Perak: Local talent Gavin Green hopes to continue his winning ways at the PGM Clearwater Masters which gets underway at the Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Green secured his second Asian Development Tour (ADT) a fortnight ago and will aim for another shot at glory at the RM200,000 (approximately US$46,600) ADT event.
Currently ranked fourth on the ADT Order of Merit, he will spearhead the home charge alongside Shaaban Hussin, who won on the domestic circuit last week, and Low Khai Jei, who turned professional in January.
They will face off against a strong international cast headlined by recent winners Shunya Takeyasu of Japan and American Josh Salah, placed second and fifth respectively on the current Merit rankings.
Green, who joined the play-for-pay ranks last June, hopes his recent good run of form will give him a battling chance to qualify for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this August.
“Winning on the ADT two weeks ago has given me a lot of confidence in my game. It means a lot to me because it was my first ADT title as a professional. I struggled with a slow start to the season but I stayed patient. With the win, I am playing with much more confidence now,” said Green, who became the first amateur to win on the ADT in 2014.
“It’s a great progress for me on the world rankings but I will not get too excited about it as it’s more important to keep playing good golf,” added Green, who trails Asian Tour regulars Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung in the road to the Olympics.
Other notable names include India’s Chikkarangappa S., who enjoyed a second-place finish on the ADT two weeks ago, Janne Kaske of Finland, James Byrne of Scotland, Singapore’s Quincy Quek as well as Thai duo Nirun Sae-ueng and Chanat Sakulpolphaisan.
A total of 105 players will compete in the PGM Clearwater Masters which will be the sixth leg of the 2016 ADT season and also the Tour’s fifth stop in Malaysia this season.
The PGM Clearwater Masters will also provide another opportunity for players to earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, which will be key in qualifying for the Olympic Games taking place in Rio de Janeiro this August.
The ADT will continue to reward the top-five finishers on the Order of Merit at the end of this season with Asian Tour cards for 2017.
