Samui: Players from the region’s premier Tour will resume their glory chase when they head to the holiday isle of Koh Samui for the fifth edition of the US$300,000 Queen’s Cup Bangkok Airways – SAT Samui Golf Tournament next week.
Sanctioned by the Asian Tour, the Queen’s Cup is held in honour of Her Majesty, Queen Sirikit and is one of four tournaments in Thailand to feature on the Asian Tour, which is celebrating its milestone 10th season after establishing itself as a players’ organisation in 2004.
The Queen’s Cup will be staged at the Santiburi Samui Country Club from June 13 to 16 with the event broadcast live on True Sport and also featured on the Asian Tour Golf and Highlights show.
Two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand will be among the headline acts which will also include past local champions Chinnarat Phadungsil (2009) and Chawalit Plaphol (2011) and current merit leader Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Bangladesh’s Siddikur will be among the contenders looking to better his performance last year where he finished tied-second, three shots back of Thaworn.
Siddikur holds the honour of being the first Bangladeshi to win on the Asian Tour when he earned his career breakthrough in Brunei in 2010.
While it has been three years since that historical feat, the 28-year-old knows he has to remain patient and wait for his lucky break to come his way again.
“I’ve been playing well and sometimes in golf, I need to be lucky to win a tournament. Hopefully, that will come very soon,” said Siddikur who has posted three top-10s in eight starts this season.
Angelo Que of the Philippines, a three-time Asian Tour winner, will also tee up alongside other Tour winners as he seeks to end a three-year title drought at the Queen’s Cup where 23 countries will be represented.
Que has posted two top-five finishes on the region’s premier Tour, which is celebrating its milestone 10th season in 2013.
While he is still searching for a fourth Asian Tour title, the Filipino knows he has to get used to his new set of equipment before he enters the winner’s circle again.
“Every time you change equipment, you need time to adapt. I think I need a lot of luck to get my fourth win. I think anybody that wins need it. You also need every aspect of your game to click,” said the 34-year-old.
Other Asian Tour winners to look out for include Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, India’s Anirban Lahiri, Malaysia’s Danny Chia and Australia’s Scott Hend.
Queen’s Cup Bangkok Airways – SAT Samui Golf Tournament 2013 is mainly sponsored by Bangkok Airways, Sports Authority of Thailand, Santiburi Samui Country Club, Bangkok Hospital Group, PTT Co.,Ltd, Bangkok Bank, Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group, Tourism Authority of Thailand and co-sponsored by Four Seasons Resort, Samui Palm Beach Resort and Intercontinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam.
