Fung in line for EurAsia start

Nicholas Fung (left) and Team Asia playing captain Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand
Nicholas Fung (left) and Team Asia playing captain Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand

Shah Alam: Malaysian number one Nicholas Fung has been hand picked  by Team Asia skipper Thongchai Jaidee to represent the continent at the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM.

The addition of the 24-year-old will provide much needed local flavour to the 10-man Asian line-up which will face Team Europe, led by playing captain Miguel Angel Jimenez, in the Ryder Cup-styled showdown from March 27-29 at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club.

Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, Jaidee also announced that Japanese stars Koumei Oda (76th) and Hideto Tanihara (101st), along with Kim Hyung-sung (70th) of South Korea, have earned their places on team by virtue of being the top three available players on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).

They join new Asian Tour number one Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman and Indian duo Anirbhan Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar, who booked their berths by virtue of finishing as the top four Asian players on the final 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Europe has already named Major champion and Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, Spaniard Gonzalo  Fernandez-Castano, Frenchman Victor Dubuisson and Jamie Donaldson of Wales from the 2013 Race of Dubai rankings while Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, Dutchman Joost Luiten, Stephen Gallacher and Jimenez qualified through the world ranking. Jimenez is due to announce his two captain’s picks in due course.

Admitting that the Europeans will start as favourites, three-time Asian Tour number one Jaidee was buoyant that the addition of established stars from the Japanese Golf Tour will further bolster the youthful yet proven Asian cast.

“Kim has emerged as one of Korea’s rising stars in recent years and enjoyed a fantastic 2013 season in Japan with one victory and multiple top-10s to finish second on the money list. Oda also produced one of his best ever seasons by placing third in the Japan Golf Tour while 10-time winner in Japan, Tanihara will bring a wealth of experience to the team.”

The veteran Thai noted that the selection of Fung will further endear Team Asia to the Malaysian gallery with the Malaysian expected to provide much needed local knowledge.

“As Malaysia’s leading player over the past two years, I felt that we needed to have a top local player in Team Asia to carry our challenge. Nicholas has become a strong golfer and I was pleased to see him winning the Asian Development Tour Order of Meirt title in 2013 and earn his card on the Asian Tour by finishin 36th on the Merit list.”

The format of play for the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM will see five fourball matches being played on Thursday followed by five foursomes matches on Friday and 10 singles matches on the final day at Glenmarie’s Garden course.