Star Players from Big Tours to Feature at The Final Chapter 2021
Four star players – Pornanong Phatlum, Prayad Marksaeng, Gunn Charoenkul, and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras have signed up for The Final Chapter 2021, the season-concluding TrustGolf Tour which runs between December 28-31 at the Aquella Golf and Country Club in Phang Nga.
Former LPGA top 30 player Pornanong will make her first appearance in the Bt5 million Thailand Mixed event, a warm-up before she re-joins the LPGA Tour in January.
“I made a decision to enter this tournament not only to sharpen my skills before the LPGA in 2020 but also to socialize with fellow players. It will be fun as I’ve never competed in this type of format before,” said the 32-year-old who cracked the world’s top 30 in 2014.
While the windy condition at the Aquella is likely to upset the apple cart for many players, Pornanong believes she can deal with it with experience from playing in the Bahamas where the course is situated near the sea.
“I have had some good results in the Bahamas before. I’m quite familiar with the winds. I love challenges,” added the 2018 Women’s British Open runner-up who has been working with Chris Mayson, a coach of fellow LPGA stars Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn, for three months.
“I’ve adjusted my swing and it paid off. I did well in my last LPGA (Pelican Women’s Championship where she finished tied sixth, her best finish of the year). I believe I can produce some good results in 2022 and hopefully will get back to the top 30 again,” added the two-time Ladies European Tour winner.
Fellow LPGA player Pannarat whose best finish in the tournament was at tied sixth in the second edition in April hopes to make an impact as she makes her third attempt on the tour.
“I will be well prepared for the tournament and I’m quite confident with my game. I’ve been working on my approach shots and hope to produce a good result,” said the 23-year-old from Roi Et.
Phang Nga-born Gunn, just returning from the Japan Golf Tour, will be routed by local fans to triumph on home soil. The 29-year-old should have an edge over others at the Aquella where he used to play when it was still known as Tai Muaeng course while growing up.
“I’m quite familiar with this course and I’m glad to play in a home tournament,” said Gunn who lifted up two back-to-back titles on the Thai PGA Tour last year.
However, a finger injury may hamper him from his A-game in his return to the TrustGolf Tour for the second time.
“The injury is picking up. I’m more than 80 percent ready. I hope to finish in the top 3 but that means my putting game has to be great,” added Gunn who barely entered Thai events this year due to his busy schedule in Japan.
Three-time Japan Senior Tour Order of Merit winner Prayad will be launching his second attempt in the mixed event. He participated in the inaugural episode at the Black Mountain Golf Club and then departed Thailand for the Japan Senior Tour where he settled at fifth this season.
“It’s good to be back in the event as there are a lot of good male and female players. It proves that our country has many up-and-coming players. Playing this tournament will help sharpen my game for 2022,” said the 55-year-old Prayad, also a 10-time Asian tour champion.
The tournament which pits the men and women against one another will be staged under strict protective protocols against COVID-19. ATK Swap test is provided for players, personal caddies, players’ companies, and officials. Only those who test negative are permitted to participate in the tournament. Furthermore, fans who produce negative ATK results within 72 hours before the tournament are welcome at the course.
Viewers can watch live streaming of the Thailand Mixed hosted by TrustGolf on AISPLAY APP, https://www.facebook.com/trustgolfclub, and at TrustGolf Youtube channel from 9 am onwards during tournament days.
The Thailand Mixed is organized by TrustGolf, an indoor training center with advanced technology, It is supported by the Sports Authority of Thailand, the National Sports Development Fund, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Bangkok Bank, B.Grimm Company, Bond Holdings, AISPLAY, Bridgestone, Trust Pharmacy, Trust Live Streaming, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, Aquella Golf and Country Club and S.Khonkaen.
………………………………………………….
About TrustGolf
TrustGolf, an indoor training center with advanced technology, has supported international tournaments including the “TrustGolf Women Scottish Open”, a Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour event between 2021-2025. A great number of world-leading golfers signed up for the event which helped promote a good image for Thailand. Moreover, Thai female players, under the support of TrustGolf, were given the opportunity to compete in the European event.
TrustGolf also supports Thai players on the global stage. The company signed with Thai No 1 Jazz Janewattananond, the current No 1 player on the Asian Tour. Other players sponsored by TrustGolf include Prom Meesawat, Pavit Tangkamolprasert, Danthai Boonma, Wichanee Meechai, Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul, and Prima Thammaraks.
In 2021, a total of five Thailand Mixed hosted by TrustGolf series, a TrustGolf Tour, will be held in 2021 with Bt17 million prize money up for grabs.
In terms of the amateur and junior levels, TrustGolf staged the TrustGolf Thailand Masters 2019, Pro-Am Championship Powered by TrustGolf, and Thai Academy Golf Team Championship 2020.
The company also creates Trust Golf Scholarship to support young players and provide the opportunity to compete in the Thailand Mixed hosted by TrustGolf events in 2021. It also organized projects and tournaments for young golfers such as the TrustGolf Scholarship, Golf to School, and the TrustGolf Amateur Qualifier 2021 which selected players to compete in the Women Amateur Asia Pacific-WAAP), IMG Academy Juniors World Florida Challenge.
The preceding is a press release published with full permission and authorization by the organization(s) listed in the PR material and TPN media. The statements, thoughts, and opinions of the organization involved in the press release are entirely their own and may not necessarily represent those of TPN media and its staff.
