The Asian Tour doesn't have space for Seruji Hj Setia anymore.

A mainstay of the tournament since it started in 2005, the country's top amateur was a glaring absence from the entry list during this year's edition at The Empire Hotel & Country Club.

Dominating the local golf scene for the past decade, Seruji solidified his status when he became the first Bruneian to make the cut at the US$300,000 Asian Tour event in 2008.

He also topped the list of local golfers in 2009, 2007 and 2006.

This year's list of locals include professionals Pg S Hassanal Al-Haj PPN PG Hj Omar, Faiz Damit, Ak Wirahadi Kesuma Pg Md Salleh and Sanjok Moktan as well as amateurs James Lam, Khairul Kamis, Muhammad Hariz Hasim and Qawin Aslimon.

"There's no slot for me," said Seruji matter-of-factly yesterday.

"People have been calling me up all day asking why am I not playing," added the 41-year-old golfer.

Sanjok from Nepal is in the field because he applied direct to the Asian Tour. 

"I didn't apply but there should be slot for us (amateurs). That (how the amateurs were selected) is the question now.

"Am I disappointed? Well, there is another tournament being held this week (the His Majesty's Birthday International Amateur Open Golf Championship 2010 at the Royal Brunei Golf & Country Club (RBGCC) in Jerudong) and I am on the committee on that. 

"I will also be playing there so it's not so bad I guess," said Seruji, who added that Sanjok is a teaching pro who got his licence from the Philippines.

Asian Tour's Senior Director of Tour Development Htwe Hla Han explained that Faiz was given a country exemption while Pg S Hassanal and Ak Wirahadi were selected based on their professional status.

The trio of Muhammad Hariz, 20, Khairul, 19, and Qawin, 17, are up-and-coming junior golfers. Registered to represent the Philippines, his country of birth, Lam, 22, holds permanent residency in the Sultanate. 

The Empire Hotel & Country Club resident pro and 12-year Asian Tour player Ahmed Dan Bateman is playing for Canada.

Htwe said that the reason the amateurs were chosen was because of their age. "Seruji did not request (to play). He is a good player, a good amateur, but maybe it's his time to let the young ones get up here," she said.

"We are into developing golf with the young players ... help them come up as professionals.

"The players have requested for country exemption and what we look at is if their performance is good and they have an active PGA. The list is agreed upon by the organisers Brunei Tourism."

The Brunei Times