RELATED STORIES 2007 Bangkok Airways Open home page 2007: Lee goes wire-to-wire for maiden triumph About the Santiburi Samui Country Club 2008 Asian Tour schedule and results MORE ASIAN GOLF NEWS Han Will Speak At IHT Sports Summit Volvik Agree With Asian Tour Over Sponsorship Memories Inspire Rai In Singapore Break Gives Mamat Route To Success Singapore Classic Welcomes Kia Motors PGA Malaysia Moves To OneAsia CCM Extends Sponsorship Of Impian Masters Faldo To Play In Pro-Am In Cambodia

Thai stars have Bangkok Airways on timetable

Thai stars Thongchai Jaidee, Prayad Marksaeng and Chawalit Plaphol are expected to challenge for honours when the Bangkok Airways Open returns from June 5 to 8.

The US$300,000 event has been a huge success since making its debut on the Asian Tour in 2005 where the region’s stars compete at the challenging Santiburi Samui Country Club, dubbed the ‘Beast of Samui’, on the holiday isle of Samui.

Bangkok Airways president and CEO. Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth said that the objective of the event is to promote the game amongst the leading professionals and amateurs.

Defending champion Lee Sung, who scored a popular victory last season, will defend his title while former champion Lu Wen-teh of Chinese Taipei is also expected to grace the popular event.

The Bangkok Airways Open will be sponsored once again by Tourism Authority of Thailand, Airbus and the Santiburi Samui Country Club. Co-sponsors include Bangkok Hospital, Singha Corporation, Bangkok Insurance & Marsh, K Bank, AMEX, Mitron, Coke Haadthip, PTT(Thailand) and Nike & Heartland.

Media partners are the Nation, True Visions, International Herald Tribune and Bangkok Shuho. The official hotels for this year’s tournament include Santiburi Resort, Evason Hideaway, Chaba Resorts, and Victoria Park Resort.

Korea’s Lee, who was born deaf, achieved a career breakthrough when he secured his maiden Asian Tour victory at the Bangkok Airways Open last year to complete a remarkable journey which started 12 years ago when he gave up the baseball bat for golf clubs as he couldn’t communicate with teammates.

The elegant swinging Korean produced four glorious rounds at the treacherous Santiburi course, shooting 66, 69, 62 and 71 for a three-stroke victory over local hero Prayad.

May 9, 2008