The Crowns: Hiratsuka Celebrates His Crowning Glory


Nagoya (May 3): Japan's Tetsuji Hiratsuka scored an emphatic success in the 50th edition of the 120 million yen (about US$1.23 million) The Crowns. The 37-year-old maintained his mastery of the Nagoya Golf Club's 6,531-yard Wago Course in Aichi Prefecture with an authoritative closing four-under-par 66. That gave him a formidable 72-hole total of 17-under 263 and a seven-stroke buffer from runner-up Kenichi Kuboya, who posted a 65. Thanks to a best-of-the-day 64, Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng soared into a share of third place with Taichi Teshima.

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Mission Hills Triumph A Small Step On Road To Augusta For Teenager Lam


Shenzhen (May 1): There's still a long road to travel before Steven Lam can start contemplating teeing-up at Augusta National. But the Hong Kong teenager has edged a step closer to earning a coveted spot in the 2010 Masters Tournament. Lam survived a late wobble to emerge triumphant in the second edition of the Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior Championship. In so doing he has secured an exemption to the inaugural Asian Amateur Championship at Mission Hills in October. The winner of that event will be awarded a place in next April's Masters Tournament.

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Australian Quartet Weighing Up Appeal Option


Singapore (April 30): The fate of the Australian quartet who opted to compete in the Volvo China Open without an Asian Tour release is in the hands of the circuit's Tournament Players' Committee (TPC). Jason King, Chris Gaunt, Brad Kennedy and Ashley Hall are facing a US$5,000 fine plus suspension from Asian Tour events for the rest of 2009. Despite being aware of the potential consequences of their actions, the Asian Tour members chose to line-up in the US$2.2 million Volvo China Open in Beijing - an event that was co-sanctioned by the new OneAsia Super Series.

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World To Pay Close Attention To Mission Hills Gathering, Says Nicklaus


Shenzhen (April 29): The eyes of the golfing world will be trained on China's Mission Hills Golf Club this week when the stars of tomorrow lock horns in the Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior Championship. The 36-hole event will be played over the acclaimed Nicklaus-designed World Cup Course on April 29-30. Inspired and supported by Nicklaus' passionate efforts in the area of junior golf development, Mission Hills set out in 2008 to create a tournament in his name to give young, gifted players the opportunity to compete under professional tournament conditions.

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Finchem Hails Asia's Arrival On The Global Golf Scene


Shanghai (April 28): In a significant boost for the profile of golf in Asia, the HSBC Champions tournament in China has been elevated to the elite stable of World Golf Championships events. With a US$2 million increase in prize money to US$7 million and a revised qualifying criteria, the first World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions will take place at Shanghai’s Sheshan International Golf Club from November 5-8. World number one Tiger Woods and defending champion Sergio Garcia have already confirmed their entries into the world-class field. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, speaking on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, said: “This is one of the most significant steps ever taken in the globalisation of golf, and one of the most logical."

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Ballantine's Championship To Retain Asian-European Status Quo


Jeju Island (April 27): While Thongchai Jaidee was battling to arguably the most important win of his career, off-the-course intrigue surrounded the future of the Ballantine's Championship. The Thai's triumph in the second edition of the event that was co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour lifted him into the top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time. And it appears that when Thongchai returns to defend his crown at the Pinx Golf Club next year, the status quo will remain.

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