for each event. It also enjoys the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with Rolex, BMW, Emirates and Titleist as Official Partners.

About MMC Corporation Berhad

MMC Corporation Berhad (MMC) is a leading utilities and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under three divisions, namely ports & logistics, energy & utilities and engineering & construction.Its key businesses under the Ports and Logistics division include the operations of Port of Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Kontena Nasional Berhad and JP Logistics. Internationally, MMC has an associate stake in Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company Limited, a container port terminal within the Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Arabia.Under the Energy & Utilities division, MMC is the single largest shareholder of both Malakoff Corporation Berhad and Gas Malaysia Berhad.MMC’s Engineering & Construction division has further established itself in the sector with a leading role as the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) and underground works package contractor for the 51km Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project (Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) and Line 2 project (Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line). Prior to this, MMC has successfully completed the 329km Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Tracking Project as well as the innovative Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) motorway, the first-of-its-kind dual-purpose tunnel in the world.MMC continues to make inroads in the construction industry, securing key civil and infrastructure projects in the country namely Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant, Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant, civil and infrastructure works for RAPID Pengerang Cogeneration Plant. Additionally, MMC has a 20% effective interest in Borneo Highway PDP Sdn Bhd (BHP) which has been appointed as PDP for the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Project.In other businesses, MMC owns Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, a water treatment plant operator and Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd, the operator of Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru; a major aviation hub and the main air transportation gateway to Iskandar Malaysia. Additionally, MMC’s Group Property arm manages close to 6,000 acres of industrial developments in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor and Kulim, Kedah, namely Senai Airport City, Tanjung Bin Petrochemical & Maritime Industrial Centre (TBPMIC) and Northern Technocity in Kulim. The Senai Airport City, TBPMIC and NTC (NTC) developments come under the ambit of Group Property’s three operating companies – Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Northern Technocity Sdn Bhd respectively.

Ends.

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Rayong, Thailand, January 11: Young talent Sangpil Yoon of Korea edged closer to regaining his Tour card after posting a second round two-under-par 69 on Thursday to stay one shot off the pace at the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage presented by Sports Authority of Thailand.

The 19-year-old Korean, who opened with a 68 at the Rayong Green Valley Country Club, stumbled with a triple-bogey on the second hole at the St. Andrews 2000 but recovered strongly with five birdies on his way home for a two-day total of five-under-par 137.

Yoon made the grade in his first attempt at the Asian Tour Qualifying School last year but failed to retain his card after finishing 131st on the 2017 Order of Merit. He hopes to play his way back onto the region’s premier Tour by breaking into top-35 and ties after the intense 90-hole battle this week.

Minkyu Kim, also of Korea, fired seven birdies against two bogeys for a 66 at the St. Andrews 2000 to grab the clubhouse lead on 136. The opening round of the Qualifying School Final Stage was earlier disrupted by a lengthy rain suspension on Wednesday which resulted in a total of 123 players returning to complete their rounds on Thursday morning.

With close to five hours of play lost and the day being called off at 6.00pm local time due to fading light, a total of 118 players will return at 7.00am on Friday to complete their second rounds with the third round slated to start not earlier than 10.00am.

Thai veteran and former five-time Asian Tour winner Thammanoon Sriroj rolled back the years by carding a commendable 66 to match the two-day efforts of Yoon while compatriot Sorachut Hansapiban returned with a 71 to stay a further shot back in 138.

The Final Stage of the Qualifying School, which features 243 players from over 30 different countries, will be played over five rounds (90 holes) across two courses. The leading 140 players and ties after 36 holes will make it into the next two rounds. The cut is projected to be at three-over-par 145.

After 72 holes, the field will be cut to the leading 70 players and ties who will then proceed to the fifth and final round held only at the Rayong Green Valley Country Club. At the conclusion of 90 holes, the top 35 players and ties will be ranked accordingly for the 2018 season.

Did you know?

Sangpil Yoon came through the First Stage of the Qualifying School last week after finishing tied-31st to merely make the cut-off mark at the St. Andrews 2000.
Yoon topped the class at the first stage of the 2017 Asian Tour Qualifying School held at the Windsor Park Golf Club in Bangkok last January. He then went on to finish tied-19th at the Final Stage last year to secure his Asian Tour card for the 2017 season.
Yoon is one of the 37 Korean players vying for playing rights on the Asian Tour at the Qualifying School Final Stage this week.
Thammanoon Sriroj, 48, turned professional in 1991 and is now a father of two. He has won five times on the Asian Tour but not since 2004. In 2015, he won his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) in Chinese Taipei.
Thammanoon marked his card with an eagle and five birdies against a double-bogey for a solid 66 at the Rayong Green Valley Country Club.
Thammanoon comes from a family of golfers, with five brothers being professional golfers as well.
Thammanoon grew up near a golf course in Chonburi and started playing the game in his early teens.
Sorachut Hansapiban is hoping to be third time lucky, after missing the grade at the Qualifying School in his last two attempts in 2016 and 2017.
The 27-year-old Sorachut has been plying his trade on the ADT since 2016 and has come close to winning on several occasions.

Players’ quotes:

Sangpil Yoon (Kor) – Second round 69 (-2) – St. Andrews 2000, Total 137 (-5)

I didn’t start well today. I made a triple-bogey on the second hole but I told myself not to let it affect my game. I was confident of making more birdies coming back. I got back to one-over-par after the front nine and my father told me I can make more on the back nine.

I felt confident over there and managed to pick up three more birdies on my way home. I got lucky with the par on my last hole. I chipped it in from about 10 feet at the right edge of the green. It was a good finish.

I played only 10 holes at the Rayong Green yesterday because of the suspension. I returned early this morning to complete the remaining eight holes where I made three birdies and made one bogey. It has been a long day, having played 26 holes today but I felt good with how I played.

I only had one hour to rest before heading out again. I didn’t start the second round well but I am happy with how I bounced back from it. The fairways are very wide at Rayong Green Valley but the greens are small.

Whereas at the St. Andrews 2000, the fairways are narrow and the greens are big. The two courses are very different so you need to have a good strategy out there.

Thammanoon Sriroj (Tha) – Second round 66 (-5) – Rayong Green Valley CC, Total 137 (-5)

My tee shots and iron-play were very good today. I think that was the key to my 66. I hit one shot out of bounds today but other than that, I think I managed to hit all the fairways.

The playing conditions are better today compared to yesterday where we had the rain delay. I think the Rayong Green Valley Country Club is slightly easier compared to the St. Andrews course which has very tight fairways.

I eagled the 10th hole after chipping it in from about 40 feet. That was the highlight for me today. My game has been good so I thought I come and try out here this week. We have a very strong field. There are a lot of good and young players out here.

I will just play my own game and see what happens.

