Manila: Talented Korean Baek Seuk-hyun is eager to turn a string of fine performances into a first Asian Tour victory at the inaugural US$300,000 Solaire Open next week.

Baek is ranked fifth on the Order of Merit courtesy of two top-five results but is still without a victory since 2009. He hopes to turn his fortunes around at the newest Asian Tour event in the Philippines, which is staged at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club from April 11 to 14.

The 22-year-old will be among an elite cast which includes 2011 Order of Merit winner Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines, multiple Asian Tour winners Rikard Karlberg of Sweden, Japanese star Tetsuji Hiratsuka and Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol, who won the season-opening Zaykabar Myanmar Open.

The highly rated Baek, who is based in Thailand, has yet to miss a single halfway cut in five Asian Tour events and credited his hot start to a new training regime where he has lost eight kilograms since the start of the year.

“I know I need to get stronger. I know I have to lose some weight and have skipped dinners to do this. I’ve lost about 8kg since the beginning of this year. I want to keep trying to get it down,” said Baek.

“I want to win at least one Asian Tour event this year. I have some good finishes this season and I’m more experienced because this is my fifth season on the Asian Tour. If I can stay strong then I have a chance at winning,” he added.

Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, who won at Wack Wack at the ICTSI Philippine Open last year, is aiming for a repeat performance at the venue where he won his third Asian Tour after a six-year title drought.

The veteran golfer, currently ranked 28th on the Order of Merit, has his eyes set on finishing inside the top-10 of the Asian Tour Order of Merit at the end of the 2013 season. His highest finish on the region’s premier Tour which is celebrating its 10th season was in eighth position in 2010.

“I want to try and break into the top-10 of the Order of Merit this season. Hopefully by doing that, I can win one Asian Tour event.

“I have another two years winner’s exemption and that will give me the opportunity to focus on what I want to do. There’s not much stress for me to play this year! I just want to get better and hit my target,” said Mardan.

Asian Tour winners Arnond Vongvanij of Thailand, Himmat Rai of India, David Gleeson of Australia and Chan Yih-shin of Chinese Taipei will also feature in the Solaire Open, which is title sponsored by Solaire Resort and Casino, the Philippines’ premier integrated destination resort.