BANGKOK – Jan 21, 2005 – The Thai Airways International Thailand Open will be staged at Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket in March to aid the resort island's recovery following the Tsunami tragedy, the Asian Tour has announced.
Asian Tour Chief Executive Louis Martin said that the Tour would also look at initiatives to raise funds for Tsunami victims during the Thailand Open, which will celebrate its 39th edition. A charity Pro-Am drive is being mooted while an auction of players' equipment and memorabilia is also being considered. Prize money for the Thailand Open, slated from March 3-6 on the Asian Tour Schedule, will be US$500,000. Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit, who triumphed last January to become the oldest winner on Tour at the age of 47 years, will defend his title.
The Thailand Open will be title sponsored by Thai Airways International while the Tourism Authority of Thailand has also agreed to increase its support towards the event in joint efforts to restore Phuket's reputation as a holiday destination. "We are fully supportive of the Thailand Golf Association's decision to move the Thailand Open from its original location in Pattaya to Phuket in view of the recent misfortune that hit parts of Asia as well as Phuket, Thailand.
"Our Board Chairman Kyi Hla Han has already mooted suggestions to raise funds during the event and this could be through a charity Pro-Am or an auction where Asian Tour stars could donate their equipment or memorabilia. We will do our best to help in Thailand's recovery from this terrible disaster," said Martin.
"It is also my pleasure to thank Thai Airways International for supporting this Championship and our appreciation as well to Blue Canyon Country Club for agreeing to host the Thailand Open in March." Blue Canyon is rated as one of the top golf courses in the region and previously hosted several major international events, including the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1994 and 1998 which paraded top stars likes Greg Norman, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.
Last season, Boonchu triumphed by two strokes with his 18-under-par 270 winning total at the Royal Thai Air Force Club in Bangkok. He went on to complete his career best season on the Asian Tour, finishing seventh on the Order of Merit with earnings of US$220,293.
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