Sorachut Hansapiban (Tha) – Second round 71 (even par) – St. Andrews 2000, Total 138 (-4)

I didn’t finish well today. I dropped two shots in my last three holes. But overall, I am still happy with where I stand. I came back this morning to finish my first round and sign for a 67.

I putted really well. I sank long putts on hole one, two and seven and chipped in from about 20 yards for birdie on hole eight. That gave me some confidence heading into the second round today.

This is my third time attempting the Qualifying School. I hope my past experiences will help me achieve a good score this week.

Andrew Martin (Aus) – Second round 72 (+1) – St. Andrews 2000, Total 139 (-3)

I came back this morning to complete my first round and sign for a 67 which was good. This afternoon wasn’t bright. I was happy probably to get into the clubhouse with a 73. It’s been a long day. It has been pretty good so far. Three more rounds to go. I am hoping for some good golf to come.

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Published on January 10, 2018

Sentosa, Singapore, January 10: Quincy Quek will be looking to use his local knowledge to get an edge over his opponents at the US$1 million SMBC Singapore Open that starts next week.

The 30-year-old Singaporean is also looking to kick-start his 2018 season and he is thrilled to be able to do that in his home country.

“It’s always nice to start the season at home. With the tournament being in Singapore, there’s always an advantage for local professionals as we can get familiar with the course ahead of others,” he explained.

Quek, a one-time winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), enjoyed a tied-26th finish at the 2017 SMBC Singapore Open. He was tied-fourth going into the weekend after carding a pair of three-under-par 68s, proving that he has the calibre to compete with marquee players and the cream of the Japan Golf Tour.

“The SMBC Singapore Open has always been a tournament that is enjoyed by the players. I’m really excited and I’m looking forward to playing solid golf next week. Hopefully, I can give the home crowd something to cheer.”

Like Quek, other local professionals who have qualified for the SMBC Singapore Open have been teeing off at the Serapong course. Sentosa Golf Club has provided access for the players to train and practice in the months leading up to the tournament.

Johnson Poh is grateful for the opportunity to compete at the SMBC Singapore Open and the chance to play regularly on an award-winning golf course.

“I wish to fly the Singapore flag high by playing well and also to gain experience playing in this world-class event,” said Poh, who turned professional in 2015.

Poh enjoyed a third-place finish on the ADT in 2017. In the year, he also took his opportunities to play on the Asian Tour and was rewarded with tied-14th and tied-20th finishes at the Indonesian Open and Asian Golf Championship respectively.

“I would like to thank Sentosa Golf Club for opening up and helping us locals familiarise with the course. If only the club could let us play all year round, as it is such a privilege to be able to practice on such a well-maintained course!”

Compatriot Koh Deng Shan had a very busy 2017, having played in 14 ADT events and seven Asian Tour events. One of his highlights of the year was a stupendous eight-under-par 63 carded at the third round of the ADT’s Boonchu Ruangkit Championship.

“I think playing golf without any expectations is important. The key is to stay happy and enjoy the week. There is a good atmosphere out there in Sentosa given the prestige of the event, so that is a plus point as well,” he said, on his preparations for the tournament.

“Sentosa Golf Club has been very supportive in allowing the local professionals to practice at Serapong. I feel it is important that we are able to have more practice rounds here for us to get used to the green speeds and course layout. This is an advantage for us and we appreciate this initiative by Sentosa Golf Club.”

Other Singaporeans who will be competing at the SMBC Singapore Open include Choo Tze Huang, Mitchell Slorach and Asian Tour stalwart, Mardan Mamat. They will be joined by top amateurs Gregory Foo, Joshua Shou, Jesse Yap and Marc Ong.

Said Andrew Johnston, General Manager, Sentosa Golf Club: “We’ve taken great strides in encouraging many local professionals to use our facilities in the build-up to the tournament. Sentosa Golf Club is built to host Championships, and committed to developing champions.”

Ends.

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Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 10: India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia is confident Team Asia can defy the odds when they take on Team Europe at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM which starts on Friday.

Playing in his second EurAsia Cup, the six-time Asian Tour winner is looking forward to the clash with 12 of Europe’s best players at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

Chawrasia was part of Team Asia that suffered an 18 ½ -5 ½ defeat to Team Europe in the 2016 edition.

But that loss is a distant memory for the 39-year-old Indian and he is now optimistic of turning the corner with his other teammates.

Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung, who will be making his third appearance at the EurAsia Cup, is equally hopeful of putting a dent in Team Europe’s title defence.

The Malaysian also believes Team Asia’s push for EurAsia Cup glory will be aided by his past experience as well as the passionate crowd expected to back his continent this week.

The EurAsia Cup will feature 24 matches, with day one showcasing six Fourball matches, followed by six Foursomes matches and 12 Singles matches on the third day.

Did you know?

This is Chawrasia’s second appearance at the EurAsia Cup. He made his debut in 2016 where he earned 1 point.
He is the third Indian in the team alongside team captain Arjun Atwal and Anirban Lahiri to represent Team Asia in the biennial event.
Chawrasia qualified for Team Asia through his position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. He enjoyed a superb 2017 season highlighted by his successful title defence at the Hero Indian Open.
He is a six-time Asian Tour winner which includes winning four tournaments sanctioned with the European Tour.
Chawrasia’s standout year was in 2016 when he won twice at the Hero Indian Open and Resorts World Manila Masters. In that same year, he represented his country at the Olympics with Lahiri.
Nicholas Fung is one of the experienced players on the team as he will make his third appearance in the EurAsia Cup. Only two other players are playing for the third time. They are Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Lahiri.
Fung qualified for the team as a captain’s selection. He will be the second Malaysian to represent Team Asia alongside reigning Asian Tour number one Gavin Green.
Fung has contributed 1 point for Team Asia in the last two editions.
The Malaysian won his first Asian Tour title in 2017 at the Queen’s Cup in Thailand after coming close on several occasions.

Players’ Quotes

S.S.P. Chawrasia

Our team is really very strong to be honest compared to last time. We are getting used to playing a team event already because of our past experiences at the EurAsia Cup and I think we can do well. We are all good players and we are ready. The European team is strong but we are just as strong. We’re looking forward to the week. (On captain Arjun Atwal) He’s a very good friend of mine. I’m very comfortable with him because of the same language we speak and we’ve played together on many occasions, so that’s a very good thing. I think he’s a good captain for us. On a personal level, he has always helped me. I remember when I was younger, he would always come and ask me to work on my chipping and putting as everybody knows I cannot hit the ball long and my strength lies in my short game.

Nicholas Fung

I’m very pleased to represent Team Asia again this year. I’m looking very forward to the week as we’ve a strong team this year. We can give Team Europe a hard fight. We are all good friends and that’s important as it helps with all of us will constantly encourage and motivate each other. As for my game, it all coming back together and hopefully it will continue to click again this week. The Europeans hit the ball long so it’ll be good for us to keep the ball in play at all the times. We have an advantage as the greens here are totally different Europe and we have home support. These will make the difference.

