New Thai women’s tour dangles 10 world-ranking tournaments, Bt30m prize money
The newly established Thai Women’s Professional Golf Association (Thai WPGA) will hold 10 world-ranking tournaments and challenger events in 2021 with over Bt30 million in prize money up for grabs.
Thai WPGA president Chanya Sawangchitr confirmed the plan while announcing the association’s board of directors at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club Pattaya.
“We plan to hold 10 tournaments each year offering official world ranking. In its first year, the international-standard circuit will be named the “Women’s Tour Road to World Ranking”,” said Chanya, who is also CEO of the Phoenix Gold Club.
“We will also organise a Thai Women Challenger Tour for local players to sharpen their skills to meet the international standard. The two tours feature more than Bt30 million in overall prize money and will be a springboard for pursuing a golf career on the global stage,” she added.
Chanya said a key aim of the Thai WPGA was to develop Thailand’s next generation of female golf stars.
“Key figures in Thai golf have been invited to join us in an attempt to develop professional female golfers in Thailand systematically and continuously through tournaments of world standard,” she said.
She also hailed the roles of three WPGA vice-presidents – Kessuda Raiva, La Leewan Kanjanachari and Rachanee Tripipatkul – in getting the new tour off the ground.
The Thai WPGA will tee off with the Bt1-million Phoenix Ladies Classic at the 6,328-yard Phoenix Gold course from March 26-28. A total of 144 professionals and amateurs will compete over 54 holes. After two rounds, the top 60 players will advance to the final day and compete for the winner’s cheque of Bt110,000.
