Sunday May 12, 2013

The Australians have ruled the fairways on the Asian Tour in recent weeks.

By CHUAH CHOO CHIANG

Marcus Fraser was in the mix at the Ballantine’s where compatriot Brett Rumsford won.

AUSSIE, Aussie, Aussie – Oi, Oi, Oi ... This famous Australian sporting chant was a deafening delight when Sydney successfully hosted the 2000 Olympic Games, with the host nation winning 16 gold medals to finish fourth in the overall standings.

While it may not be appropriate for fans to be screaming their lungs out during a golf tournament, the Aussies have certainly ruled the fairways on the Asian Tour in recent weeks as the region’s premier circuit completed its first nine tournaments in what has been a frenetic start to its milestone 10th season in 2013.

Big-hitting Scott Hend started the wave of Aussie wins with a spectacular come-from-behind triumph at the inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT, claiming his third career victory in Asia.

Scott Hend led the way for Australian success in Chiangmai.

Coincidently, Hend’s advice to countryman Wade Ormsby to simply remain patient proved to be the master stroke as the latter broke through for his maiden professional victory at the Panasonic Open India in the following week despite shooting a triple bogey early in his final round.

The three-peat was complete when another Aussie, Brett Rumsford defeated compatriot Marcus Fraser and Peter Whiteford of Scotland to bag the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea two weeks ago.

The big turnout of Aussie winners on the Asian Tour is no surprise. At the Qualifying School in Thailand earlier this year, a total of 77 Australian wannabe stars teed up, making them the third largest contingent behind Japanese and Korean players.

Many Australians see the Asian Tour as the perfect opportunity to carve a career for themselves due to the proximity between Australia and Asia and also the numerous playing opportunities and career pathway that the Asian Tour provides.

Hend switched his focus to the Asian Tour in 2007 after a serious hand injury cut short his career on the PGA Tour. But six years on, he has had no regrets playing in the region despite having to fly halfway across the globe as he is based in Florida where his wife and twins live.

“The Asian Tour has been a fantastic place for me to be in. This is the Tour in the region and in my eyes it is the only Tour in the region,” said Hend, who has now accumulated close to US$1.8 million in earnings on the Asian Tour since 2007.

Scott Barr is a another of the leading Australian players.

“It is a fantastic breeding ground for the young players and the middle aged players such as myself. Everyone wants to come out and forge a good living and play in good tournaments and try to move to the next level. This is a great place to be and a place to play on,” added the Australian, who shot a final round 64 to overcome an overnight six-shot deficit to win in Chiangmai.

Orsmby featured on the European Tour before losing his card but he has found a second home now on the Asian Tour.

He was down and out after playing well in the Maybank Malaysian Open and in Chiangmai although his results saw him finish in mid-table on both occasions. But a simple word of advice from Hend, which Orsmby scribbled on his yardage book “Stay Patient”, worked wonders as he won in India.

“It means so much. I’ve played tournaments worldwide but to finally get a win in Asia is fantastic,” said Ormsby.

“I was so disappointed in Malaysia and Chiangmai as I played well on both weeks but didn’t finish them off. I knew there was a win in there for me and I am glad I came here.”

Since earning his Asian Tour card at Qualifying School last year, Ormsby has enjoyed playing alongside the region’s finest stars. “I love playing in Asia. I’m 33-years-old and I see myself playing more on the Asian Tour. It’s a big Tour with lots of opportunities for players like us,” he said.

Other leading Aussies on the Asian Tour include the likes of Scott Barr. While the elusive win has failed to come, the Singapore-based Barr professes that his career would not have been the same without the Asian Tour.

“The Asian Tour has been a huge stepping stone in my career. I was teaching golf before I joined the Asian Tour. I hit some good fortune way back in 2003 and 10 years later I’m up to 200 events,” said Barr, who reached his career milestone at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters last week.

“The Asian Tour has helped me play in some Majors and global events. The Asian Tour has been significant for me.”

Sports

Sunday May 12, 2013

The Australians have ruled the fairways on the Asian Tour in recent weeks.

By CHUAH CHOO CHIANG