Amateur stars confirmed for 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic
IN: News | Australasian PGA | Johnnie Walker Classic (2003) | General | 28 Jan 2003
Two of the world's finest young amateurs, Thailand's Prom Meesawat and Australia's Michael Sim, have accepted invitations to compete in the 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth. The teenagers will play at Lake Karrinyup Country Club from February 13 - 16 in a strong field containing three of the world's top five players.
Meesawat and Sim will have the opportunity to test themselves against world No. 3 Ernie Els, world No. 4 Sergio Garcia, and defending champion and world No. 5 Retief Goosen in the AUD$2.85 million event which will also feature Nick Faldo, John Daly, Robert Allenby, Adam Scott and Justin Rose.
Commenting on the inclusion of these two young amateurs, Stephen Morley, Johnnie Walker Global Brand Director said, "Johnnie Walker has a long history of supporting young golfers, both professional and amateur. This support is just one way in which we demonstrate the "Keep Walking" philosophy which lies at the heart of the Johnnie Walker brand and which celebrates and encourages setting goals and realising dreams."
Meesawat, 18, won the 2002 Junior World Championship in San Diego in July by two strokes after finishing on even-par 288 at Torrey Pines. He had tied for second over the same course in 2001. Past winners of this prestigious event include Tiger Woods, Nick Price and David Toms. He also won the Thailand Amateur Championship last year. Meesawat has been a dominant figure in South-East Asian amateur golf in recent times. He has topped the Individual standings at the Putra Cup (the South-East Asian Amateur Team Championship) in each of the past two years and led Thailand to a team victory in 2002. Meesawat also represented his country in the 2002 World Amateur Team Championship in Malaysia where Thailand finished 20th. He learnt the game from his golf professional father at the Royal Hua Hin Golf Club.
Sim, an 18-year-old West Australian, is coming off a tremendous 2002 season. Last year, while still only 17 years old, he was runner-up in the Australian Amateur Championship and won the West Australian Amateur State Championship. He also finished sixth in the Junior World Championship in San Diego behind Meesawat. Sim excelled in team events last year being a member of the victorious Australian Junior Team against New Zealand in the Clare Higson Trophy and winning all five of his singles matches for Western Australia in the Interstate Teams Matches (the national amateur team championship). Sim hails from Joondalup Country Club and is currently based at the Australian Institute of Sport in Melbourne.
