Omens good as Kiradech looks to end title drought
Thailand’s top golfer, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, has good reason to be confident when he spearheads the local challenge at the BT4 million Thongchai Jaidee Foundation in Chonburi next week.
The 28-year-old world No 59 is without a success since September 2015 … but that was the same event, the inaugural Thongchai Jaidee Foundation, held in Hua Hin.
However, he has a new-found confidence heading into the third of Thailand’s four Asian Development Tour (ADT) series, buoyed by an impressive run of four top-10 finishes in his last six events.
“My goal is to win at least one tournament each year,” said Kiradech. I now have a couple of home tournaments to try to win, in Chonburi and Nakhon Ratchasima [the Boonchu Runagkit ADT event later this month]. Winning at home is what I have always been determined to achieve.”
Also joining him next week will be also European tour player Daniel Im of the US, defending champion Chapchai Nirat, Thailand Open winner Rattanon Wannasrichan and veteran Boonchu Ruangkit.
A charity auction of golfers’ items will be held at Wednesday’s pro-am event, with proceeds going to victims of this year’s Manora fire tragedy in Lop Buri, in which 100 homes in an old community were destroyed.
As the ADT nears its season finale many Thai golfers will be hoping to take advantage of home-course advantage to move up the rankings, with the top five players in the ADT Order of Merit being awarded their Asian Tour cards in 2018.
Seven Thais have so far won ADT titles this year and all ADT events offer Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points. The winner will receive six OWGR points while the top six players and ties will also earn points based on a sliding scale.