Ends.

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Published on January 9, 2018

Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 9: China’s rising star Li Haotong believes the stage is set for him to take on Team Europe when the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM gets underway on Friday.

The world number 59 announced his arrival on the world stage with a scintillating final round 63 which saw him finish third at The Open last year.

The Chinese, who endeared himself to the local fans by winning his National Open in 2016, is eager to further prove his worth when he tees up for his first team match play event at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

Li’s credentials have not gone unnoticed by Team Asia’s Vice-Captain Zhang Lianwei.

Zhang, a six-time Asian Tour winner and legend in his own right, has been impressed by the young Chinese and believes he can continue to make his mark.

China’s elder statesman also believes that despite the diverse culture and background Team Asia has, they are united in their common goal of bringing glory to the continent when the event starts.

The EurAsia Cup will feature 24 matches, with day one showcasing six Fourball matches, followed by six Foursomes matches and 12 Singles matches on the third day.

Did you know?

This is Li Haotong’s first appearance in the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM. He is the second player after Wu Ashun (2016) from China to represent Team Asia in the biennial event.
Team Asia will rely on Li to put points on the board while China’s Zhang Lianwei will put his experience to good use as a Vice-Captain to team captain Arjun Atwal.
Li is among six debutants in Team Asia who will play in the EurAsia Cup.
He is the second youngest player in Team Asia at the age of 21. Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand is the youngest at 18.
He is a regular on the European Tour where he holds one victory at the 2016 Volvo China Open.
Li also represented China in the 2016 Olympics and World Cup of Golf where he finished in a credible tied second place with playing partner Wu Ashun.
In 2017, Li finished third on the European Tour’s The Rocco Forte Open. His highlight of the year was shooting a final round 63 at The Open where his third place result was his best ever finish in a Major.
Zhang is a five-time Asian Tour champion and one-time European Tour winner. He is recognized as one of China’s golfing pioneers where he paved the way for other professionals to follow in his footsteps.
He has played in four professional team match-play events including the Alfred Dunhill Cup in 1998, 1999 and 2000. He also played in the Royal Trophy in 2006.

Players’ Quotes:

Li Haotong

We have a big chance. If we all play to our strengths, we can beat them. Why not? The greens are firm here and you have to play smart golf. We need to keep the ball on the fairway and the team definitely has the right players to do that. We have a good chance of keeping the scores low. I’m definitely very excited to be playing in my first EurAsia Cup and I’m already beginning to enjoy my time here especially with the comradery in the team room

Zhang Lianwei

I’m here as vice-captain for Team Asia, and I’m very impressed with the line-up. We have some good firepower, which is obviously strengthened by some of our more experienced players like Kiradech (Aphibarnrat) and Anirban (Lahiri), who have certainly impressed on the world stage. There’s also a very good mix of players with the younger ones like Haotong who is definitely shown he can win on the world stage. I’m very confident of Team Asia doing well this week. Asia is so diverse, obviously coming from different backgrounds and cultures. But we have one common goal which is to gel together as a team and put the points on the board for Team Asia.

Ends.

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About MMC Corporation Berhad

MMC Corporation Berhad (MMC) is a leading utilities and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under three divisions, namely ports & logistics, energy & utilities and engineering & construction.Its key businesses under the Ports and Logistics division include the operations of Port of Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Kontena Nasional Berhad and JP Logistics. Internationally, MMC has an associate stake in Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company Limited, a container port terminal within the Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Arabia.Under the Energy & Utilities division, MMC is the single largest shareholder of both Malakoff Corporation Berhad and Gas Malaysia Berhad.MMC’s Engineering & Construction division has further established itself in the sector with a leading role as the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) and underground works package contractor for the 51km Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project (Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) and Line 2 project (Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line). Prior to this, MMC has successfully completed the 329km Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Tracking Project as well as the innovative Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) motorway, the first-of-its-kind dual-purpose tunnel in the world. MMC continues to make inroads in the construction industry, securing key civil and infrastructure projects in the country namely Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant, Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant, civil and infrastructure works for RAPID Pengerang Cogeneration Plant. Additionally, MMC has a 20% effective interest in Borneo Highway PDP Sdn Bhd (BHP) which has been appointed as PDP for the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Project.In other businesses, MMC owns Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, a water treatment plant operator and Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd, the operator of Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru; a major aviation hub and the main air transportation gateway to Iskandar Malaysia. Additionally, MMC’s Group Property arm manages close to 6,000 acres of industrial developments in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor and Kulim, Kedah, namely Senai Airport City, Tanjung Bin Petrochemical & Maritime Industrial Centre (TBPMIC) and Northern Technocity in Kulim. The Senai Airport City, TBPMIC and NTC (NTC) developments come under the ambit of Group Property’s three operating companies – Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Northern Technocity Sdn Bhd respectively.

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Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 10: Korea’s Byeonghun An is ready to renew his rivalry with Team Europe when the epic battle at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM begins on Friday.

An was part of Team Asia who lost to Team Europe at the last EurAsia Cup in 2016.

The Korean, who is ranked 100^th on the Official World Golf Ranking, however believes the team can make up for that 18 ½ – 5 ½ loss and claim what would be a popular victory at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin will be making his debut at the team match-play event and will be adopting a similar mental approach which has seen him lift two Asian Tour titles.

The 24-year-old, who qualified for the EurAsia Cup through his Order of Merit position where he finished in eighth place last year, believes a relaxed approach will be key to doing well.

The EurAsia Cup will feature 24 matches, with day one showcasing six Fourball matches, followed by six Foursomes matches and 12 Singles matches on the third day.

Did you know?

Byeunghun An became the youngest U.S. Amateur champion at the age of 17.
He won the 2015 BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour with a record score of 21-under-par and was named the Rookie of the Year.
An earned a point for Team Asia in the last edition of the EurAsia Cup when he partnered Thongchai Jaidee to defeat Danny Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick 3&1.
An makes his return to the team after being selected as one of captain, Arjun Atwal’s pick.
An got engaged last year and is planning to tie the knot with his fiancée this year.
Poom is a two-time Asian Tour winner. He won his first title in Indonesia in 2016 before injuring his back. He returned to his best form when he won again in India last year.
Earlier in his career, Poom played mostly on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) where he won once in 2015.
Poom earned Asian Tour card by finishing tied 18th at Qualifying School on home soil in 2014.
The 24-year-old also helped Thailand claim the team gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games in 2013.

