Indonesia number one Rory Hie and Wisut Artjanawat from Thailand both carded 67s, while Singaporean Mardan Mamat returned a 68.

Hie will be pleased to put in a solid first round in front of his home fans.

The talented golfer has not been at his best recently but is still one of the region’s brightest prospects.

Hie turned professional in August of 2008 following a brilliant college career in the United States. Later that year he won The International Championship on home soil to become the first  Indonesian to win on the Mercedes-Benz Tour..

He played for the University of Southern California and at one point was ranked sixth best amateur in the world. The talented golfer attended college for two years and then opted to leave prematurely as he felt he was ready for the professional game.

Paired with Wisut and Mamat he raced into contention with three birdies on the trot from the 15th.

The Year of the Tiger looks promising for Rory Hidayat Hie as he tries to jump-start his career.

Rory was chosen as the Mercedes-Benz Indonesia ambassador, and he will serve in his new capacity for one year.

The 21-year-old golfer said the support gave him motivation.

“I’m very excited to be chosen as Mercedes-Benz Indonesia’s ambassador. It will definitely push me to the limit and to play harder,” he said on Monday.

As a brand ambassador, Rory will play in all the Mercedes-Benz Series events on the Asean Tour. Company chief executive Rudi Borgenheimer said the move was part of Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to develop golf in Indonesia.

“We are committed to supporting young Indonesian golfers, and I think Rory is the biggest talent in Indonesia,” Borgenheimer said.

Gaining such support could open up a new chapter for Rory, who finished 2009 without a tournament victory in his first year on the Asian Tour.

He struggled with physical problems during the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational and the Mercedes-Benz Series. He had problems with his eyes and planned to undergo Lasik surgery, but he decided against the move after consulting with his doctor.

“I didn’t do the Lasik surgery as my doctor said my pupils were too big. He told me I could use contact lenses again after a certain amount of time,” Rory said.

When he was healthy, Rory put forth a solid showing at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open. He finished in an 11-way tie for 32nd place at the New Kuta Golf and Ocean Resort in Bali, winning $8,909 in prize money. The only one of 13 Indonesian entries to make the cut, he opened with a two-under 70 before shooting three rounds of even-par 72.

Rory’s first event of 2010 begins today at the Emeralda Mercedes-Benz Tournament at Emeralda Golf Club in Depok.

The tournament is being held in conjunction with the club’s 15th anniversary.

The professionals will compete for honors today and Wednesday, while Thursday brings a pro-am tournament. Organizers have provided Rp 150 million ($16,000) in prize money.

“The prize money is taken from members’ green fees. We took Rp 5,000 from each member, and we will give the money back to local professional golfers,” Emerelda chairman Wahyu Affandi Harun said. “We do it as we’re very concerned about the fact that most [Indonesian] professional golfers are barely able to support themselves.” Golf

Rory Hie, who won a tournament in Indonesia last month, is determined to repeat last year’s feat where he became the first Indonesian to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour.

“Last year was a learning curve for me and I hope to put it to good use. A lot of top players are consistent with their game and that’s what I need to do. My form is now back on track and hopefully I can earn my card again,” said Hie.

The key handover was conducted on November 1, 2009 by Mr. Rudi Borgenheimer (President & CEO) and Mr. Roland Staehler (Director) at the Mercedes-Benz HQ in Jakarta.

With a total of 13 basic versions, the R-Class offers a huge range of design options. It surprises you with its great technical finesse and an agility which makes every drive a pleasure. You can choose between rear-wheel and all-wheel drive: get the V6 petrol engine R 280 with rear-wheel drive, the V6 diesel engine R 280 CDI and the V6 petrol engine R 350 either with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive and the V6 diesel engine R 320 CDI and the top model R 500 with V8 petrol engine always with the permanent 4MATIC all-wheel drive. This provides improved or optimised traction. It brakes wheels with insufficient tyre grip in a targeted manner and at the same time also increases the drive torque on the wheels with good traction.

From the driving seat, you reign supreme over the stylishly appointed interior. On the steering wheel there are two gearshift keys and buttons which allow you to control the multifunction display, radio and telephone, while the DIRECT SELECT lever for the automatic transmission is situated on the steering column. The centre console is your central unit for climate, communication and the optional COMAND APS control and display system.

In the interior the driver and front passenger will find luxurious “executive chairs” awaiting them. Behind them is where all the versatility starts. The R-Class comes in a 5-seater variant as standard, with a large flap recessed into the floor of the luggage compartment. This flap is also available as an option for the 6-seater and 7-seater models. In the 4+2-seater and the 5+2-seater versions, an extra row of seats replaces the luggage compartment flap.

The R-Class is also available in a long-wheelbase version, which offers even more room for passengers and luggage. Wherever your travels may take you, the R-Class is the perfect companion.

http://www.mercedes-benz.co.id

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Fans of Asian Tour can now send emails to their favourite player through Fan Zone. Players such as Rory Hie of Indonesia and Australians Neven Basic and Darren Beck reply to fan mail. Click here