TGA to host three major internationals this year

The country’s oldest event, which has been held since 1930, is scheduled to take place between October 8 and 11, followed by the 6th Singha Thailand Junior World Golf Championship at Hua Hin Royal Golf Course between November 7 and 10 and the team event, the 26th Nomura Cup, at Santiburi Country Club in Chiang Rai between November 14 and 17.

Most of the leading Thai golfers, such as three-time Asian champion Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, who holds a record 16 victories on the Asian Tour, are previous Thailand Amateur Open winners. This year, the event will be divided into two gender categories, with the men’s winner clinching the prestigious King Rama VII trophy while his female counterpart will take home the TGA president’s title.

There are four age categories in each gender competition at the Thailand Junior World Championship, with the older A and B classes playing 72 holes while the C and D divisions compete over 54 holes and three days. The event also incorporates both individual and team competitions, with golfers from 14 countries including the United States and Canada confirming their participation.

For the men’s team tournament, the Nomura Cup, there are both individual and team competitions with a strokeplay format over 72 holes. Golfers from 15 countries have so far signed up, with many more confirmations expected to come before the event tees off in mid-November.                  

Rungsrid Luxitanonda, the TGA president, is looking forward to welcoming young golfers from around the globe in the coming months.

“Many of our well-known golfers, past and present, have won the Thailand Amateur Open. This year, we have golfers from 15 countries including Japan and Denmark in the field against our home players, who are preparing for the SEA Games in Myanmar. So, it looks interesting.

“We’ve received increasing interest from golfers around the world for the Thailand Junior World Championship, which has been held for six consecutive years. The event not only offers the opportunity for our golfers to compete against foreign players, it also provides a chance for cultural exchange among the athletes, which helps boost the country’s tourism in one way or the other.

“It’s a huge pleasure for us to have an opportunity to host the Nomura Cup this year as well. We’ll field our SEA Games squad against 14 countries in the event, which will be a good test before the Games start in Myanmar in December,” said Rungsrid.