KUALA LUMPUR – Jan. 4, 2005 – The Asian Tour Qualifying School in Johor, Malaysia in January has attracted 575 international players who will battle for 40 Tour cards for the 2005 season.

Officials said the overwhelming response which includes players representing no fewer than 35 countries is the highest ever at the Qualifying School in Asia. Some of the game's future stars including the likes of India's Shiv Kapur, gold medallist of the 2002 Asian Games in Korea, American Ty Tryon, Australian Luke Hickmott and former Tour winners Japan's Satoshi Oide and Australian David Gleeson will battle for playing opportunities on the Asian Tour.

A total of 450 players will compete in Stage One of the gruelling qualifying test from January 5-8 over four venues in Johor, namely Palm Resort Golf and Country Club, Pulai Springs Resort and two courses at Tanjong Puteri Golf and Country Club.

A total of 80 players, 20 from each Stage One venue, will then join 125 exempted players in the all-important Final Stage at Palm Resort's Allamanda and Cempaka Courses from January 12-15 where the top-40 players and ties will earn their Asian Tour cards. Asian Tour Chief Executive Louis Martin said the strong response was an indication of the Tour's growing strength. In 2004, the Asian Tour offered 22 tournaments with total prize money of US$12.3 million, the highest ever in the region.

"The response for the Asian Tour Qualifying School is simply overwhelming," said Martin. "We were anticipating approximately 400 players for both stages but to receive nearly 600 entries is a sign that the Asian Tour has gained acceptance as one of the main Tours in the world. We have announced a strong first half schedule for 2005 and I'm sure that this has contributed to so many players competing in Johor."

The Asian Tour recently announced the first half of its 2005 schedule, which will include a minimum of 14 tournaments offering over US$11 million in prize money. Martin said that the Tour is anticipating a full schedule of 25 tournaments for the new season. The highest number of entries was received from Japanese players, totaling 118. Australia was next with 84 players entered. The Qualifying School has also drawn entries from golfing minnows such as Laos and Nigeria.

Nine Malaysians will feature in Stage One while four others - Rashid Ismail, Airil Rizman, Shaaban Hussein and P. Gunasegaran - have been exempted into the Final Stage. One of the youngest players in the field will be local pro Hanapiah Jamil, who is 17 years of age. "The Qualifying School will be a stern challenge for the hopefuls," said Martin. "There is a belief that the Qualifying School creates as much pressure as playing in a Major as players are battling for their careers and the pressure is simply immense.

"There are many talented and upcoming players in the Qualifying School. Shiv Kapur is a promising prospect. Having turned professional last year, he has already won a couple of events on the Indian circuit while Ty Tryon was the youngest ever to earn a US PGA Tour card in 2001 at the age of 17 years. "The strength of the field will also see the likes of Filipino Gerald Rosales, Singaporean Lam Chih Bing and some other former Tour regulars fighting hard to earn their cards for 2005," added Martin.

Media Contact
Chuah Choo Chiang
Asian Tour
T: 603 7880 3714
www.asiantour.com