By IANS,
Perth : Top Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, talented South Korean teenager Noh Seung-yul and Colombian Camilo Villegas were honoured at the Johnnie Walker Gala Evening here Saturday.
Jeev was named the Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year for the second time in his illustrious career while Noh won the Johnnie Walker Asian Rising Star award. Villegas received the Johnnie Walker Young Player of the Year award on a night when (Aus) $30,500 was raised in a charity auction.
The tenacious Jeev produced a spectacular season in 2008 where he won four times around the world and also claimed his second Asian Tour’s Order of Merit title in three years. He also made history by becoming the first player in Asian golf history to surpass US$1 million in earnings during a single season.
Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei and Thai duo Prayad Marksaeng and Thongchai Jaidee were the other nominees of the Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year award.
The 17-year-old Noh beat compatriot Bae Sang-moon, Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa and Ben Leong of Malaysia for the Johnnie Walker Asian Rising Star award after an impressive rookie season on the Asian Tour last year.
Noh posted one victory and three other runner-up finishes to finish 10th on the Order of Merit. He received the award from Australian legend Greg Norman, who graced the evening with several other golf stars who are competing in this week’s Johnnie Walker Classic at The Vines Resort and Country Club in Western Australia.
World No.9 Villegas beat Rory McIlroy of Ireland, American Anthony Kim, Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Australian Rick Kulacz and Pablo Larrazabal of Spain for his award. Villegas was victorious in the last two events on the US PGA Tour last season and broke into the world’s top-10, becoming the first Colombian to achieve the feat.
The selection panel of the Johnnie Walker Awards included officials from the Asian, European and Australasian Tours.