R

ising Indonesian golf star Rory Hie Hidayat leads his professional and amateur compatriots to step up the country's game at the upcoming Indonesia President Invitational tournament from July 23 to 26.

The US$400,000 event will also feature Asian Tour stars, including defending champion Australian Scott Hend, Filipinos Juvic Pagunsan and Frankie Minoza, American Anthony Kang, Asian Tour International season-opening winner James Kamte of South Africa, Singaporean Lam Chih Bing, and Korean Noh Seung-yul.

Some other top Asian players are not playing, however, due to their overlapping schedules.

Last year's Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, Jeev Milkha Singh, is on the US PGA Tour, while 2009 Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open champion Thongchai Jaidee is on the European Tour.

"We're targeting to have five or six of our golfers make the cut," Indonesian Golf Association (PGI) chairman Jero Wacik, who is also the culture and tourism minister, told a media conference at the Matoa Golf Course in Ciganjur, South Jakarta, on Friday.

"With Rory's participation, I believe the country will have an envoy in the top 10. It will be a remarkable performance."

Having turned pro last October and finishing in the top 70 at last year's European Tour Qualifying School in Jerez and Catalunya in Spain, Rory is currently qualified to participate in the European PGA Challenge Tour.

The 20-year-old earned his 2009 Asian Tour card this year, when he finished in the top 40 at the Qualifying School in Thailand, and has already produced several eye-catching performances.

Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han said, "This event will be a great opportunity for In-donesian players to test their skills with all the top players of the Asian Tour, and to gain world ranking points.

"Tournaments like this will help develop the standards of Indonesian players.

"We would like to see more Indonesian players on the Asian Tour and see them win more events, not only here but also outside Indonesia."

The tournament, to be held at the Damai Indah Golf-Bumi Serpong Damai course in Tangerang, marks the start of 2009 Asian Tour's second half, following a six-week break.

Twenty professional and 10 amateur Indonesian golfers will take part, and they have been given access to the golf course for training for up to three weeks before the tournament kicks off.

"We will also provide prizes for those who make the cut," said Jero, but did not elaborate.

In the inaugural event in 2007, six Indonesian golfers made the cut. Last year, only three did.

The country's golf authorities have yet to name the 30 players.

"This year, there have been five tournaments, two of which are the Ancora Pro Series tournaments. We will select the 20 pro golfers from the order of merit resulting from the second Ancora Pro Series," said Nursalam A. Tabusalla, executive chairman of the Indonesian Professional Golf Association (PGPI).

The second Ancora event concluded Friday. Maan Nasim came out on top, followed by Indra Hermawan and Ilyassyak.

PGI secretary-general Zaenal Soedjais said the PGI had also not yet decided which amateur players to pick.