Shiv Kapur, after closely losing out on the season-ending Amby Valley title on the Indian PGA Tour, is hoping a good finish in the first-ever professional golf tournament in the Sultanate of Brunei later this month.
The US$300,000 event has attracted a strong field, which includes at least eight of the top-15 of the Asian Tour money ranking while Amandeep Johl will also be in the fray looking forward to finish to end the first half of the Asian Tour on a positive note.
The field, apart from Money list leader Thaworn Wiratchant, also include Simon Yates of Scotland, New Zealand's Richard Lee and Australians Scott Barr, Scott Strange, Terry Pilkadaris, Adam Fraser and Marcus Both.
Kapur, who is currently 64th on the Asian Money List said "I have been playing well and hopefully Brunei will give me that good finish I have been looking forward to.
"I think the Asian Tour card for 2006 could go at about US$ 45,000 so a good finish will take me closer to that," he said.
Kapur currently has US$ 26,135 from eight starts, with a tied 12th at SK Telecom being one of his best finishes this season.
"The Empire Hotel and Country Club in Brunei has a Jack Nicklaus-designed course and I enjoy playing on them," he said.
Johl, who is currently 60th on the Money List, said "I have had a top-10 finish, but things should have been better".
"I am due for a good finish or two," added the member of Asia's winning team in the Visa Dynasty Cup.
Many Asian Tour players bound for the British Open at St Andrews, Scotland in July will also use the Brunei Open as their final preparation for the year's third Major.
The Brunei Open will bring the front half of the 2005 Asian Tour season to a close before the Tour takes its traditional summer break.
It is 15th leg on the schedule, with another 13 events slated for the second half of the year, which will resume in September.
