Jakarta, June 16: China’s number one golfer Liang Wenchong will compete in next month’s Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta along with former winner Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand, and Singapore’s Mardan Mamat.The US$1 million tournament tees-off at Damai Indah Golf - Pantai Indah Kapuk Course from July 1 to 4.
The Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta is making its debut on OneAsia and is the fifth event on this year’s schedule.
Liang has already triumphed on OneAsia this year in the season-opening Luxehills Chengdu Open, where he won in a sudden-death play-off.
It was his second victory on OneAsia as he also claimed the Midea China Classic in 2009 and he says he is looking forward to competing in the Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta.
“My two victories on OneAsia have both been in China. They were in front of my home fans with great support so I now want to show that I can play at the same level overseas. The Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the region with many famous winners so it is a title I would love to win,” said Liang.
The 31 year old, who also claimed the 2008 Hero Honda Indian Open and the Singapore Masters in 2007, is currently ranked 89 in the world.
Thaworn was victorious in the Indonesia Open in 2005 – the year he finished Asia’s number one player. The veteran golfer has claimed 11 titles on the Asian Tour with his last coming in the 2009 Macau Open.
He won Indonesia’s national Open by five strokes in 2005 at Cengkareng Golf Club in Jakarta with an amazing four round total of 25-under-par 255.
Mamat has two events to his name in the region most notably, the 2006 Singapore Masters and 2004 Indian Open. His success in India saw him become the first Singaporean to win on the Asian Tour.
Both Thaworn and Mamat will be hoping to join Liang as a winner on OneAsia – which was launched last year to provide leading players in the Asia-Pacific region with an alternative to the PGA Tour and the European Tour.
This season OneAsia has more than doubled in size to 11 tournaments with a total of over US$12 million in prize money to be won. OneAsia which was founded by the China Golf Association, the PGA of Australia, the Korean Golf Association and the Korea Golf Tour.
“To boast players of the calibre of Liang Wenchong, Thaworn Wiratchant and Mardan Mamat is a strong indication of how highly regarded the Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta is. We look forward to welcoming them to Indonesia,” said Arifin Panigoro – President of the Indonesian Golf Association (PGI).
Other leading names will be announced shortly.
The Indonesia Open was first played in 1974 when the legendary Ben Arda of the Philippines won the title. Arda, the first Filipino to play in the Masters, was followed into the winner’s circle by several greats of the game including American Payne Stewart (1981) and Frank Nobilo from New Zealand (1994 and 1997). Thai star Thongchai Jaidee had his name engraved on the trophy last season after a two-stroke victory at Bali’s New Kuta Golf & Ocean View Resort.
The Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta is jointly promoted by World Sport Group and Global One. Both will draw on their vast experience in sponsorship, media and event management to ensure this year’s tournament is one of the finest ever.
Full coverage of the Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta will be showcased on OneAsia's television platform with live coverage for four hours a day across all four tournament days, and broadcast to over 260 million homes in more than 40 countries.
About OneAsia
OneAsia is a non-profit organisation developed to maximize elite tournament opportunities in Asia-Pacific. The Founding members of OneAsia are the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia. The mission of OneAsia is not just to allow the region's best players to gain access to more events, but to ultimately provide them with an alternative pathway to the PGA Tour and the European Tour, thus retaining the best golfing talent in the region without compromising their development.
For more information, please contact:
Janice Lee Fang
PR & Media Manager - OneAsia
DID: +65 6236 0362
Mobile: +65 8268 8155
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Simon Wilson
Media Manager - World Sport Group
Phone: +65 6826 2688
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