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Golf

Mars Pucay is looking forward to the Fortis International Challenge at a venue which has brought him team success.

The talented Pucay, who is enjoying a welcome return to form this season, will pair up with reigning Philippine Open champion Angelo Que for the first time in their hopes to qualify for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China later in November.

A total of 19 teams have entered the Fortis International Challenge at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club from September 18 to 21 where the top-three nations will qualify for the World Cup.

While Que is bidding for a maiden World Cup appearance, Pucay has qualified previously for the elite team competition when he partnered Felix Casas in 1999 and finished third at Kota Permai.

"I am looking forward to returning to Kota Permai as I've played in a few tournaments there in the past. We are determined to make it through that week," said Pucay.

The 38-year-old has enjoyed three top-10s on the Asian Tour this season, including a third place finish at the recent Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational. With Que in good form as well, the Filipino duo plan to emulate last year's successful campaign by Antonio Lascuna and Gerald Rosales.

"I played really well in the 1999 qualifiers and I made it through that year with Felix. I also lost in a sudden death play-off in 2000 when I partnered Danny Zarate, so I have the experience of competing in team competitions and I really enjoy it," said Pucay.

Pucay added that his partnership with Que could be a very good one as they can complement each other.

"It's great to partner Angelo this year. He hits it long and I'm looking forward to our partnership," said Pucay.

"My iron game is coming together now and while I can't strike it that far, we will try to take advantage of each other's strength for a solid all-round game."

With fourball (better ball) being played in the first and third rounds and foursomes (alternate shot) used in the second and final rounds, Pucay knows that the key to a successful qualifying campaign will lie in their ability to play well in the foursomes.

"In the foursomes, we have to stay patient and avoid rushing our game which is very common," said Pucay.

Apart from the Philippines, Malaysia's Danny Chia and Iain Steel, Singapore's Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing, Korea's Bae Sang-moon and Kim Hyung-tae and Italy's Edoardo and Francesco Molinari are tipped to battle it out for the three tickets to the World Cup.

THE TEAMS
Bangladesh (Md Siddiqur Rahman, Md Jibon Ali), Brunei (Pengiran Hassanal, Faiz Damit) Ghana (Emos Korblah, Victor Brave Mensah), Kenya (Dismas Indiza, Ajay Anil Shah), Korea (Bae Sang-moon, Kim Hyung-tae), Mauritius (Billy Narraina, Vishnoo Seeneevassen), Nigeria (Oyebanji Gboyega, Odoh Andrew Oche), Singapore (Mardan Mamat, Lam Chih Bing), Sri Lanka (Anura Rohana, Lalith Kumara), Pakistan (Muhammad Shabbir, Muhammad Munir), Myanmar (Soe Kyaw Naing, Zaw Zaw Latt), Hong Kong (Derek Fung, David Freeman), Nepal (Deepak Thapa Magar, Deepak Neupane), Italy (Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari), Indonesia (Junaedi Ibrahim, Sarmilih), Chinese Taipei (Lin Wen-tang, Wang Ter-chang), Malaysia (Iain Steel, Danny Chia), Philippines (Angelo Que, Marciano Pucay), Uganda (Deo Akope, Godfrey Mande).