India's Gaganjeet Bhullar will be eyeing a win at the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational golf tournament starting here on Thursday.
JAKARTA: India's Gaganjeet Bhullar will be eyeing a win at the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational golf tournament starting here on Thursday.
Since finishing runner-up last year, Bhullar, 20, will be banking on his hard work to steer him through a maiden triumph at the Damai Indah Golf and Country Club.
But Bhullar will have to battle some of the top players from the region in the $400,000 event who include defending champion Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines, Thai star Thaworn Wiratchant, Australian Rick Kulacz, who won the Brunei Open last week, Malaysia's Ben Leong and Terry Pilkadaris of Australia.
Competing for the first time at the tricky Pantai Indah Kapuk course, Bhullar, who posted one top-10 result this year, will be determined to find the winning formula this week.
"I was a rookie last year and I was unfamiliar with the conditions and players. I've adjusted well now and I'm ready to go. I've been working extremely hard and never took a break. I told myself that the reason I lost out last year was because I wasn't working hard enough on my game. I've been at the golf course every day when I'm back home and I'm feeling good," said Bhullar, who was the 2005 World Junior Masters champion.
Bhullar had narrowly lost out on the title last year when Pagunsan holed an eagle at the final 18th hole for the win.
"I have to drive it well here. My goal is to keep my card but I hope my hard work will pay off with a win this week," he added.
Filipino Pagunsan, who nailed two top-10 finishes from his last four tournaments, hopes to tackle the par-72 course on the way to a successful title defence.
"I will treat this event like any other tournament so that way I will be more relaxed. I'm happy with my form since Bangkok Airways Open in June and I hope to finish strongly here," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}