Bangkok--26 Feb--124 Communications
Johnnie Walker has announced the nominations for its prestigious annual Johnnie Walker “Keep Walking” Golf Awards for players’ performances during 2006.
The Awards, a highlight on the annual golfing calendar, were created over a decade ag by Johnnie Walker to recognize great progress and inspire others to pursue their own dreams and goals, in the spirit of Johnnie Walker’s “Keep Walking” message.
Top Asian players Jeev Milkha Singh of India, Korean Yang Yong-eun and Prom Meesawat of Thailand have been nominated for the Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year whilst Spaniards Gonzalo Fernandez-Costano and Alvaro Quiros and Scotland’s Marc Warren have been named as the three contenders for the Johnnie Walker Young Player of the Year Award.
This year the Johnnie Walker “Keep Walking” Golf Awards will also include a new category for the Johnnie Walker Asian Rising Star Award, which will be presented to the young Asian professional that has shown the most promise, talent and commitment to the game of golf over the last 12 months. The nominations for this new Award are Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines, Thai Chinarat Phadungsil and India’s Rahil Gangjee.
Commenting on the Awards nominations, Ben Anderson, Global Brand Director, Johnnie Walker, said “We are thrilled to announce the finalists in the running to win our 2006 Johnnie Walker “Keep Walking” Awards, nine golfers who have all demonstrated such talent and determination, and inspire us all, I wish them good luck and I look forward to revealing the winners on Saturday during the 2007 Johnnie Walker Classic.”
The winners of the three coveted Awards will be announced at a Gala Evening next Saturday night during the 2007 Johnnie Walker Classic, which takes place at the Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, Thailand, from March 1 to 4.
Past winners of the Johnnie Walker Asian Golfer of the Year include Thailand’s Boonchu Ruangkit in 1995, Kyi Hla Han, the current Chairman of the Asian Tour, in 1998 and Korea’s KJ Choi (2002).
England’s Paul Casey, who is competing in this year’s Johnnie Walker Classic, is the reigning Young Golfer of Year, an Award that has previously been won by Luke Donald (2004), Adam Scott (2003), Justin Rose (2002) and Sergio Garcia (2001).
FULL PLAYER BIOS:
Finalists for the 2006 Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year Award:
Jeev Milkha Singh (India)
After coming back from several years of injury Jeev returned to winning best in 2006. The affable 35-year-old secured the Volvo China Open in April, the Volvo Masters in Valderrama, Spain in October and the Casio World Open and the Nippon Series JT Cup, both in Japan. His form throughout the year also helped him to the number one spot on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit and he finished the year at an impressive number 37 in the world.
Yang Yong-eun (Korea)
After winning Suntory Open in Japan and the Korean Open in September, Yang pulled off a sensational win in the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai last November when he beat world number one Tiger Woods by two shots to the first prize of US$833,000, immediately capturing the attention of the world’s golf media. These wins and a solid performance on the Japanese Tour meant Yang ended the year in an impressive 33rd position in the world ranking.
Prom Meesawat (Thailand)
Prom enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2006; in addition to winning his maiden title at the SK Telecom Open in May, bettering a field of stars that included Michelle Wie and KJ Choi. He claimed the runner-up spot at the Crowne Plaza Open after a three-way play off and finished in the top-10 at the star-studded Barclays Singapore Open. After turning pro in 2004, he enjoyed his highest ranking on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, with third spot, winning almost US$400,000.
Finalists for the 2006 Johnnie Walker Young Player of the Year Award:
Gonzalo Fernandez-Costano (Spain, 26 yrs)
Based in Madrid, Gonzalo has been seen as one of Spain’s rising talents since he turned pro in 2004. He followed in the footsteps of his idol Seve Ballesteros when his maiden victory came in The KLM Open at Hilversumsche Golf Club in June 2005 (Seve won his maiden tournament in Holland in 1976). After winning the Rookie of the Year on the European Tour in 2005, Gonzalo won the BMW Asian Open and came second in the Volvo China Open in 2006 to secure 40th position in the Order of Merit.
Alvaro Quiros (Spain, 24 yrs)
Although he had already secured the 18th card out of 20 on the Challenge Tour Rankings, Quiros chose to attend the Final Stage of the dreaded Qualifying School to improve his ranking. He managed to secure the 34th card (out of 35) for 2007. A month later, he claimed the Alfred Dunhill Championship, beating world class players Ernie Els and Lee Westwood, in South Africa. He will no doubt be one of the longest hitters on Tour, having recorded drives of over 350 yards on the Challenge Tour.
Marc Warren (Scotland, 25 yrs)
Marc won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year at the close of the 2006 season after a wonderful debut year on The European Tour which included a win at the EnterCard Scandinavian Masters in August and three top-10 finishes. By the end of the season, he had secured more than Euros 600,000 in prizemoney and 42nd spot in the Order of Merit. In December, he and Colin Montgomerie only just lost out in a play-off for the WGC-Barbados World Cup.
Finalists for the 2006 Johnnie Walker Asian Rising Star Award:
Juvic Pagunsan (Philippines, 28 yrs)
Pagunsan, who turned pro in January 2006 after a highly-successful amateur career, finished his first year on the Asian Tour in seventh place in the 2006 Order of Merit. This and his impressive second place in the prestigious Hong Kong Open at the end of the season saw him awarded the Rookie of the Year on the Asian Tour.
Chinarat Phadungsil (Thailand, 18 yrs)
Nicknamed ‘Neng’ which means ‘number one’ in Thai, Chinarat won the Crowne Plaza Open in August in his first full year as a professional on the Asian Tour. He also finished tied sixth in the Maybank Malaysian Open earlier in the year and was the highest ranked Thai when he finished in the top-30 at the HSBC Champions tournament in November. This secured him an impressive 29th position on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit. Started playing golf at the age of eight and enjoyed a strong amateur career, highlighted by his victory in the 2005 World Junior Championship in the United States.
Rahil Gangjee (India, 28 years)
Since the late 1990s when he enjoyed a highly successful amateur career, Rahil has been recognised as India’s hottest rising star. Having turned professional in 2000, Rahil has risen up the ranks of Asian golf, winning his first Asian Tour event in 2004 at the inaugural Volvo Masters — China, and finished the 2006 season in a creditable 19th position having earned almost US$170,000. His ambition is to follow in the footsteps of his mentor and idol, Arjun Atwal, and compete successfully on the US PGA Tour.
More information, please contact:
Chaiwat Simawattana
124 Communications Public Company Limited
Tel : 0-2662-2266 ext. 237
Email : [email protected]