By Kent Gray
Thailand has long been a lure for Middle East amateurs and golf in the Kingdom doesn’t get much better than in Hau Hin, a popular seaside resort in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan. Black Mountain Golf Club, Banyan Golf Club and Springfield Royal Country Club are must-plays at any time but the best way is to combine all three and a bit of friendly competition at the Centara World Masters Golf Championship run by the region’s leading tour provider, Golfasian in association with Go Golfing. The 72-hole stableford tournament, open to males and females 35 and over, is scheduled for June 7-13 with GolfAsian taking care of all the logistics so you can concentrate on your game and having fun at the numerous after-hours gatherings. There is even a mid-event day off where you can enjoy a cultural experience or more golf at one of seven courses. The accommodation at The Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin is a treat too; the resort was the original Railway Hotel built in 1923 for Thai and visiting royalty and was restored to its old colonial glory in 2005. For more information and to enter, visit thailandworldmasters.com

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Thailand course architect Pirapon Namatra (Golf East) has been credited with designing one of the most natural courses in the country – spectacular mountain and ocean views abound. Each hole has six tee boxes making the course more or less challenging depending on each golfer’s ability and tee selection. Strategically placed water hazards, waste bunkers, and sand traps are spread throughout the course. Significant use of native pineapple groves makes local fruits come into play if straying too far off the fairways. Be careful, pineapple plants are sharp and scratch easily.

The signature 15th hole is a 139-yard par-3 with panoramic ocean views all the way to Singtoh (Tiger) Island in the Gulf of Thailand. Hole 12, a par-5 monster is 610 yards, all uphill, making it a challenge to reach for even the most accomplished of golfers. Lush Zoysia grassed fairways, a local grass but a rarely seen on golf courses in Thailand, are a pleasure to hit from as balls sit up nicely. Dark green Paspalum grassed tee boxes add to the stark colour contrast while the premium Tiff-eagle Bermuda grass greens make for fast and receptive putting surfaces.

The Terrace Restaurant is an International all-day dining venue with a variety of Western and Thai cuisine. Mulligan’s Pub, with western views over the golf course and Burmese Mountains, is a tranquil setting to take in a perfect Thai sunset.

Walkers love Banyan but for those who opt to ride, golf carts with on-board GPS are helpful. Well-trained caddies handle all of the usual services, making sure everyone who visits has a great day golfing at Banyan Golf Club.

banyanthailand.com

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The Thai was dialed into his laser-guided distances as he took advantage of a breathless early tee time to card an equal best of the day 68 to join overnight leader Lionel Weber atop the leaderboard at the MahaSamutr Masters in Hau Hin on Wednesday.

Frenchman Weber (67-71) and Janewattananond are tied at six-under 138 heading into the final round at Banyan Golf Club, a shot clear of England’s Jordan Garnish (68-71).

Suradit Yongcharoenchai and Ratchapol Jantavara share fourth a further shot back as Varanyu Rattanaphaibulkij, also of Thailand, and England’s Zane Scotland, who shared the overnight lead with France’s Weber, slipped to T8 after carding 75s.

“I had a pretty solid round today,” said Janewattananond. “ I started early in the morning and that helped. It got a bit windy on Tuesday afternoon, but this morning we had a bit of an advantage as it was very still out there,

“I did well on the back nine, scoring three of my four birdies. I love the idea of using range finders and golf buggies on the MENA Tour. I think I just need to get my rhythm going as there are a lot of good golfers on the leaderboard.”

France’s Weber, who is also a Banyan Golf Club ambassador, made three birdies against two bogeys en route to a second-round 71 to hold on to his overnight lead as Wolmer Murillo of Venezuela, who finished second here last year, kept his hopes alive, moving into a tie for 6^th on three under after a 71.

Dubai-based Brazilian Tiago Lobo fired an impressive 68 to join India’s Rayhan Thomas atop the amateur standings on one-under, six ahead of Victoria Tip-Aucha, the first female to play in a MENA Tour event and now the first to make a cut after rounds of 73-76.

An eagle on the par-5, 3rd highlighted the round of Lobo while Thomas, who was two under for the day and six under for the championship through 14, had to settle for a 73 after dropping three shots, including a double bogey on the par-3 17^th. 

Elsewhere, England Andrew Marshall carded back-to-back 73s that left him tied for 32nd in an 11-man group which included Craig Hinton, the winner of the MENA Tour’s Order of Merit title last year.

