Strong international field for Asian Masters golf tourney

Mumbai, Apr 28 (UNI) A strong international field, featuring as many as 20 winners from the Asian Tour, will vie for top honours at the inaugural Aamby Valley Asian Masters golf tournament to be held at the breathtaking Aamby Valley City Golf Course near here, from May 11 to 14. The USD 400,000 event would make the winner richer by USD 63,400.

Leading the challenge will be Australian powerhouse Terry Pilkadaris, a three-time Asian Tour winner who has been ranked inside the top-five of the Order of Merit for the past two seasons.

Pilkadaris has won a title in every season since his double victory in China in 2004, and the reigning Brunei Open champion will tee up at Aamby Valley as one of the firm favourites.

The talent on display will include some top names from the highly successful Asian Tour. It will see the likes of proven winners in Canadian veteran Rick Gibson, Korean-born American Anthony Kang and Australians Marcus Both and Jason Dawes teeing up in India's newest golf tournament, a release issued here today stated.

Some of Asia's finest young talents will also challenge for honours. Thailand's latest golf sensation Chinarat Phadungsil, compatriot Chapchai Nirat and Filipino Angelo Que have produced some wonderful performances in recent times to suggest that the future of golf in Asia is bright.

Challenging this international star cast will be a strong Indian contingent. Indians have always been strong contenders on home soil and 12 of 24 titles won by Indian professionals on Asian Tour have come in India.

Rahil Gangjee, Harmeet Kahlon, Gaurav Ghei and Amandeep Johl will be among the top Indian regulars on the Asian Tour, who will contend for the title. Also in the fray will be home talents like Vijay Kumar (2002 Indian Open champion), Feroz Ali (1998 Indian Open winner), Ali Sher (1991 and 1993 Indian Open champion) and Mukesh Kumar, who despite being India's top golfer six times in last seven years, still awaits for his maiden Asian Tour title, the release further stated.

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