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Thais aiming to fly the flag at Bangkok Airways

Local sensations Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant are among the high flying stars who will feature in the US$300,000 Bangkok Airways Open from June 8-11.

Thongchai, a two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, and current number one Thaworn, who won a record four titles last season, will be backed by the home fans as they tee off at the impressive Santiburi Samui Country Club.

It promises to be an intense affair as another Thai talent Thammanoon Srirot will be fired up to avenge his defeat in a play-off against Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wen-teh last year.

It was a significant win for Lu as he broke his seven-year winless run through a formidable display of golf. There was no stopping the 43-year-old veteran when he fought against inclement weather and edged past Thammanoon.

India’s young star Shiv Kapur, currently 13th on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, will also be looking at striking it big in Samui. He has fond memories of playing in Thailand as he claimed his maiden win on the Asian Tour in Bangkok during the Volvo Masters of Asia last season.

The success of the 2005 Bangkok Airways Open has also been reflected through the increase in total prize money which sees an increase of US$100,000 this year.

The Bangkok Airways Open has become an eagerly awaited event since its inception two years ago in Bangkok. Last year, the tournament combined forces with the Asian Tour for the time and continued its commitment to play at Santiburi Samui Country Club, a location that has appealed to golfers worldwide.

President and CEO, Prasert Prasarttong-osoth said: “This year’s tournament is the third year in a row with total prize money of US$300,000, which is a US$100,000 increase from last year’s tournament. Many famous Asian golfers are expected to play.

“Amongst the famous names include last season’s Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant, compatriots Thongchai Jaidee, Prayad Maksaeng and Thammanoon Srirot, defending champion Lu Wen-teh and India’s Shiv Kapur.”

May 12, 2006