The cut was made at four-over 148 with 44 professionals and 10 amateurs making it to the final round.

Craig Kieswetter may have missed the cut by two shots, but the former England cricketer provided one of the highlights of the day, acing the par-3, 15th from 134 yards with a pitching wedge for his second career hole-in-one — and the first in a professional tournament.

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Scotland fired an opening five-under 67 at Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin to join Thai ace Varanyu Rattanaphaibulkij and Frenchman Lionel Weber atop the leaderboard of the 54-hole event.

American-Thai 15-year-old Tip-Aucha, the first female to play the developmental Pro-Am tour, signed for a one-over 73 to be T41 overnight. She is sixth on an amateur leaderboard lead by Dubai-born Indian No.1 Rayhan Thomas who carded a tidy two-under 70 in his first MENA Tour start of the season.

After birdieing her opening hole, Tip-Aucha made the turn at level par before double bogeys on the 10th and 12th stalled her momentum. Unruffled by the mid-round wobble, the sponsors’ invitee picked up three shots in her last five holes to sign her card with a smile.

For context, Victoria Tip-Aucha’s opening 73 was a shot better than Dubai-based Swiss national team amateur Michael Harradine

“I started off well, but got to the point where I was four-over. I think I did well to bring it back to one over, which was good,” said Tip-Aucha who has won five Thailand girls golf circuit events this year.

Scotland missed the cut at the Casablanca Open and finished a disappointing T43 at the later Mohammedia Open in Morocco before a back injury forced his withdrawal from last week’s Ras Al Khaimah Classic. But some concentrated range time back in England has clearly worked wonders as he went bogey free to be one of 29 players to better par, 10 Thai players among them.

Weber, who is an Banyan Golf Club ambassador, cashed in on his home course knowledge to reel off seven birdies against two bogeys.

Frenchman Lionel Weber took advantage of familiar surroundings

“I just didn’t putt very well, but still made some birdies out there which was quite pleasing,” said the Frenchman.

Lee Corfield, a four-time winner on the MENA Tour, overcame a first hole bogey to card a 68 that left the 35-year-old Englishman in a three-man group tied for fourth along with countryman Jordan Garnish and Thai Suradit Yongcharoenchai.

Thomas, who is supported by the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, leads the amateur division by one from the Thai trio of Runchanapong Youprayong, Worathon Zeng and 14-year-old Phichaksn Maichon, who recently won the 13-14 division at the 2016 Junior World Championships in the U.S.

Elsewhere, 2016 order of merit champion Craig Hinton carded a level-par 72, English compatriot and current moneylist leader Andrew Marshall a 73 as former England cricketer-turned-golfer Craig  Kieswetter returned a 78 after making the turn at level par.

UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh endured a difficult opening round, signing for an 81 that left him a mountain to climb to make the cut.

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The 15-year-old American-Thai will become the first female to play a MENA Tour event after accepting a sponsors invite from MahaSamutr Country Club for the 54-hole event at Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin.

“I’m not playing to prove anything, but just loved the idea of playing in a men’s event. Simple as that,” Tip-Aucha said of her historic appearance which is sure to hog headlines as the tour begins its three-tournament Thailand swing.

“This is a new challenge for me and I love challenges because they offer me an opportunity to grow in some way and stretch my creative muscles. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson have all played in men’s events in recent years following Babe Didrikson Zaharaias’ pioneering feat when she teed it up in a PGA Tour event in 1938.

The developmental Pro-Am MENA Tour isn’t at the same level but will still undoubtedly test the slightly built Tip-Aucha.

Born and raised in the US, the teen does bring top form to Banyan GC. She has already won five times on the Thailand girls golf circuit this year including victory at the International School Junior Golf Tournament and ASB Eagle Cup. In the U.S. she won the 47th Virginia State Golf Association Championship and the Junior All-Star at Chantilly National last year.

“Obviously, my immediate goal is to post a strong finish, but I can’t really control all of it. What I can control is how hard I try and what I can do. What I can do is to have fun out there and just play the best I can,” Tip-Aucha said.

“I hope the experience of playing alongside MENA Tour players will stand me good stead and that will be the biggest takeaway from the tournament.”

Tip-Aucha said she was grateful for the invite and “I truly value their [MahaSamutr Country Club] gesture.” Veeranat Limprasutr, Head of Business Development and Director of Operations at MahaSamutr Country Club, was playing the mutual appreciation game on the eve of the event.

