Past Champion Hendry Looking To Soar At Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open

JAKARTA, March 19 - Former winner Michael Hendry of New Zealand begins his quest to establish himself in the world's top-50 at this week's Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open, the season-opener on OneAsia.

Hendry, who won the title in 2010, believes he can hold his own in golf's Majors and the US$1 million Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open provides him with the ideal platform to improve his world ranking.

A top class field will assemble at the challenging Emeralda Golf Club from March 22 to 25 for the tournament, which is being jointly sanctioned by the Japan Tour for the first time.

Japanese legend Shingo Katayama, who has won 26 titles and banked U.S. $20.7 million during a fabulous career, 2010 OneAsia Order of Merit champion Liang Wenchong of China, last year's Asian Tour number one Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines and defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand feature in the eye-catching line up.

Hendry won by seven strokes from Liang in 2010 and went on to finish third on the OneAsia Order of Merit with winnings of $247,092.

"I've had great results in Asia and I've set pretty big goals. I feel I am good enough to mix it with the best. I would like to play in the Majors and get my world ranking as high as I possibly can," said Hendry, who is currently ranked outside the top 500.

"My goal is to be recognised as someone who can win any tournament and I need to get into the top 50 to make things happen.”

Hendry's compatriot and World Cup partner, Gareth Paddison will be looking to rekindle his love affair with Indonesian golf at the country's national Open.

He was third in the Indonesia PGA Championship and 10th in the Indonesia Open last year on his way to a ninth place finish on the moneylist with earnings of $104,314.

Paddison gave himself a confidence-boost ahead of the new season with victory at the Adroit Insurance Group Victorian PGA Championship on the PGA Tour of Australasia last month.

Mark Brown, winner of the European Tour sanctioned Johnnie Walker Classic in 2008, is another notable Kiwi in the field.

Australian Scott Strange will be looking to recreate the form that won him the 2009 Volvo China Open en route to topping the first OneAsia Order of Merit.

There will be a minimum of 14 events on OneAsia this season boasting overall prize money of $16 million.