New Asian Tour golf event for Thailand

AFP ©

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand has bagged another Asian Tour event with organisers announcing Wednesday the country will host the inauagural Singha Thailand PGA Championship next month.

The 500,000 US dollar tournament will be played at the acclaimed Santiburi Country Club Chiang Rai in northern Thailand from June 26-29.

Its addition to the calendar means the Asian Tour is now hosting 28 tournaments this season with an all-time high of 38.2 million dollars in prize money. Four of them are in Thailand.

The event is sanctioned jointly with the Thailand PGA, marking the first time that the region's governing body will work work hand-in-hand with the Thailand PGA towards the development of the professional game.

"Over the past decade, Thailand has produced many great champions in the shape of Boonchu Ruangkit, Prayad Marksaeng, Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant," said Asian Tour Senior Vice President Gerry Norquist.

"We are confident the Singha Thailand PGA Championship will offer greater exposure and opportunity for the country's rising and young stars to excel in the game of golf."

The field will feature more than 00 Asian Tour members and in excess of 50 Thai players.