Players’ Quotes

Byeonghun An

I’m glad to be back. Although we lost the last time we had a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to it again as we have some really good and young players playing this time. I’m sure we can do better than last time and I’m just going to do my job and not worry about the others because I know they will do well. I just want my points. We all play for one goal and that’s to win. My goal is simple and that is to get my points. All the guys probably want to do that as well and I’m not worried because I know they are good players. Hopefully I do my part. That’s all I can do. I have to play well and then see what happens. It was my full on season on the PGA Tour last year and it was definitely not easy. It was tough seeing the best 125 players in the world playing against me but I did manage to achieve a couple of my goals. I think this event is a great start for 2018 and that’s why I’m here. I’m starting here and playing the next two weeks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Poom Saksansin

I’m really excited to be able to play in my first EurAsia Cup. We have a great team and I hope I can play my part in helping the Team win. Of course, it’s important to have fun too. My short game is my biggest asset and I hope to use that to my advantage. I always tell myself to enjoy myself when I play golf and the result will take care of itself.

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Published on January 5, 2018

Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 5: Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand is prepared to take on a new role when he represents Team Asia at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM next week.

Team Asia captain Arjun Atwal of India will rely on world number 49 Kiradech to put points on the scoreboard and be a mentor to the younger players when they go up against Thomas Bjorn’s Team Europe at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

Kiradech, Anirban Lahiri of India and Nicholas Fung of Malaysia will make their third appearance in the EurAsia Cup and they are expected to impart their experience to debutants Gavin Green, Phachara Khongwatmai, Poom Saksansin, Li Haotong, Sunghoon Kang and Yuta Ikeda.

At 29, Kiradech is seen as the ‘senior’ in the team as compared to his teammates Phachara, who will be the youngest ever player to play in the EurAsia Cup at the age of 18 followed by China’s Li (21). Reigning Order of Merit champion Green and Thailand’s Poom who are both 24.

“This is a big event for Asia and I really want to make Asia proud. I will bring all my experience with me and help my team and the new and younger players. There are so many ‘kids’ in the team and I will do my best to guide them and improve our team,” said Kiradech.

Kiradech will also be joined by Kang, a PGA Tour regular, Ikeda, the highest ranked player in Team Asia where he sits in 35th position on the Official World Golf Ranking and Hideto Tanihara, who was part of the 2014 team who secured a dramatic 10-10 draw against Team Europe.

“It is a big change for me. I would like to think that I’m the third generation of Thai golfers after Boonchu Ruangkit and Thongchai Jaidee. Now younger players look up to me and it is so different! They (Boonchu and Thongchai) even Arjun (Atwal) have done so well to inspire so many young golfers to play golf professionally.

“The young players in the team are so good and they will do well. They will just need some guidance from the more experienced players. We have a strong team this year. I have to congratulate Gavin (Green) because he played fantastic golf in 2017. So did the other players,” said the Thai.

Known for his grip-it and rip-it style of golf, Kiradech enjoyed a stellar 2017 season where he won on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) followed by two runner-up results on the European Tour.

He also finished tied fifth at the Asian Tour’s season-ending Indonesian Masters where he played through a back injury and eagled the 72nd hole to finish inside the top-50 in the world and qualify for The Masters in April.

“I haven’t had time to really talk to Arjun yet but he did thank me for improving on my world ranking and qualifying on my own Merit,” he smiled. Arjun is a real gentleman and I think he will really help our team do well in the EurAsia Cup. I hope to do my part as well.”

Team Europe will feature Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Paul Casey, Paul Dunne, Ross Fisher, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Alex Levy, Alex Noren, Thomas Pieters, Henrik Stenson and Bernd Wiesberger.

The EurAsia Cup will feature 24 matches, with day one showcasing six Fourball matches, followed by six Foursomes matches and 12 Singles matches on the third day.

Ticket sales are now open. You can purchase the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM tickets here: https://www.ticketpro.com.my/sports/2231222-Eurasia-Cup-2018.html

Ends.

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About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), FENIX XCell (Official Apparel Supplier), Titleist (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

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Published on January 1, 2018

Sentosa, Singapore, January 1: With the balance of power tilting towards youth, the Asian Tour has refreshed its logo to reflect the development and progression of the organisation.

Recently, the Asian Tour has seen a dramatic shift in performance from a new crop of ultra-talented young players. On any given week, there is a host of 20-somethings such as Shubhankar Sharma of India, Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand and Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines contending for the title.

In 2017, a record 16 players under the age of 30 were victorious on the pan-Asian professional golf tour’s official schedule.

The new logo will be implemented across all platforms as well as collaterals and it will make its first appearance at the Asian Tour Qualifying School in January.

The new design is an evolution of the old logo where the golfer’s silhouette has evolved into a stronger and more powerful position which is forward-looking and embodies the modern game.

However, in keeping with tradition, the swing path rings which are a stylised representation an ensō brush stroke are retained. In Zen, ensō is a circle that is hand-drawn in a single brushstroke to express a moment when the mind is free to let the body create.

The Asian Development Tour logo will also be updated with the new design elements.

“We are really excited to announce the Asian Tour’s new logo. The design is inspired by our talented players and our mission to develop the game of golf in the region. The launch of our new logo marks the latest exciting phase in the proud 23-year history of the Asian Tour, dating back to our days as the Asian PGA.” said Josh Burack, CEO of the Asian Tour.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), FENIX XCell (Official Apparel Supplier), Titleist (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

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Published on January 31, 2018

Kuala Lumpur, January 31: Thai star Thongchai Jaidee will play in his 200th Asian Tour event at his favourite hunting ground when the US$3 million Maybank Championship starts on Thursday.

The Thai veteran will fittingly mark a new milestone in his career at the Saujana Golf and Country Club, the venue where he won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005 which subsequently launched his career.

At the age of 48, Thongchai admits that he is preparing for the Seniors Tour where he is eligible to play on at the age of 50.

He is still committed and passionate about the game but will juggle between playing professionally and overseeing the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation. He also has plans to build an international school in his home town in Lopburi.

A return to Malaysia, a country which he calls ‘home’, always brings out the best in Thongchai. He will contend for the prestigious title against a stellar line-up which includes an in-form Li Hao-tong of China, Major champion Henrik Stenson and popular Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Li, who was part of Team Asia in the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia three weeks ago, is full of confidence heading into this week’s Maybank Championship after his spectacular victory in Dubai last week where he defeated four-time Major champion Rory McIlroy.

The win propelled the 22-year-old to 32nd place on the Official World Golf Ranking and became the first Chinese golfer to break into the top-50 in the world.

Shiv Kapur, who won thrice on the Asian Tour last year, hopes to continue his fine form at the Maybank Championship where his wife, Maya, and baby girl, Veda, will cheer for him outside the ropes at Saujana.

The Indian star also hopes to extend his lead on the Panasonic Swing rankings where he leads on 2771.40 points. The Maybank Championship is the penultimate Panasonic Swing event where Asian Tour players have an opportunity to shoot for a share of the lucrative bonus pool.

