GOLDEN OLDIE BOONCHU SIZZLES IN E SAN OPEN

Nongkhai, Thailand, December 19: Defending champion Boonchu Ruangkit renewed his love affair with the Singha E San Open on Wednesday with a blistering seven-under-par 64 to lead by two strokes after the first round.

The 51-year-old Thai shot a career-best 59 on his way to victory at the par-71 Victory Park Golf & Country Club last year and quickly reasserted his authority.
Boonchu is two shots ahead of Thaworn Wiratchant, a former Asian number one, and promising 21-year-old Kwanchai Tannin, both of Thailand.
The home dominance on day one was completed by Prayad Marksaeng, the winner of the recent Volvo Masters of Asia, and Metee Siripot, who are a further shot adrift after opening 67s.

The US$50,000 Singha E San Open is the fifth leg of the fledgling ASEAN Golf Tour that was launched to create more playing opportunities for aspiring professionals from Southeast Asia and unearth new talent.
Boonchu, a five-time winner in Asia who has spent 2007 competing on the US Champions Tour, put on a master class for the young guns.

Starting at the 10th hole, he reached the turn in 31 with birdies on 10, 11, 15, 16 and 17. He continued in similar vein on the back nine picking up shots on the second, third and seventh holes before a bogey on his final hole took some of the shine off his round.
“I hit every fairway today which set me up for a good score,” said a delighted Boonchu. “I putted really well – it was a good day.

“After playing so well here last year I felt relaxed today and my game just clicked. It is a short course which suits me as I am getting old and do not hit it as far as the young boys.
“It is a good start and the only problem will be the weekend when I will be becoming tired.”
Thaworn, a nine-time winner on the Asian Tour, recorded six birdies and a bogey in an accomplished round.

“I only missed three fairways and I chipped well – that was the key today,” he said. “I am comfortable playing this course as it is not too long. It would be good to win as I have been working hard on my game recently but Boonchu is hard to beat around here. He loves this course.”

Prayad did not touch a club for a week after his emotional victory in the Volvo Masters of Asia and several birdie chances went a begging because of a lack of feel on the greens.
The unsung Metee roared up the leaderboard with five birdies in a row from the 17th hole (he started at the 10th).

“That is the first time I have shot five straight birdies in a tournament – it is a good feeling,” said the 28 year old, who has played most of his professional golf on local circuits.
Mars Pucay of the Philippines, a two-time winner on the ASEAN Golf Tour, slumped to an opening 74 while countryman Angelo Que, who lifted the Laguna National ASEAN Championship in Singapore, carded a one-under-par 70.
“I have been playing a lot of golf recently and did not have any feel today,” said Pucay, who was victorious in the Philippines and Vietnam.

Leading first round scores (a denotes amateur):

Par 71
64 – Boonchu Ruangkit (THA)
66 – Thaworn Wiratchant (THA), Kwanchai Tannin (THA)
67 – Prayad Marksaeng (THA), Metee Siripot (THA)
68 – Wittawat Sae-ung (THA), Udorn Duangdecha (THA)
70 – Atthaphon Prathummanee (THA), Angelo Que (PHI), Thanachot Tandavas (THA) (a), Nakul Vijityuthasart (THA), Sattaya Supupramai (THA), Nat Putta (THA) (a), Pongthep Jaewchumnanchao (THA), Siriwiwat Meesawat (THA), Thanyawat Sanpot (THA), Apichat Papituk (THA) (a)

Selected scores
72 – Pipatpong Naewsuk (THA) (a), Quincy Quek (SIN) (a)
74 - Mars Pucay (PHI)
-ends-

PRESS RELEASE

VETERAN BOONCHU SINGS PRAISES OF ASEAN GOLF TOUR

Nongkhai , Thailand , December 18: Golden oldie Boonchu Ruangkit has given the thumbs up to the fledgling ASEAN Golf Tour ahead of the season-ending Singha E San Open where he is defending champion.

The field for the fifth leg of the ASEAN Golf Tour is a heady mix of successful campaigners and stars of tomorrow with Boonchu being joined by fellow Thais Prayad Marksaeng, the winner of the Volvo Masters of Asia just over a week ago, and Thaworn Wiratchant, a former Asian number one.

Two-time victor on the new circuit Mars Pucay of the Philippines and countryman Angelo Que, who lifted the Laguna National ASEAN Championship in Singapore , are also in the line-up alongside top amateurs Quincy Quek of Singapore and Thailand 's Pipatpong Naewsuk, recent winners of the Putra Cup and SEA Games respectively.

Boonchu, who helped guide Thailand to the team and individual gold medals at the SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima , Thailand last week, was full of praise for the ASEAN Golf Tour which is designed to create more playing opportunities for aspiring professionals from Southeast Asia and unearth new talent.

“The ASEAN Golf Tour is good for young players,” said the 51-year-old Boonchu, a five-time winner in Asia who spent 2007 competing on the US Champions Tour.

“It gives them tournament experience and a chance to test themselves against some of Asia 's leading players. I coached several of the Thai team at last week's SEA Games – I enjoyed helping the boys but it was a lot more tiring than playing.”

Boonchu shot a lifetime-best 59 on his way to winning the Singha E San Open at the par-71 Victory Park Golf & Country Club in 2006 when it was a full-field event on the local TPC Tour but has ruled out a repeat performance when the tournament tees off on Wednesday.

“I have not played much golf since I came back from the United States – this week is mainly about keeping an eye on the boys that I coach,” he said.

Prayad also played down his chances of victory after a relaxing week following his emotional triumph at the Volvo Masters of Asia, the season finale on the Asian Tour.

“I did not touch a club until my practice round here on Monday – I cannot win,” said the 41-year-old Prayad. “But it will be good fun playing here. It is great to see all the young players competing in this tournament. It makes golf more colourful and I think that the presence of the top players like Boonchu and Thaworn will help them to raise their game.”

Que, a regular on the Asian Tour who tasted success in Vietnam in 2004, said that he would support the ASEAN Golf Tour whenever possible.

“I will play these tournaments when they do not clash with Asian Tour events,” he said. “I know the situation the young guys are in – I was in their shoes five years ago when I could not get starts in tournaments.

“They can work on their games, get experience and when they make it onto the Asian Tour they will know how to play big tournaments.”

Que predicted that the player who putted the best this week would walk away with the trophy. “The course is short but it is quite tight off the tee,” said the big-hitting Filipino.

“The greens are receptive and it will come down to who putts the best.”

There is a void in the tournament following the recent death of Supphaphorn Maphungphong, the driving force behind the rise of Thai golf and an enthusiastic supporter of the ASEAN Golf Tour.

Supphaphorn, the Director of Sports for Singha Corporation and the first chairman of the Asian PGA in 1995, was the mentor of many players in the field this week including Prayad who he coached from a young age.

 (For further information please contact Simon Wilson, Media Manager, World Sport Group – Golf, mobile 65 9127 5419)