40 Asian Tour cards up for grabs

507 players from over 30 countries will chase their dreams when they compete in the Asian Tour's Qualifying School.

At stake for the hopefuls will be 40 Tour cards for the 2009 Asian Tour season which is poised to offer another lucrative Schedule this year. The Tour has already announced a 28-event Schedule with over US$36 million in total prize money, with several other tournaments being finalised.

Australia has the biggest representation in the Qualifying School with 83 players shooting for their Tour cards, followed by Korea, who have 64 players and Japan, who will have 58 players in the field.

A total of 50 Americans are also in the field while players from golfing minnows including Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Brunei will also try their luck in Thailand. Players from China, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and India will be amongst those competing for 40 available Tour cards.

The First Stage will start on Tuesday over three venues - Lam Luk Ka Country Club, St Andrews 2000 and Rayong Green Valley Country Club - where a total of 416 players will attempt to qualify for the Final Stage, which will be held at St Andrews 2000 and Rayong Green Valley from January 13 to 17.

From each of the first stage venues, the top 20 per cent finishers after four rounds, which equates to the leading 29 players and ties from St Andrews and 27 players and ties from Rayong Green Valley and Lam Lu Ka respectively, will join an already exempted 91 players in the all-important Final Stage next week.

The top-40 finishers and ties at the Final Stage, which for the first time will be played over five rounds, will earn playing rights for the new season. The 2009 season will kick off with the Asian Tour International in Suwan Golf and Country Club in Bangkok from February 5 to 8.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han was delighted to welcome a strong turnout of international competitors at the Qualifying School, presented by Sports Authority of Thailand.

"It is tremendous to receive over 500 entries to the 2009 Qualifying School, which is one of the most important events for players who harbour hopes of achieving success on the Asian Tour," said Han.

"The strong turnout of players reflects positively on the stature of the Asian Tour. We have sustained our growth annually since our inception as a members' organisation in 2004. Last year, we staged a record 30 events with over US$39 million in prize money and I have every confidence that we can surpass these milestones during our 2009 season," he added.

Amongst the notable names who will compete in the Qualifying School include promising Chinese teenagers James Su Dong and Ye Jian-feng, Singaporean Quincy Quek, Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Indonesians Rory Hie and Andik Mauludin, Italian Emanuel Canonica and Japan Tour winners Tetsuji Hiratsuka, Daisuke Maruyama and Soushi Tajima, winner of the 2000 Qualifying School.

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee is the finest example of a Qualifying School graduate making a name for himself on the Asian Tour as he has won a record 10 tournaments and is the leading player in the career earnings ranking with nearly US$3 million in winnings.

Siddle puts Australia in command

A maiden five-wicket haul for paceman Peter Siddle saw Australia finish day three of the third Test on top.

Siddle, who finished with impressive figures of five for 59, took just 22 deliveries to capture the final four wickets and restrict the Proteas to 327.

Boucher arrived at the crease with the Proteas in trouble at 166 for four, but put his head down to grind out a patient 265 minute-innings before Siddle sent his stumps sprawling to secure his first Test five-for.

The veteran Proteas gloveman shared in a 115-run partnership with Morne Morkel (40) to frustrate the home side before the Victorian changed the course of the match with his inspired spell.

Siddle goes on a rampage

Having captured Morkel, Siddle then removed Paul Harris (two) and Dale Steyn (six) in quick succession before capturing the free-swinging Boucher.

Australia openers Matthew Hayden (18) and Simon Katich (9) survived a nervous six-over period before stumps to progress to 33 without loss - a lead of 151.

JP Duminy (11) was the only batsman out in the afternoon session, given out lbw after playing back and being caught on the crease by Mitchell Johnson.

While Morkel rode his luck - playing and missing at a number of deliveries - Boucher also enjoyed some good fortune.

On 27 he played a ball from Nathan Hauritz onto his stumps only for the bails to stay rigid in their grooves.

No luck for Bollinger

Debutant paceman Doug Bollinger bowled without luck in search of his first Test wicket, having strong lbw appeals against Duminy and Morkel turned down by umpire Billy Bowden.

Before lunch Mitchell Johnson struck with the ball and in the field to leave South Africa in trouble.

Johnson shifted dangerman Jacques Kallis (37), caught at first slip by Hayden, then ran out AB de Villiers (11) with a brilliant piece of fielding.

Debutant Andrew McDonald chipped in with his first Test wicket - removing Hashim Amla (51) lbw - as the Proteas' strong overnight position of 125 for one quickly eroded.

The first session yielded just 51 runs for the loss of three wickets.

Hayden fading away

Kallis added one to his overnight tally before driving at Johnson and edging a comfortable catch to Hayden.

Amla passed the half-century mark but was then involved in an unnecessary run out with De Villiers.

Pushing a quick single to Johnson at mid on, Amla called for a run but watched in horror as De Villiers moved slowly out of his crease and was beaten by a direct hit at the wicket-keeper's end.

Aussies being tamed alright

McDonald, who had done an excellent job strangling the South African top order, then trapped Amla with one that nipped back to leave the Proteas in a deep hole at for four before Boucher and Morkel combined.

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith, whose side have already won the series 2-0, is unlikely to play any further part in the match after suffering a hand injury on day two.

Ivanovic enjoys winning start

Top seed Ana Ivanovic opened her 2009 season with a straight-sets defeat of Petra Kvitova at the Brisbane International.

The 21-year-old Serbian, who enjoyed a spell at the top of the rankings in 2008 before ending the year in fifth, was too strong for her Czech opponent and ran out a comfortable 6-4 6-2 winner.

Daniela Hantuchova was one of three seeds to crash out after losing to Italy's Sara Errani.

The tall Slovakian, seeded number four, started well but then collapsed to a 6-7 (1/7) 6-4 6-0 defeat.

Eighth seed Francesca Schiavone and ninth seed Ai Sugiyama also lost, Schiavone going down 7-5 6-2 to Olga Govortsova from Belarus and veteran Japanese Sugiyama falling 6-2 6-3 to home favourite Sam Stosur.

Stosur, ranked 52nd in the world, was due to play Russian Maria Kirilenko in the opening round before the seventh seed withdrew due to illness.

The Queenslander is aiming to get back to full fitness after suffering from Lyme disease and viral meningitis in 2007 which saw her ranking slip from a career-high 27.

Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo is through although she was pushed all the way by the returning Jelena Dokic.

Dokic, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2000, battled hard but the Frenchwoman prevailed 7-6 (11/9) 7-6 (7/5).

There were also wins today for Tathiana Garbin and Lucie Safarova.