Did you know?

Thongchai Jaidee is the only player to win three Asian Tour Order of Merit crowns. He has also won 13 Tour titles and four events on European soil.
His victory at the 2004 Malaysian Open was his first European Tour win. He successfully defended the title in the following year and since then, he has become one of the most popular golfers among Malaysian fans.
Thongchai enjoyed a solid outing at the Maybank Championship last year where he shared 12th position. It was one of his best results in a disappointing 2017 season where he finished inside the top-10 twice.
Thongchai also hosts his own golf event, the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation, on the Asian Development Tour (ADT).
His countryman Thaworn Wiratchant currently holds the record of playing in 437 Asian Tour events.
Li is currently the youngest player to feature inside the top-50 in the world thanks to his victory in Dubai last week.
The Chinese star is also a popular golfer in Malaysia, thanks to his heroics in the EurAsia Cup three weeks ago where he contributed 2½ points.
Li hopes to better his tied fifth result at the Maybank Championship last year where he finished four shots back of the champion Fabrizio Zanotti.
Before 2017, Kapur only had one victory on the Asian Tour in 2004, the same year where he was named the Rookie of the Year.
He was the only golfer to win multiple titles in 2017 at the Yeangder Heritage in Chinese Taipei, Panasonic Open India and Royal Cup in Thailand.
He placed 12th at the Maybank Championship last year and has a decent record at the Saujana course as an amateur, most notably when he finished second at the 2000 Saujana Amateur Championship after losing in a play-off.
His wife Maya and daughter Veda have travelled with him to Malaysia.

Player Interviews:

Thongchai Jaidee (Tha)

It feels great to play in my 200th Asian Tour event this week. I never count how many events I play so to find out about this is simply amazing. I feel very good especially when it is at Saujana and in Malaysia.

I come to Malaysia every year and this golf course and country feels like my ‘home’. I’ve won here twice but the golf course has changed now. The course is now playing longer but the most important thing to do is to keep the ball in play.

I struggled with my putting and I didn’t perform in 2017. My rankings took a huge dip last year. I want to forget about 2017 and focus this year. Honestly, my target is the seniors’ tour. I’m 48 this year so I have two more years before joining the senior’s tour.

Golf is my life and I love to play golf. I turned professional late but when I look back at my career, it looks great. The young boys in golf now are so good. They have proper training and equipment. That has made them so successful so early in their career.

Li Hao-tong (Chn)

It’s definitely such a big honour after last week. I gained a lot of confidence and experience, so quite happy I can be out there and in that position.

It gave me a lot of confidence and I am feeling great, especially against Rory on Sunday. I think nothing to lose and staying patient was key.

I think my game is pretty solid and I’m putting very well. This week I will just try to save some energy for the week and hopefully play well and enjoy the pressure.

It’s been really good, especially this course, if you put the ball on the fairway all the time you are going to make a lot of birdies.

Sometimes one week can change everything, I will try my best to play well this week and hopefully have a special week.

Shiv Kapur (Ind)

I have been playing here since I was a junior so I know this course quite well. There have been some changes but I have always felt that this course sets up good for my eye. Back in 2000, I played in the Saujana Amateur Championship and I lost in a playoff and last year I had a good finish at the Maybank Championship. So obviously, this course has a good setup for my game, not terribly long and it’s all about placing your ball on the fairways and hitting good iron shots and that suits my game more.

I think the results in Singapore was just due to a little bit of rust and didn’t have much of an off season so Singapore was just about me trying to find my game. I was struggling with my swing all week and my coach Shane (Tohl) has been helping me the past couple of days. I feel like my ball striking is back where it needs to be and from now on things will be better.

I played three weeks in a row and obviously these are tough conditions with the weather. There hasn’t really been a transition between last season and this season I’m a little fatigue. But I want to play as much as I can between now and the Indian Open.

The Panasonic Swing rankings are very important to me, I’ve altered my schedule to fit into Panasonic Swing events. It’s great to have a lead, but it just takes one of the guys behind me to win or do well this week to take over, no one is safe. It’s always nice to pursue rather than be pursued but I couldn’t have asked for a better golf course to be coming in for a Panasonic Swing event.

About Maybank – Humanising Financial Services

Maybank is among Asia’s leading banking groups and South East Asia’s fourth largest bank by assets. The Maybank Group has an international network of 2,400 offices in 20 countries namely Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR & People’s Republic of China, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Laos, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius, Great Britain and the United States of America. The Group offers an extensive range of products and services, which includes consumer and corporate banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, stock broking, insurance and takaful and asset management. It has over 44,000 employees serving more than 22 million customers worldwide.(www.maybank.com)

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Published on January 30, 2018

The big-hitting 24-year-old will team up with Mark Crane of Scotland, who previously caddied for Paul Casey and Chris Wood and has the experience of caddying in Majors and in the Ryder Cups.

Gavin and Crane worked together for the first time in Dubai last week and will continue their partnership at the Saujana Golf and Country Club where they will face an elite field which includes Henrik Stenson of Sweden and an in-form Li Hao-tong of China, who won last week.

Gavin’s father Gary, who previously caddied for him, will now be on the bag for his younger brother Galven, who will arrive in Malaysia early Thursday morning before teeing it up in the first round at the Maybank Championship.

Green started his 2018 season in Malaysia at the EurAsia Cup and flew to Singapore where he enjoyed a top-10 finish. In the following week, he travelled to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic where he came in tied-45th.

Newly-crowned Asian Tour winner Paul Peterson of the United States is also riding high on confidence after winning in Myanmar last week which propelled him to the top of the Order of Merit ranking.

The 30-year-old American is bracing himself for the humid weather in Malaysia after struggling in the heat in Singapore earlier this month.

India’s Shubhankar Sharma, who had a stellar 2017 season where he finished four top-10 finishes and enjoyed his first Asian Tour and European Tour victory at the Joburg Open. The 21-year-old will enter the Maybank Championship with good memories after finishing tied ninth last year.

Did you know?

Gavin Green is the 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner and is the first Malaysian to ever win the accolade.
Green is ranked first in driving distance in 2017, averaging 314.08 yards off the tees.
He is a Maybank ambassador and hopes to do well in the event after placing tied 47th in last year’s edition and missing the cut in the inaugural event in 2016.
Green has a solid track record at the Saujana Golf and Country Club course as an amateur where he won three times.
Green played college golf at the University of New Mexico where he won eight times and was named All-American multiple times.
The Malaysian is using a new caddy this week instead of his father on the bag. His father will be caddying for his younger brother, Galven Green.
Paul Peterson came in tied 29th last year at the Maybank Championship which is his best finish at Saujana Golf and Country Club.
He won his first Asian Tour event last week at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open that moved him from 198th place to 127th on the Official World Golf Ranking.
His win also pushed him to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Peterson won his first European Tour event under conditional status at the 2016 D+D REAL Czech Masters.
The 21-year-old Sharma is one of the rising stars in India. He claimed an emphatic victory at the Joburg Open last year where he was the only Indian in the elite field.
Sharma finished tied ninth at the Maybank Championship last year. It was his third straight top-10 result on the Asian Tour which sealed his card for 2017.
Interestingly, Sharma has ties with Anirban Lahiri beyond golf. Lahiri’s father, who is a doctor helped deliver Sharma’s sister some years ago!

