Asia and Japan will bring their top guns out early in the opening day's Foursomes as they seek to gain the psychological edge in the Visa Dynasty Cup starting on Friday.
Five European Tour Members are in action for the Asian Team in Asia’’s version of The Ryder Cup at Mission Hills Golf Club, China. The Thai pairing of Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, both winners on The 2005 European Tour International Schedule, lead the way with China’’s Zhang Lian-wei and India’’s Amandeep Johl and Jyoti Randhawa
Home heroes Zhang and Liang Wen-chong will get the match underway having been drawn to meet Japanese superstar Shigeki Maruyama and Keiichiro Fukabori in a dream opening showdown.
Determined to win the Visa Dynasty Cup after a nine-point defeat at the hands of Asia in the inaugural showdown in 2003, non-playing Japanese captain Isao Aoki also picked Shingo Katayama, last year's Japan Tour Number One, and Takashi Kamiyama as his second pairing out.
Katayama, who finished tied 33rd at last week's Masters Tournament at Augusta National, and Kamiyama, ranked eighth in Japan last season, will meet Thai pairing Boonchu Ruangkit and Prayad Marksaeng, with a combined nine Asian Tour titles between them.
Two years ago, Zhang, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour, and rising star Liang delivered the first salvo for Asia and non-playing skipper Hsieh Min-nan is counting on the Chinese duo to rise to the occasion again. "I had no doubt at all about picking Zhang and Liang for the first match. I wanted the Chinese players to start early and get us the first point," said Hsieh, who masterminded the 16.5 – 7.5 triumph in 2003.
Hsieh, a legend in Asia with 48 career wins, picked two other pairings based on country allegiance, a move which paid off handsomely two years ago. Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant, a recent winner in Indonesia, will pair up with 2003 match-winner Thammanoon Srirot in the third Foursomes where they will face Hideki Kase and Ryoken Kawagishi.
Asian Tour Number One Thongchai Jaidee has been paired with debutant Mardan Mamat to take on Tomohiro Kondo and Takuya Taniguchi, rookies Mo Joong-kyung and Angelo Que will face Toru Suzuki and Tesuji Hiratsuka while Indian duo Jyoti Randhawa and Amandeep Johl, one of five rookies in the Asian side, will square off against Katsumasa Miyamoto and Hiroyuki Fujita in the sixth and final match of the day.
Day One - Foursomes Draw (Asian Team first)
Zhang Lian-wei/Liang Wen-chong Vs
Shigeki Maruyama /Keiichiro Fukabori
Boonchu Ruangkit/Prayad Marksaeng Vs
Shingo Katayama/Takashi Kamiyama
Thaworn Wiratchant/Thammanoon Srirot Vs
Hideki Kase/Ryoken Kawagishi
Thongchai Jaidee/Mardan Mamat Vs
Tomohiro Kondo/Takuya Taniguchi
Mo Joong-kyung/Angelo Que Vs
Toru Suzuki/Tetsuji Hiratsuka
Jyoti Randhawa/Amandeep Johl Vs
Katsumasa Miyamoto/Hiroyuki Fujita
