Rory expected to shine at invitational tournament

Agnes Winarti ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 07/03/2009 10:24 PM  |  Sports

Rory Hie Hidayat will lead Indonesia’s charge at the upcoming Indonesian President Invitational tournament at the Damai Indah golf course in Tangerang.

“We hope five or six of our golfers will reach the cut-off round. With Rory participating, I believe the country will finish among the top 10. That would be a remarkable achievement,” Indonesian Golf Association (PGI) chairman Jero Wacik told a conference at the Matoa Golf Course in Ciganjur on Friday.

Among the golfers who will don the national colors are Maan Nasim, Sarmili, Andik Mauludin, and Ilyassyak.

The Asian Tour and the Indonesian PGA-approved tournament will mark the start of the second half of 2009 Asian Tour following a six-week break.  
 
Rory, who turned pro last October after standing out as one of the top 10 amateurs in the world, has qualified for the European PGA Challenge Tour after finishing in the top 70 at last year’s European Tour Qualifying School in Spain. The 20-year-old also won a place in this year’s Asian Tour after joining the top 40 at the qualifying school in Thailand.
 
The third Indonesia President Invitational golf tournament also features Asian Tour stars, including Australian defending champion Scott Hend, inaugural champion Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines, American Anthony Kang, who ranks second on the Order of Merit, Asian Tour International season-opening winner James Kamte of South Africa, Singaporean Lam Chih Bing, Filipino veteran Frankie Minoza and Korean Noh Seung-yul.
 
“This event will be a great opportunity for Indonesian players to test their skills with all the top players of the Asia Tour and to gain world ranking points,” Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han said.
 
“Tournaments like this will help develop the standards of Indonesian players. We would like to see more Indonesian players in the Asian Tour and to see them win more events not only here but also outside Indonesia.”   
 
The country’s team of 20 professional and 10 amateur golfers will be given free access to the course to help them adjust themselves to the playing field before the July 23-26 tournament.

Jero said PGI offered “valuable prize” to national golfers who pass the cut-off round.

In the inaugural event in 2007, six local golfers made it to the main round, while last year only three Indonesian golfers qualified.   
 

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