Costa Mesa's Bryan Saltus has found a home on the Asian Tour
By CURTIS ZUPKE
The Orange County Register
If Bryan Saltus never won on the Asian Tour, he still could have called it a successful career.
Simply retaining one's status for four years on a pro tour is accomplishment enough, a sign of perseverance in a sport where playing privileges can hinge on a stroke or two.
Saltus has carved out a career overseas since he left his home Costa Mesa in 2003. He likes the diversity as one of 14 Americans that played this season on the Asian Tour.
"The travel is awesome," Saltus told Golfweek after he won last Sunday's Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open, his first victory in 55 starts on the Asian Tour.
"You go two hours one way and you're speaking a different language, eating different food. Then you go two hours another way and it's completely different in everything. The diversity just keeps me going."
Saltus, 36, played at Orange Coast College and intended to become a club professional when friends suggested he try the Asian Tour because his quirky, self-taught swing and positive attitude would suit the diversity of its courses and poor conditions.
He maintained his tour card in 2004 and 2005 and flirted with victory with a runner-up finish in last year's Maekyung Open to finish 24th on the money list.
Saltus entered the Cambodian Open with his fourth straight tour card secured because of his 53rd ranking, and he jumped to No.30 with a three-shot victory worth $47,550.
Saltus could not be reached overseas but he did phone his mother, Vilit (cq), in Costa Mesa at 2:30 a.m. after the victory.
"It was a nice way to end the year," Vilit Saltus said.
RUSSY PREVAILS
After four trips to LPGA Qualifying School Finals, former Cypress College standout Russy Gulyanamitta broke through last week.
Gulyanamitta shot rounds of 69-72-72-71-70 to tie for seventh and earn fully exempt status for 2008.
Gulyanamitta, a 31-year-old from Thailand, won the 2000 women's state championship at Cypress College and was runner-up in that year's U.S. Women's Public Links before she turned pro. She had come up short at Q-School from 2002-2005 and did not make an attempt last year while competing some on the Futures Tour.
THE SHORT STUFF
Former La Habra resident Bob May missed the cut by one stroke in PGA Tour Qualifying School but earned Nationwide Tour exempt status along with part-time Irvine resident Esteban Toledo and Chris Tidland (Valencia High). Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle will be honored at the Santa Ana High Quarterback Club Tournament on Dec.19 for her efforts to prevent the back nine of Newport Beach Golf Course from being converted into a parking lot for John Wayne Airport.
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