Wind a big factor, says title-hungry Rattanon
THAILAND OPEN winner Rattanon Wannasrichan is eyeing back-to-back titles as he launches his bid in the All Thailand Tour’s Bt2 million Singha Phuket Open at the Laguna Golf Phuket tomorrow.
Rattanon, who celebrated his maiden Asian Tour victory on Sunday, will headline the Asian Development Tour event alongside ADT Order of Merit leader Brett Munson of the United States and second-ranked Martin Dive of Australia.
The 21-year-old baby-faced golfer will be joined by Asian Tour veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, who finished among the top-10 for the first time in two years on the Asian Tour at the Thai Country Club on Sunday, young guns Danthai Boonma, Poom Saksansin and Chinnarat Phadungsil.
“I had some putting practice today and found out that the greens are similar to that of the Thai Country Club, which should help me. But the challenge will be the wind. I have to guess the wind directions correctly,” said Rattanon, the third Thai winner on the Asian Tour this year after Prayad Marksaeng and Jazz Janwattananond.
“I feel relieved after securing my Asian Tour card last Sunday. I need to put that win behind me and focus on the new tournament. I feel more confident with my game coming into this week,” he added.
Thailand’s Jakraphan Premsiri-gorn, Panuwat Muenlek, Steve Lewton of England and Oskar Arvidsson of Sweden, who are all ranked in the top-10 on the Order of Merit, will also feature in the event, which is one of the four ADT tournaments in Thailand. By featuring on the ADT schedule, the event will receive Official World Golf Ranking status, with the winner of each tournament receiving a minimum six points and the top-six players and ties earning points.
Also participating in the event is promising talent Daeng Abdul Rahman of Malaysia who will make his first ADT appearance outside of his home country.
The 17-year-old Daeng, who hails from Johor, showed glimpses of his potential when he claimed a top-10 finish on the ADT in March, two weeks after joining the play-for-pay ranks. He impressed again by winning his first professional title on the domestic Tour one month later.
“I have had a great start to my professional career, winning my first professional title in just my second start on home soil. I am hoping to go one step further now so the next aim is to win on the ADT,” said Daeng, who sits in 34th place on the ADT Order of Merit.