Player Interviews:

Gavin Green (Mas)

The last 12 months have been a huge learning process for me. Patience is obviously a huge thing in golf, I know everybody says it but it is true. If you don’t have patience, there is no way you will reach success. This is my fourth week in a row and I’m resting as much as I can. I’m hitting it a little bit better as compared to EurAsia Cup so that’s good. I know this course well. I think everybody will have a tough time on the greens. My game has tightened up and I have been working really hard with my coaches. I feel I’m mentally and physically prepared. Definitely there’s a chance (to win) but I need to stay patient and handle the pressure of playing in front of the home crowd. I’m working with a new caddy. We started working together in Dubai last week. His name is Mark Crane (Scotland) and it has been working well so far. He is here this week. He caddied for Paul Casey, Chris Wood and he has experience of being a caddy in the Ryder Cup and Majors. We are trying to get comfortable with each other and so far, it has been good. It is a different chemistry because I had my dad on the bag previously. He understands that you can’t attack all the holes. You got to play it on the safe side, get your par and get out of there. For example, on hole number two. You want your par and get out of there. It is such a tough hole, so why make it tougher? Make it as simple as possible. Somebody of that level telling me that is a different thing. He had an injury and he was out for a while. Now he is on my bag. If my brother (Galven) beats me, I won’t talk to him for a long time! He won’t have a practice round and will only be arriving on Thursday morning. He has requested for a late tee time so if he beats me, I won’t talk to him for a long time. Thankfully, he hasn’t called me and asked for advice but my father will be caddying for him and he has gone out to do his homework.

Shubhankar Sharma (Ind)

Life has changed a lot for me. Two years ago, I had to work very hard to save my card and last year I was very determined in the beginning to get off to a good start. I did start very well with three top-10s including a tied ninth result at the Maybank Championship. That finish here pretty much kick-started things for me because it was my first top-10 on the European Tour and it gave me the confidence. I think that led to the win at the Joburg Open as well because I had the feeling that I belong here. I feel much relaxed this week. I played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the last two weeks and I made cuts in both events. I’m feeling really good about my game and I have good memories here. I’m going to enjoy myself because I’ve been missing all the fun I had on the Asian Tour. The conditions this week will be the same like the last two weeks in the Middle East. It will be hot and humid. It feels like I’m coming back to ‘home’. I’ve played this course before I don’t have to really learn anything new. (On people branding him the next Indian rising star) I have no pressure, it is just more motivation for me. There have been people before me who have done better or won Majors at my age. There have been a lot of people who have achieved much more at my age so it is something that I can look forward to. I just want to keep putting myself in contention. It motivates me a lot more.

Paul Peterson (USA)

My goal would be to finish top-five here. My game still feels solid from last week and my energy is where I want it to be. I was so exhausted in Singapore but I like where my game is at and I just want to keep this momentum going. I was on the east coast before Singapore Open so I struggled with the drastic change in weather coming to Singapore, which is one of the hottest places I have been to. I was actually very surprised that I struggled in Singapore because I was playing well all through the end of last year and Sentosa is one of my favorite courses. It’s nice to have everything come together, my wedges feel good and I have been hitting a lot of fairways and greens. This course is longer than last week, there are a couple of holes that are tricky, like the second hole and the 14th. But I think I will still be provided with a lot of opportunities to make birdies and if I take advantage of all the par fives and minimize mistakes it will be a good week. I hope that having a bit more time practising in Singapore and Myanmar has prepared me for the weather this week. Just keeping myself hydrated and drinking lots of coconuts.

Ends.

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Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 11: Indian stars Anirban Lahiri and S.S.P. Chawrasia believe they will form a formidable partnership in the opening Friday Fourball format at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HIBOM. It will be the first time the Indian duo are paired together in the EurAsia Cup as they go up against Englishmen Tyrrell […]

Lahiri, who has contributed three points for Team Asia in the last two editions in the EurAsia Cup, believes his camaraderie with Chawrasia will give them an edge over their talented opponents.

EurAsia Cup debutants Gavin Green of Malaysia and Yuta Ikeda of Japan will team-up against big-hitting Belgian Thomas Pieters and Matt Fitzpatrick of England.

Team Asia’s captain Arjun Atwal has put his faith in a predominantly young Asian team and the Indian believes Phachara will deliver the goods against Thomas Bjorn’s Team Europe.

Did you know?

This is Anirban Lahiri’s third appearance in the EurAsia Cup. He is the third player alongside Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Nicholas Fung to represent Asia for the third time.
Lahiri and Chawrasia were in the 2016 team but they did not play together. This will be the first time the Indian duo is paired together.
Lahiri has contributed the most points for Team Asia in the last six matches. In total he has collected three points since 2014. Chawrasia won one point for Asia in 2016.
Lahiri is arguably the most experienced team match-play player as he also played in the Presidents Cup in 2015 and 2017.
Interestingly Lahiri, Chawrasia and the rest of Team Asia proudly display their country flags on their belt buckle.
Green of Malaysia is playing in the EurAsia Cup for the first time after enjoying a successful 2017 season where he was crowned Asia’s number one.
He has a solid track record at the Glenmarie Garden’s course where he won on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2016.
Ikeda is the second player after Kiradech Aphibarnrat ranked inside the top-50 on the Official World Golf Ranking. He won three titles in a highly successful season on the Japan Golf Tour.
The Japanese is known for his sharp-shooting game and Atwal has predicted that he will do well with the big-hitting Green.
Phachara came close to winning in 2017 before settling for three runner-up results. He also shot a 21-under in the Asian Tour’s 2017 season-ending Indonesian Masters but was defeated by a red-hot Justin Rose by eight shots.
He showed his match-play prowess at the 2017 ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth where he was defeated in the final round to Brett Rumford of Australia.
The lanky Phachara is also known for his big-hitting game. Atwal praised the young Thai during the opening ceremony by saying “he hits it long.”

Players’ Quotes:

Anirban Lahiri (Ind)

Gavin Green (Mas)

Phachara Khongwatmai (Tha)

Ends.

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Ends.

Rayong, Thailand, January 11: Young talent Sangpil Yoon of Korea edged closer to regaining his Tour card after posting a second round two-under-par 69 on Thursday to stay one shot off the pace at the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage presented by Sports Authority of Thailand. The 19-year-old Korean, who opened with a 68 […]

Did you know?

