Villegas, Singh and Noh win Johnnie Walker awards

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PERTH, Australia -- India's Jeev Milkha Singh, talented Korean teenager Seung-yul Noh and Colombian Camilo Villegas were honored at the Johnnie Walker Gala Evening on Saturday.

Singh was named the Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year for the second time in his illustrious career Villegas received the Johnnie Walker Young Player of the Year award. Noh won the Johnnie Walker Asian Rising Star award.

World No. 9 Villegas beat Rory McIlroy of Northern 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 PGA TOUR last season and broke into the world's top 10, becoming the first Colombian to achieve the feat.

The tenacious Singh produced a spectacular season in 2008, when 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 $1 million in earnings during a single season.

Wen-tang Lin of Chinese Taipei and Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng and Thongchai Jaidee were the other nominees of the Asian Player of the Year award.

The 17-year-old Noh beat compatriot Sang-moon Bae, Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and Ben Leong of Malaysia for the 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.

The selection panel of the Johnnie Walker Awards included officials from the Asian, European and Australasian Tours.

Past winners of the Asian Player of the Year include Thailand's Boonchu Ruangkit in 1995, Kyi Hla Han in 1998 and Korea's K.J. Choi (2002 and 2007).

Former winners of the Young Player of Year include Luke Donald (2004), Adam Scott (2003), Justin Rose (2002) and Sergio Garcia (2001), while last year Korea's Sung Lee was named winner of the Asian Rising Star Award.

A painting of Greg Norman by artist Brian Olsen was auctioned for $28,000 (Australian dollars) while the Johnnie Walker-themed outfit worn by Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter during the second round of the tournament was sold for $2,500.

The funds were channeled to the Smith Family, the designated charity of Diageo Australia.