T

hroughout the first half of the year, Rory Hie has been flying high in a series of prestigious golf tournaments, at home and abroad. The 22-year-old Indonesian golf star is now eyeing a homeground title and being among the world’s top 30 golfers to qualify for next year’s European Tour.

“This year my professional career has been improving well, especially in Indonesia. I hope to maintain that good momentum and even better, win at the next homeground championships,” said Rory, who ranked sixth in world amateur golf in 2008, the year he began a pro career.

Rory, who is also Indonesia’s brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, was speaking at the Mercedes Trophy Indonesian Final media conference on Monday.

Rory expects to take part in OneAsia Tour’s US$1 million worth Indonesian Open from July 14-17 in Jakarta. Prior to that championship, Rory will depart to an earlier OneAsia’s championship at the High 1 Country Club in South Korea from July 7 to 10.

Rory finished runner-up at the first series of the OneAsia Tour, the Indonesia PGA Championship in March, where Australian Andre Stolz was crowned champion. Previously in April at the Asian Tour Indonesia Masters, which was won by world top golfer Lee Westwood, Rory finished ninth, best among the other Indonesian golfers who took part in the event.

Only last month, Rory shot the lowest final round of the day of 67 (5-under) to finish in tie-fourth place of OneAsia’s China PGA Championship in Zhengzhou, Henan, China. The one-week tournament was at the St. Andrews Golf Club golf course, reportedly having extreme conditions that saw few under par scores in. At a following OneAsia $1 million Nanshan China Masters in Shandong, China, Rory carded tie-seventh at finishing spot.

“I wish to qualify for next year’s European Tour. So, from around September to December this year, I will take part in qualifiers in Germany and France,” Rory said on his long-term target.

The European Tour this year will be in three stages, where only the top 30 golfers of the qualifying rounds will be proceed to next year’s tour.

President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Indonesia Rudi Borgenheimer expressed his pride toward the achievements of the Indonesian golfer who has since 2009 been the company’s brand ambassador.

“We hope to further support the development of young Indonesian golfers, especially in the U14 age group, covering the expenses of trips and equipment for Ancora [Golf Institute]’s U14 golfers,” Rudi said.