Filipino golf star Angelo Que heads to the inaugural US$1.5 million Ho Tram Open next week with every intention to triumph in the country that launched his career over a decade ago.
Que, a three-time Asian Tour winner, remembers with great fondness his maiden victory in Vietnam back in 2004 where he defeated Thai legend Thongchai Jaidee in a head-to-head duel.
A win at the award-winning The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip course, which is located about a two hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, will be timely as he will celebrate his 37th birthday during the first round of Vietnam’s newest and richest international sporting event. The Ho Tram Open runs from December 3 to 6.
“I’ve got a lot of good memories from Vietnam. My first Asian Tour win came in the country and I needed to win back then to keep my Tour card. Not even a second place would have helped me then. The win kick started my career for sure and I’m now looking forward to playing in the Ho Tram Open and maybe trying to win it,” said Que.
Que will be amongst the top Asian Tour stars taking aim at the Ho Tram Open which has attracted Spanish star Sergio Garcia, Europe’s Ryder Cup and EurAsia Cup team captain Darren Clarke and Asia’s first Major champion Y.E. Yang, who is also an honorary member of the Asian Tour.
Australia’s Scott Hend, Andrew Dodt and India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia, currently second, third and fourth respectively on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, are also tipped to contend in what is the richest full field Asian Tour tournament.
The bubbly Que is hoping to produce his best golf again after a 2015 campaign which has been unrewarding thus far. He hopes to draw on the positive memories from his career breakthrough to end a five-year title drought.
“There’s a picture of me taken when I putted out for the win. You could see the veins in my neck with the way that I shouted after I won. The putt made me a different player,” said Que.
“My year has been a rollercoaster. I’ve had good weeks and I’ve had bad weeks. You want to stay on top of your game and you need some luck. The past year, I’ve played in a lot of tournaments which I’m not quite used to as I’ve spend time in Japan as well this season.”
He lauded the sponsors of the Ho Tram Open for putting up another new event on the Asian Tour. “It’s great we have a new playing opportunity. Back when I started out on the Asian Tour, we could never get a US$1.5 million event and this is great for the Asian Tour and for Vietnam golf. It’s a chance to show the world how golf has grown in Asia,” said Que.
Chawrasia has enjoyed one of his best seasons to date but wants a win to put the icing on the cake. The three-time Asian Tour winner has also never won outside of India and hopes to get it right at the Ho Tram Open.
“I’ve heard a lot of wonderful things about The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip course and I can’t wait to get there for the Ho Tram Open. My year has been good with several top finishes but of course I would like to win a tournament before the year concludes,” said the 37-year-old Chawrasia.
Complimentary tickets to watch the Ho Tram Open are available for download on the Ho Tram Open websitewww.hotramopen.com.
Since opening in October 2014, the links-style layout located two hours southeast of Ho Chi Minh City has been hailed by many of the world’s leading authorities on golf. In January, GOLF Magazine named it one of the world’s best new courses. In July, the Australian Financial Review called it “as pretty a course as you’ll find on the entire Asian continent.”
For more information about the Ho Tram Open including player bios and sponsorship options, visit www.hotramopen.com
