| James Kon |
LOCAL golfer Pengiran Wira bin Pengiran Haji Mohd Salleh is vying for a spot to play in the Asian Tour and the Asian Development Tour next year when he tees off at the 2019 Asian Tour Qualifying School in Thailand from December 24-31.
Pengiran Wira’s participation received a boost thanks to the sponsorship of Polo-T and golfing items from Golf House of Nasr Company. Founder Nasrul Azizan bin Haji Mohaimin, who is also a very passionate golf enthusiast, finds that the golf industry in Brunei Darussalam is booming and he believes that the golf industry can become one of the major contributors to the country’s tourism and economy. He saw Pengiran Wira’s potential, hence the decision for the sponsorship.
“My sponsor for Pengiran Wira is not as much as his contribution to the company and myself personally, as he will be carrying my company’s logo at the Asian Tour level and we are very proud of it.”
Asian Tour Qualifying School is a platform to enter Asian Tour. It consists of First Qualifying Stage Section A and Section B, then the Final Qualifying. Pengiran Wira is exempted at the first stages and will go directly to the Final Qualifying stage.
“It means a lot to me. To give myself a chance to get the Asian Tour card 2019. It gives me the opportunity to play on the big tour and bring my game to the next level,” the 33-year-old said.
“I am still working on my confidence because this year I only played three events so far compared to other players who have at least played three to four events monthly, but I really worked very hard to get this far.”
Pengiran Wira recently competed in the Asian Development Tour in Miri, but missed his cut. His last major competition dated back to September 5 at the PGM Miri Championship.
The Asian Tour Qualifying School provides some of the world’s most promising golfers the opportunity to earn their place at the Asian Tour and the Asian Development Tour in 2019. Successful graduates include Thai stars Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnat, Australian Scott Hend, as well as American duo David Lipsky and John Catlin.