“We are really delighted to have Victoria join our tournament. She is charismatic, she is skillful and her presence will keep the atmosphere buzzing,” said Limprasutr.

“Golf is a game you play against yourself, so it’s going to be a Victoria vs Victoria show in her quest to improve and test her abilities. If you look at her achievements, it’s so impressive. Our invitation is a step in the process of making her a better player.”

Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Tour added: “It’s indeed ground-breaking for the Tour as Victoria is making her first foray into a men’s event. She is a special talent, one who combines feminine grace with power and technique, making her a suitable candidate for a strong ambassador for the future of women’s golf.”

The MahaSamutr Masters will also see Dubai-based Indian amateur Rayhan Thomas make his first MENA Tour appearance of the season following an impressive T13 finish at the Junior Invitational, regarded as the leading junior tournament in the world, at Sage Valley GC near Augusta National earlier this month.
 

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This year’s MENA Tour order-of-merit champion will tee it up at the $6.9 million Dean & Deluca Invitational at historic Colonial Country Club in May next year.

The coup comes courtesy of a close relationship between one of the MENA Tour’s tournament sponsors, Thailand’s MahaSamutr Country Club, and fine food specialists Dean & Deluca.

“This partnership, in conjunction with Colonial Country Club, marks another ground-breaking step forward for the MENA Tour as it aims to form new alliances around the world that can benefit its members and grow the game of golf,” the MENA Tour said in a statement.

Two-time major winner and former world No.1 Jordan Spieth is the reigning champion at Colonial in a tournament which drapes its champions, a veritable whose who of the game’s greatest names, in a red tartan jacket.

Jordan Spieth will defend the famed red tartan jacket at Colonial in May. Photo: Getty Images

Ben Hogan won the inaugural tournament in 1946 and went on to capture the title a further four times. Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson and Adam Scott have also won in what is the longest running event at the same venue and the 10th oldest event on the PGA Tour.

The invite adds considerable lure to the MENA Tour which already offers its members starts at the European Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic and Trophee Hassan II in Morocco in addition to playing privileges on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour and exemptions into the final stage of Asian Tour Q-School.

It also comes after chairman Mohamed Juma Buamaim critically secured Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status for the developmental Pro-Am tour last year.

The MENA Tour began in 2011 and is affiliated to The R&A and the Arab Golf Federation. Spanish rookie Leo Lilja currently leads the moneylist after winning the season-opening Casablanca Open before missing the cut in the most recent Royal Golf Mohammedia Open, also in Morocco, which was won by Dutch amateur Pierre Junior Verlaar.

“The invitation to play in one of the most prestigious PGA Tour events is a great development for the MENA Tour, one that will resonate on many levels, reinforcing the growing strength of the game in the MENA region,” said Buamaim.

“I would like to thank Dean & Deluca and MahaSamutr Country Club for their gesture and believe it will further motivate tour members to keep pushing forward. All we want is to fuel an ideal climate for competitive golf in the region for young golfers to come through the ranks and make a name for themselves. Every step is a leap forward.”

The invitation follows PACE Development’s on-going commitment of the opening event of the MENA Tour’s three-tournament Thailand swing, the $50,000 MahaSamutr Masters at Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin (May 2-4). It is followed by another 54-holer, the $30,000 Mountain Creek Open by Golf Citizen (May 8-10), and the $50,000 Pattana Golf Championship, the tour’s first 72-hole event, from May 16-19.

Dean & Deluca was recently acquired by Pace Development Corporation, one of Thailand’s leading real estate firms that owns MahaSamutr Country Club. The latter made a foray into golf sponsorship when it sponsored the 2016 inaugural MahaSamutr Masters at Banyan Golf Club.

Chilean Antonio Costa, the winner of the MENA Tour’s 2016 MahaSamutr Masters, with Kajohnphob Teepaganont of Pace Development Corporation, MENA Tour chairman Mohamed Juma Buamaim, H.E. Pasan Teparak, Stacey Walton of GLS Asia, and Korrakoch Charoenplung of Pace at Banyan GC

“PACE Development Corporation is delighted to be sponsoring [the] MENA Tour for the second consecutive year and opening the tournament [Thailand swing] with MahaSamutr Masters 2017,” said Sorapoj Techakraisri, CEO of Pace Development Corporation Plc.

“We are also excited to offer this year’s tour winner an invitation to the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational in 2018 to support the tour’s long-term commitment to bringing the popularity of this game to Asia and being the first step before taking on the world stage. Good luck to all of this year’s players.”

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