Thursday, August 16, 2012

Rory Hie Takes On Thais Again At Singha E-San Open

Khon Kaen, Thailand, August 15 - The Singha E-San Open tees-off tomorrow on the ASEAN PGA Tour teeming with a wealth of Thailand’s top golfers looking to build upon their fine performances in last week’s Thailand Open.

Wisut Artjanawat, who ended joint third on Sunday in the US$1 million OneAsia event, and Udorn Duangdecha, this week’s defending champion and 10th last week, are two players who feel they are on the cusp of victory.

Thaworn Wiratchant and Prom Meesawat tied for 14th and will also fancy their chances at Singha Park Golf Club.

The Singha E-San Open boasts prize money of US$65,000 and is the third event on this year’s ASEAN PGA Tour.

Thaworn claimed the season-opening Luang Prabang Laos Open while Prom triumphed in the Singha Pattaya Open.

Wisut won twice last year on the ASEAN PGA Tour to lift the Order of Merit title and his finish last week was seen as a breakthrough performance in a top tier event.

“My game is coming back and the Thailand Open has given me a lot of confidence,” said Wisut.

He bogeyed the last hole to finish three strokes adrift of winner Englishman Chris Wood.

The cheque he earned for US$53,645 was the largest of his career.

“I have been working very hard on all parts of my game. The most important part I work on is the mental game. I have a coach who helps me with this. I speak to him on the phone a lot and see him once a month. The main thing he teaches me is concentration and much of this comes from Buddhist thinking,” added Wisut.

The 31 year old has won a record four times on the ASEAN PGA Tour and will be one of the favourites this week.

Udorn registered a wire-to-wire victory last year claiming the title by four shots from a group of players that included Prom.

Known for sporting flashy pants Udorn is a course specialist at Singha Park having also won the King’s Cup here in 2010.

Said Udorn: “It is a long course and normally very windy. It is a course I like and it suits my game. There are not many players who can win in the wind so that makes me confident.”

Udorn also won the 2010 Singha Pattaya Open on the ASEAN PGA Tour.

“It was exciting to see so many Thai players in contention at the Thailand Open. It is also good that we have another event in Thailand the week after so we can try and continue our good form,” added Udorn.

Prom will be out to make amends for a disappointing weekend at the Thailand Open.

He led at the halfway mark and was seeking to emulate his father Suthep, who in 1991 became the first of only two Thais to win their national Open championship.

Two level par rounds at the weekend saw him fall away but many expect him to bounce back this week.

“I am pretty sure I am going to win soon maybe in the Singha E-San Open. I am happy the way I am playing. The course in Khon Kaen will be very difficult if it is windy. It is suited for a long hitter…I like that course and hopefully I can do well,” said Prom.

As well as a formidable Thai contingent a strong international line up has entered including Malaysia’s Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung, Rory Hie from Indonesia, and Singaporeans Lam Chih Bing and Choo Tze Huang.

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