S.S.P. Chawrasia of India and Scott Hend of Australia are aiming for successful outings at the Asia-Pacific Open Mitsubishi Diamond Cup later this month.
Chawrasia and Hend, who are ranked third and fourth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit respectively, will headline the elite field at the Y150 million (approximately US$1.2 million) event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
They will be joined by two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant, defending champion Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan and 2011 Asian Tour number one Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines at the Otone Country Club, West Course from September 24 to 27.
The 37-year-old Chawrasia has posted three top-10s on the Asian Tour this year including a runner-up finish at the Hero Indian Open where he held the lead for three days before losing in a play-off to countryman Anirban Lahiri.
The three-time Asian Tour winner was disappointed with the defeat but hopes to challenge for the Asia-Pacific Open Mitsubishi Diamond Cup title.
“I’ve gained a lot of confidence. It shows especially with my results earlier this year. It is good to be playing well and I hope to continue my good run. I’ve been playing consistently and I hope to keep doing that,” said Chawrasia.
The big-hitting Hend is also enjoying a good run of form after finishing second at the True Thailand Classic in February before claiming a tied fifth result at the inaugural AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
The Australian is one of the most successful international players on the Asian Tour as he has amassed six titles on the region’s premier Tour and finished inside the top-five of the Order of Merit in 2014, 2013, 2009 and 2007.
Thailand’s Thaworn, who holds an unprecedented 18 Asian Tour victories, has two top-10s this year and will lead the Asian Tour charge. The 48-year-old was crowned as the oldest Asian Tour number one in 2012 and since then, he has continued to shine on the region’s premier Tour.
Pagunsan, the first Filipino to win the Order of Merit crown, enjoyed a tied fifth result at the Kansai Open Golf Championship in Japan earlier this year and will be aiming to win his second Asian Tour title since 2007 at the Asia-Pacific Open Mitsubishi Diamond Cup.Â