Sangpil Yoon came through the First Stage of the Qualifying School last week after finishing tied-31st to merely make the cut-off mark at the St. Andrews 2000.
Yoon topped the class at the first stage of the 2017 Asian Tour Qualifying School held at the Windsor Park Golf Club in Bangkok last January. He then went on to finish tied-19th at the Final Stage last year to secure his Asian Tour card for the 2017 season.
Yoon is one of the 37 Korean players vying for playing rights on the Asian Tour at the Qualifying School Final Stage this week.
Thammanoon Sriroj, 48, turned professional in 1991 and is now a father of two. He has won five times on the Asian Tour but not since 2004. In 2015, he won his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) in Chinese Taipei.
Thammanoon marked his card with an eagle and five birdies against a double-bogey for a solid 66 at the Rayong Green Valley Country Club.
Thammanoon comes from a family of golfers, with five brothers being professional golfers as well.
Thammanoon grew up near a golf course in Chonburi and started playing the game in his early teens.
Sorachut Hansapiban is hoping to be third time lucky, after missing the grade at the Qualifying School in his last two attempts in 2016 and 2017.
The 27-year-old Sorachut has been plying his trade on the ADT since 2016 and has come close to winning on several occasions.

Players’ quotes:

Sangpil Yoon (Kor) – Second round 69 (-2) – St. Andrews 2000, Total 137 (-5)

Whereas at the St. Andrews 2000, the fairways are narrow and the greens are big. The two courses are very different so you need to have a good strategy out there.

Thammanoon Sriroj (Tha) – Second round 66 (-5) – Rayong Green Valley CC, Total 137 (-5)

My tee shots and iron-play were very good today. I think that was the key to my 66. I hit one shot out of bounds today but other than that, I think I managed to hit all the fairways.

I will just play my own game and see what happens.

Sorachut Hansapiban (Tha) – Second round 71 (even par) – St. Andrews 2000, Total 138 (-4)

I didn’t finish well today. I dropped two shots in my last three holes. But overall, I am still happy with where I stand. I came back this morning to finish my first round and sign for a 67.

I putted really well. I sank long putts on hole one, two and seven and chipped in from about 20 yards for birdie on hole eight. That gave me some confidence heading into the second round today.

This is my third time attempting the Qualifying School. I hope my past experiences will help me achieve a good score this week.

Andrew Martin (Aus) – Second round 72 (+1) – St. Andrews 2000, Total 139 (-3)

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Sentosa, Singapore, January 10: Quincy Quek will be looking to use his local knowledge to get an edge over his opponents at the US$1 million SMBC Singapore Open that starts next week. The 30-year-old Singaporean is also looking to kick-start his 2018 season and he is thrilled to be able to do that in his […]

Sentosa, Singapore, January 10: Quincy Quek will be looking to use his local knowledge to get an edge over his opponents at the US$1 million SMBC Singapore Open that starts next week.

The 30-year-old Singaporean is also looking to kick-start his 2018 season and he is thrilled to be able to do that in his home country.

Johnson Poh is grateful for the opportunity to compete at the SMBC Singapore Open and the chance to play regularly on an award-winning golf course.

“I wish to fly the Singapore flag high by playing well and also to gain experience playing in this world-class event,” said Poh, who turned professional in 2015.

Ends.

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Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 10: India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia is confident Team Asia can defy the odds when they take on Team Europe at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM which starts on Friday. Playing in his second EurAsia Cup, the six-time Asian Tour winner is looking forward to the clash with 12 of Europe’s best […]

Playing in his second EurAsia Cup, the six-time Asian Tour winner is looking forward to the clash with 12 of Europe’s best players at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

Chawrasia was part of Team Asia that suffered an 18 ½ -5 ½ defeat to Team Europe in the 2016 edition.

But that loss is a distant memory for the 39-year-old Indian and he is now optimistic of turning the corner with his other teammates.

Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung, who will be making his third appearance at the EurAsia Cup, is equally hopeful of putting a dent in Team Europe’s title defence.

The Malaysian also believes Team Asia’s push for EurAsia Cup glory will be aided by his past experience as well as the passionate crowd expected to back his continent this week.

The EurAsia Cup will feature 24 matches, with day one showcasing six Fourball matches, followed by six Foursomes matches and 12 Singles matches on the third day.

Did you know?

This is Chawrasia’s second appearance at the EurAsia Cup. He made his debut in 2016 where he earned 1 point.
He is the third Indian in the team alongside team captain Arjun Atwal and Anirban Lahiri to represent Team Asia in the biennial event.
Chawrasia qualified for Team Asia through his position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. He enjoyed a superb 2017 season highlighted by his successful title defence at the Hero Indian Open.
He is a six-time Asian Tour winner which includes winning four tournaments sanctioned with the European Tour.
Chawrasia’s standout year was in 2016 when he won twice at the Hero Indian Open and Resorts World Manila Masters. In that same year, he represented his country at the Olympics with Lahiri.
Nicholas Fung is one of the experienced players on the team as he will make his third appearance in the EurAsia Cup. Only two other players are playing for the third time. They are Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Lahiri.
Fung qualified for the team as a captain’s selection. He will be the second Malaysian to represent Team Asia alongside reigning Asian Tour number one Gavin Green.
Fung has contributed 1 point for Team Asia in the last two editions.
The Malaysian won his first Asian Tour title in 2017 at the Queen’s Cup in Thailand after coming close on several occasions.

Players’ Quotes

S.S.P. Chawrasia

Nicholas Fung

Ends.

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Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 9: China’s rising star Li Haotong believes the stage is set for him to take on Team Europe when the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM gets underway on Friday. The world number 59 announced his arrival on the world stage with a scintillating final round 63 which saw him finish third […]

Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 9: China’s rising star Li Haotong believes the stage is set for him to take on Team Europe when the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM gets underway on Friday.

The world number 59 announced his arrival on the world stage with a scintillating final round 63 which saw him finish third at The Open last year.

Li’s credentials have not gone unnoticed by Team Asia’s Vice-Captain Zhang Lianwei.

Zhang, a six-time Asian Tour winner and legend in his own right, has been impressed by the young Chinese and believes he can continue to make his mark.

China’s elder statesman also believes that despite the diverse culture and background Team Asia has, they are united in their common goal of bringing glory to the continent when the event starts.

The EurAsia Cup will feature 24 matches, with day one showcasing six Fourball matches, followed by six Foursomes matches and 12 Singles matches on the third day.

Did you know?

