Chang Hwa (Chinese Taipei), July 21 (IANS): Newest Asian Development Tour (ADT) winner Niall Turner of Ireland hopes to extend his winning run at the Taifong Open which will get underway at the highly-rated Taifong Golf Club Thursday.
The 30-year-old Irish, who claimed his breakthrough ADT win in Jakarta last week, will be part of the talented field from over 19 countries vying for honours at the $160,000 event, richest on the ADT since the burgeoning Tour was launched as a gateway to the premier Asian Tour in 2010.
The Taifong Open will also mark the start of the ADT’s two-week swing in Chinese Taipei where all eyes will be on the lucrative prize money on offer in the schedule’s top-two richest events this season.
Turner believes his victory will serve as a timely confidence boost ahead of the Taifong Chan Open, which is the 10th stop on the ADT this season.
Currently ranked 10th on the Order of Merit, Turner hopes to play his way back onto the region’s premier Tour by finishing inside the top-five at the end of the season so as to secure his Asian Tour card for 2015.
“It feels fantastic to secure my first ADT win last week. I had targeted to do well in this stretch of events. It will be an important few weeks on the ADT and I’m glad to win the first of the stretch which put me in good form ahead of the upcoming tournaments,” said Turner.
“I really want to get back on the Asian tour and I look forward to the two weeks here in Chinese Taipei,” added Turner.
This season, the ADT will reward the top five players on the final Order of Merit with playing rights for the 2015 Asian Tour season. Previously, only the top-three players were offered Asian Tour cards.