YANGON, Myanmar – Feb. 23, 2005 – The stage is set in Myanmar for Asia's hopefuls to slug it out for one last time and earn automatic selection for the Visa Dynasty Cup clash against Japan at Mission Hills Golf Club, China in April.
This week's Myanmar Open, which begins at Yangon Golf Club on Thursday, is the final counting event for the Asian Team selection where the top-eight players in the ranking will earn their right to face a Shigeki Maruyama-led Japanese side.
Singaporean number one Mardan Mamat is on the bubble with Thailand's Thammanoon Srirot, who holed the winning putt against Japan two years ago, a rung below in ninth place, followed by India's Amandeep Johl and Chinese Taipei's Chang Tse-peng and Chen Yuan-chi.
Thammanoon finished tied 35th in Malaysia at the weekend and knows he must finish amongst the leaders in Yangon. "I've been thinking a lot about the Visa Dynasty Cup," said the Thai. "I want to be amongst the top-eight players and do not want to rely on a captain's pick. I have great memories of the first clash and still think about the winning putt. It's a great event to be a part of as it showcases the best of Asian golf."
With 100 points available for this week's winner, 13th ranked Chung Joon of Korea is the last player with a mathematical chance of playing his way into the top eight. Asia's non-playing captain Hsieh Min-nan has four wild cards which will be announced by the Asian Tour next week.
Following the conclusion of the Carlsberg Malaysian Open, won by Asia's number one Thongchai Jaidee on Sunday, Indian star Jyoti Randhawa virtually sealed his place in Hsieh's team with a runner-up finish, which moved him up from eighth to fifth on the latest ranking.
Thongchai heads the rankings, followed by compatriots Thaworn Wiratchant and veteran Boonchu Ruangkit. Charlie Wi of Korea, now plying his trade on the US PGA Tour, is fourth with another Korean, Mo Joong-kyung is sixth position and poised to earn his debut appearance in the Ryder Cup-style shootout against Japan, led by non-playing captain Isao Aoki.
Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, who featured in the victorious side in 2003, is in a precarious position in seventh place, five points ahead of Mamat, who is looking to become the first Singaporean player to earn a selection into the Asian Team.
Mamat, winner of last season's Royal Challenge Indian Open, said: "I can say it would be a great thing to represent Singapore, as the first player from our country to play in the Visa Dynasty Cup. To represent Asia would be a great honour."
While the likes of Mamat, Thammanoon and Johl will face some pressure of trying to make the team, Randhawa, Asia's number one in 2002, will have the luxury of knowing that his place is virtually sealed and is looking forward to challenging Japan, who will bring out their top guns April 15-17 to make up for the nine-point defeat in the first clash.
"It is a great tournament - I think there is more pressure at that tournament than any other strokeplay event as there is (Asian) pride at stake," Randhawa said. "Winning all my matches last time gave me great pride. I've been talking to the other Asian players and we want to experience that winning feeling again."
As well as Maruyama, the Japan team includes Toshimitsu Izawa, who partnered the US-based star to victory in the 2002 World Cup, and last year's Japan Tour Order of Merit winner Shingo Katayama.
Maruyama, a three-time winner on the US PGA Tour, has promised Japanese fans that the so-called 'Dream Team' will deliver a victory this time.
Asian Team Ranking
Pos. Player Points
1. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 516.00
2. Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 426.47
3. Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA) 414.30
4. Charlie WI (KOR) 360.04
5. Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 315.25
6. MO Joong-kyung (KOR) 281.50
7. Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 265.00
8. Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 260.50
9. Thammanoon SRIROT (THA) 227.00
10. Amandeep JOHL (IND) 177.00
11. CHANG Tse-peng (TPE) 175.00
12. CHEN Yuan-chi (TPE) 167.50
13. CHUNG Joon (KOR) 167.21
14. Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 156.00
15. WANG Ter-chang (TPE) 149.47
16. LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 143.20
17. KANG Wook-soon (KOR) 133.33
18. Ted OH (KOR) 132.21
19. Rahil GANGJEE (IND) 124.11
20. LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 117.75
Top-8 players after this week's Myanmar Open will earn automatic selection into the Asian Team. There will be four captain's picks.
Contact:
Chuah Choo Chiang
Media Director
Asian Tour
T +603 7880 3714
F +603 7880 1141
E chuah@asiantour.com
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