Scott Hend Spearheads Asian Charge At CIMB Classic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, Scott Hend and a strong line-up of young Asian Tour stars will feature at the US$7 million (about RM29.54 million) CIMB Classic which starts on Thursday at the TPC Kuala Lumpur. A statement by Asian Tour said Hend, of Australia, a nine-time Asian Tour winner, will be joined by fellow countryman Marcus Fraser, who won in Malaysia in February. "I was very close to winning the Order of Merit previously, only to the pipped by guys who played better. This year, with both or three of us going over the million dollar mark, its going to be a very close tussle," said Hend, a two-time winner this year. "With the CIMB Classic being a great tournament that we can get into, the guy in 10th place, if he runs third in that tournament, its on and its going to be a pivotal tournament. Then Hong Kong would probably be my last tournament. Its crucial this week but there is still a lot of golf left," he added. With a cool prize purse of US$1.26 million (about RM5.32 million) on offer to the the CIMB Classic winner, Hend hopes to race ahead of the chasing pack as he aims to become the newest Asian Tour number one. The Asian Tour young guns are Jeunghun Wang, Soomin Lee and Younghan Song (South Korea), Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) and Chan Shih-chang (Taiwan). India will also be led by reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, Anirban Lahiri, S.S.P. Chawrasia and Gaganjeet Bhullar, who won in South Korea three weeks ago. Tabuena, Wang, Lee, Lahiri, Bhullar and Song, who are still in their 20s, represent a new breed of young and talented Asian Tour stars searching for more glory. Ranked fifth in the Order of Merit, Tabuena,22, is determined to give Hend a run for his money on the Merit race where he trails the big hitting Australian by slightly over US$280,000 (about RM1.18 million). "I guess an outside goal is the Order of Merit. Knowing that the CIMB Classic counts may give me a chance to challenge Scott Hend and Marcus Fraser. "Its going to be a big week. I know I have the game to do that. The other goal is to win a tournament before the end of the year," said Tabuena. While Chan, ranked third on the Order of Merit courtesy of two victories this season, hopes for a memorable debut at the CIMB Classic, which will also be his first event on the PGA Tour. "The season has been good for me so far and this is a reward for all my hard work. There will be a good field this week but I'm playing well and I'm excited to tee off among some of the world's best golfers," said the 30-year-old. Defending champion, Justin Thomas of the United States will also feature in this year's competition alongside Australian Adam Scott, who finished second last year. Malaysia will be represented by Gavin Kyle Green and Danny Chia. -- BERNAMA