Gaurav Ghei to have a crack at glory in Indonesia

Bintan, Indonesia, Feb 27 (UNI) Pleased with his run of form in the early stages of the new season, seasoned golfer Gaurav Ghei is high on confidence as he prepares to have a crack at glory in the inaugural Motorola International Bintan here next month.

Ghei will be part of a formidable field which will grace the fairways at Ria Bintan from March 22-25 but the Indian, who lifted the Mercuries Taiwan Masters last year for his second triumph in Asia, will have to produce his best to pip the likes of Filipino veteran Frankie Minoza, the current Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit leader, Australian Terry Pilkadaris and the talented South African Anton Haig.

''I have just been working hard on my game, the usual stuff.

Obviously I have set goals for this season and an early win would definitely be nice,'' said Ghei.

Eyes will be on Minoza, especially because the evergreen player is riding high this season following a second triumph in his home Open earlier this month and was runner-up in the recent Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open.

The 47-year-old, a multiple winner in Japan, has been enjoying a new lease of golfing life and will enter the Motorola-sponsored event at Ria Bintan Golf Club as one of the leading contenders.

''The Boss'' has been watching tapes of his previous triumphs in Japan, undergoing corrective laser eye surgery and wielding a new putter, which have helped turn Minoza's golfing fortunes around.

''Recently, I've been watching old videos of all my previous wins in Japan. I noticed that I was so relaxed on the course then and when I was at the Philippine Open, I said to myself that it should be just like the old times,'' he said.

The Motorola International Bintan will be the ninth leg of the 2007 Asian Tour Schedule which will stage a record total of 29 tournaments offering an all-time high of 27 million dollar in total prize money.

UNI