Champions parade at Inaugural Double A International Open

Bangkok: A stellar line-up of champions will head full speed to the inaugural Double A International Open at St Andrews Hill (2000) Golf Club in Rayong, Thailand from November 3-6.

Led by Thai stars Thongchai Jaidee, last season's Asian Tour number one, and current Order of Merit leader Thaworn Wiratchant, no fewer than 20 winners from the current season and last year will showcase their talent in the new US$300,000 event.

Amongst the Asian big guns who will bid to become the first Double A International Open winner include Chinese Taipei's Lu Wei-chih, Filipino Angelo Que, Singapore's Mardan Mamat, India's Rahil Gangjee and Australians Scott Strange and Adam Le Vesconte.

South African James Kingston, a four-time winner in Asia and a former Thai Open champion, will also feature in the Double A-sponsored event after another successful season on the European Tour where he notched four top-10s.

Advance Agro Public Co., Ltd. Executive Vice President – Marketing, Mr Charnvit Jarusombathi, whose company produces the Double A brand of environmental-friendly office paper made from farmed trees and sold in 60 countries worldwide, is delighted that the event has attracted a strong field from the Asian Tour.

"We are thrilled to attract not only Thailand's leading stars to the inaugural Double A International Open but also some of Asia's best players," said Charnvit today.

"The list of entries looks very strong and I'm sure the players will help contribute towards the successful launch of our new event. Fans will be treated to a wonderful feast of golf."

The 27-year-old Lu Wei-chih will be amongst the players to watch as he broke through in a big way to lift his first Asian Tour title last month. Lu claimed victory at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters on his home course but he intends to set his mark abroad as well.

"I'm so happy, it was a real pleasure to win," said Lu. "So many people have helped in my career including my family and I'm just so pleased to repay their faith. Hopefully, I can start winning outside of Taipei as well, which is my goal."

The Chinese Taipei contingent will also be strengthened by the presence of the evergreen Wang Ter-chang. The 43-year-old Wang won the Macau Open in May to end a six-year winless run and he sweetened his season earlier this month by qualifying for the Algarve World Cup in Portugal.

Another veteran Lu Wen-teh claimed victory at the Bangkok Airways Open last week and is expected to contend as well at St Andrews Hill.

The exciting talent of Que, one the rising stars from the Philippines, will be unleashed at the St Andrews Hill course. He broke through last season, winning the Carlsberg Masters Vietnam and has gone on to establish himself in the region where he played a big role in Asia's triumph over Japan in the Visa Dynasty Cup in April.

Other established stars on the Asian Tour who will play in the Double A International Open include Strange, winner of the Myanmar Open, and Vesconte, who triumphed in the Philippine Open earlier this season.

Thai-based Scotsman Simon Yates, a two-time winner in Asia, will also shoot for a first victory in his adopted country when he tees up at St Andrews Hill.

Asian Tour Chief Executive Louis Martin said: "The first Double A International Open promises to be an exciting affair as our leading stars are all slated to tee up at St Andrews Hill.

"This event will be important for the players who are aspiring to lift the Order of Merit title and they will need to perform well. It will be interesting to see Thaworn and Thongchai resuming their battle for the merit title at the Double A International Open."

The winner of the Double A International Open will also gain an exemption into the HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai in November where world number one Tiger Woods has confirmed his entry.

October 20, 2005

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