A strong line-up of Asian Tour stars comprising of 13 players inside the top-20 of the Habitat for Humanity Standings will challenge for the Thailand Open title next week.
Rahil Gangjee will be the highest-ranked player in the elite field where he currently sits in third place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings. He will be joined by new Asian Tour winner John Catlin and an in-form Sihwan Kim of the United States at the Thai Country Club from June 7 to 10.
Australia’s Scott Hend, the 2016 Asian Tour number one, Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe, Berry Henson of the United States and Indian stalwart Gaganjeet Bhullar will also feature in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event which also marks the start of the new 2018/2019 Panasonic Swing series.
Thailand will also be well represented in her National Open by defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan, Jazz Janewattananond, Danthai Boonma, Panuphol Pittayarat and Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who won his sixth Asian Development Tour (ADT) title last week.
Korean-American Kim is enjoying a splendid season on the Asian Tour so far. The 29-year-old finished tied third at the Hero Indian Open in March and followed up on that performance with a fourth-place finish at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship in Japan in April.
Kim is playing in his second full season on the Asian Tour and he hopes to land his first victory. He is currently ranked fifth on the Habitat for Humanity Standings and is determined to improve on his tied 15th place finish at the Thailand Open last year.
“If I can play well, things will take care of itself. I’ve had good results and that will get my confidence up. If I continue to play like how I did in India and Japan, then I’ll be fine,” said Kim.
New Asian Tour winner Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden, who is based in Hua Hin, Thailand, is determined to continue his winning form.
The Swede played primarily on the ADT earlier this year where he secured three runner-up finishes before going on to win his first Asian Tour title at the AB Bank Bangladesh Open last month.
“The victory in Bangladesh means a lot to me. I didn’t have a status on the Asian Tour so I’m pleased with how I won. I have had some good results on the ADT so I decided to stay in Thailand and see what the year has to offer,” said Kokocinski.
The Thailand Open will also see a charity drive initiated by the Asian Tour’s Sustainable Development Partner, Habitat for Humanity. The non-profit organisation, which focusses on providing low-income families in need of decent shelter, will raise funds by selling their merchandise at the Thai Country Club.