This is Li Haotong’s first appearance in the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM. He is the second player after Wu Ashun (2016) from China to represent Team Asia in the biennial event.
Team Asia will rely on Li to put points on the board while China’s Zhang Lianwei will put his experience to good use as a Vice-Captain to team captain Arjun Atwal.
Li is among six debutants in Team Asia who will play in the EurAsia Cup.
He is the second youngest player in Team Asia at the age of 21. Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand is the youngest at 18.
He is a regular on the European Tour where he holds one victory at the 2016 Volvo China Open.
Li also represented China in the 2016 Olympics and World Cup of Golf where he finished in a credible tied second place with playing partner Wu Ashun.
In 2017, Li finished third on the European Tour’s The Rocco Forte Open. His highlight of the year was shooting a final round 63 at The Open where his third place result was his best ever finish in a Major.
Zhang is a five-time Asian Tour champion and one-time European Tour winner. He is recognized as one of China’s golfing pioneers where he paved the way for other professionals to follow in his footsteps.
He has played in four professional team match-play events including the Alfred Dunhill Cup in 1998, 1999 and 2000. He also played in the Royal Trophy in 2006.

Players’ Quotes:

Li Haotong

Zhang Lianwei

Ends.

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About MMC Corporation Berhad

MMC Corporation Berhad (MMC) is a leading utilities and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under three divisions, namely ports & logistics, energy & utilities and engineering & construction.Its key businesses under the Ports and Logistics division include the operations of Port of Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Kontena Nasional Berhad and JP Logistics. Internationally, MMC has an associate stake in Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company Limited, a container port terminal within the Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Arabia.Under the Energy & Utilities division, MMC is the single largest shareholder of both Malakoff Corporation Berhad and Gas Malaysia Berhad.MMC’s Engineering & Construction division has further established itself in the sector with a leading role as the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) and underground works package contractor for the 51km Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project (Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) and Line 2 project (Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line). Prior to this, MMC has successfully completed the 329km Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Tracking Project as well as the innovative Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) motorway, the first-of-its-kind dual-purpose tunnel in the world. MMC continues to make inroads in the construction industry, securing key civil and infrastructure projects in the country namely Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant, Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant, civil and infrastructure works for RAPID Pengerang Cogeneration Plant. Additionally, MMC has a 20% effective interest in Borneo Highway PDP Sdn Bhd (BHP) which has been appointed as PDP for the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Project.In other businesses, MMC owns Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, a water treatment plant operator and Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd, the operator of Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru; a major aviation hub and the main air transportation gateway to Iskandar Malaysia. Additionally, MMC’s Group Property arm manages close to 6,000 acres of industrial developments in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor and Kulim, Kedah, namely Senai Airport City, Tanjung Bin Petrochemical & Maritime Industrial Centre (TBPMIC) and Northern Technocity in Kulim. The Senai Airport City, TBPMIC and NTC (NTC) developments come under the ambit of Group Property’s three operating companies – Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Northern Technocity Sdn Bhd respectively.

Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 10: Korea’s Byeonghun An is ready to renew his rivalry with Team Europe when the epic battle at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM begins on Friday. An was part of Team Asia who lost to Team Europe at the last EurAsia Cup in 2016. The Korean, who is ranked 100th […]

Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 10: Korea’s Byeonghun An is ready to renew his rivalry with Team Europe when the epic battle at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM begins on Friday.

An was part of Team Asia who lost to Team Europe at the last EurAsia Cup in 2016.

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin will be making his debut at the team match-play event and will be adopting a similar mental approach which has seen him lift two Asian Tour titles.

The 24-year-old, who qualified for the EurAsia Cup through his Order of Merit position where he finished in eighth place last year, believes a relaxed approach will be key to doing well.

The EurAsia Cup will feature 24 matches, with day one showcasing six Fourball matches, followed by six Foursomes matches and 12 Singles matches on the third day.

Did you know?

Byeunghun An became the youngest U.S. Amateur champion at the age of 17.
He won the 2015 BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour with a record score of 21-under-par and was named the Rookie of the Year.
An earned a point for Team Asia in the last edition of the EurAsia Cup when he partnered Thongchai Jaidee to defeat Danny Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick 3&1.
An makes his return to the team after being selected as one of captain, Arjun Atwal’s pick.
An got engaged last year and is planning to tie the knot with his fiancée this year.
Poom is a two-time Asian Tour winner. He won his first title in Indonesia in 2016 before injuring his back. He returned to his best form when he won again in India last year.
Earlier in his career, Poom played mostly on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) where he won once in 2015.
Poom earned Asian Tour card by finishing tied 18th at Qualifying School on home soil in 2014.
The 24-year-old also helped Thailand claim the team gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games in 2013.

Players’ Quotes

Byeonghun An

Poom Saksansin

Ends.

About DRB-HICOM

About Asian Tour

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Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 5: Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand is prepared to take on a new role when he represents Team Asia at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM next week. Team Asia captain Arjun Atwal of India will rely on world number 49 Kiradech to put points on the scoreboard and be a mentor […]

Shah Alam, Malaysia, January 5: Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand is prepared to take on a new role when he represents Team Asia at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM next week.

Known for his grip-it and rip-it style of golf, Kiradech enjoyed a stellar 2017 season where he won on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) followed by two runner-up results on the European Tour.

The EurAsia Cup will feature 24 matches, with day one showcasing six Fourball matches, followed by six Foursomes matches and 12 Singles matches on the third day.

Ticket sales are now open. You can purchase the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM tickets here: https://www.ticketpro.com.my/sports/2231222-Eurasia-Cup-2018.html

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About DRB-HICOM

About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), FENIX XCell (Official Apparel Supplier), Titleist (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

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Sentosa, Singapore, January 1: With the balance of power tilting towards youth, the Asian Tour has refreshed its logo to reflect the development and progression of the organisation. Recently, the Asian Tour has seen a dramatic shift in performance from a new crop of ultra-talented young players. On any given week, there is a host […]

Sentosa, Singapore, January 1: With the balance of power tilting towards youth, the Asian Tour has refreshed its logo to reflect the development and progression of the organisation.

In 2017, a record 16 players under the age of 30 were victorious on the pan-Asian professional golf tour’s official schedule.

The new logo will be implemented across all platforms as well as collaterals and it will make its first appearance at the Asian Tour Qualifying School in January.

The new design is an evolution of the old logo where the golfer’s silhouette has evolved into a stronger and more powerful position which is forward-looking and embodies the modern game.

The Asian Development Tour logo will also be updated with the new design elements.

Ends.

About Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Panasonic (Official Consumer Electronics), ECCO (Official Footwear Sponsor), FENIX XCell (Official Apparel Supplier), Titleist (Official Web Partner), Bloomberg TV (Official International Media Partner), Bloomberg Businessweek Chinese (Official International Media Partner), Wall Street Journal (Official International Media Partner) and Sentosa in Singapore which is the Home of the Asian Tour which also has an office in Kuala Lumpur.

Please visit us at: