Koh Samui, Thailand: Organisers have announced the Queen’s Cup will celebrate its eighth edition on the Asian Tour at the Santiburi Samui Country Club from June 16 to 19, 2016.
The highly popular event will be supported once again by Bangkok Airways, Sports Authority of Thailand, Thailand PGA and Asian Tour, with prize money of US$300,000 on offer to the region’s talented players.
With this addition, the Asian Tour’s 2016 season will now see a total of 25 tournaments on the Schedule with over US$52 million in prize funds up for grabs.
Chanthip Thongkanya, Vice President, Office of President, Bangkok Airways, said: “We are delighted to continue our association with the Queen’s Cup, which is truly a prestigious event held in honour of our beloved Queen Sirikit.
“As a supporter of the game, the event is very important towards the development of professional golf in Thailand and Asia and with the Olympic Games on the horizon, the Queen’s Cup will also offer Asian Tour golfers with the opportunity to garner Official World Golf Ranking points to qualify for Rio de Janeiro.
“Additionally, the media exposure generated from the Queen’s Cup will go a very long way in promoting Samui and Thailand as a leading holiday and tourism destination. We look forward to another great week of golf in June,” added Chanthip.
Since making its debut on the Asian Tour in 2009, the Queen’s Cup has been dominated by Thai golfers, with the likes of Chinnarat Phadungsil, Chawalit Plaphol, Prayad Marksaeng (twice) and Thaworn Wiratchant (twice) winning the event. The only international golfer who has triumphed in Samui is Japan’s Tetsuji Hiratsuka.
Next month’s Queen’s Cup is expected to attract many leading players from the Asian Tour, including Bangladeshi star Siddikur Rahman and Singapore’s Mardan Mamat who have contended for the title on numerous occasions in Samui. Both are also fighting to qualify for the Olympic Games.
SAT Governor, Sakon Wanpong said: “On behalf of SAT, we are looking forward to the Queen’s Cup in Santiburi Samui Golf Club. One of our key objectives in supporting this prestigious tournament is to provide opportunities for Thai golfers to compete against international players from the Asian Tour.
“With many of our Thai players winning the Queen’s Cup since its debut on the Asian Tour, it will be a wonderful opportunity for our local golfers to fast-track their careers. Winning the tournament will mean earning a priceless winner’s exemption on the Asian Tour for them to propel onto the international arena.”
Kyi Hla Han, Commissioner, Asian Tour said: “The Queen’s Cup is one of our most popular tournaments on the Asian Tour as it is hosted on a truly fantastic destination and golf course. Every year, our players look forward to competing at Santiburi Samui which is a challenging test and at the same, they get to enjoy the many attractions on the world-famous holiday isle.
“It is wonderful that Bangkok Airways and Sports Authority of Thailand have extended their backing towards the Queen’s Cup as the game requires sponsorship support for us to establish a platform for our players to showcase their talents.
“Thai players have for a very long time dominated the Queen’s Cup and it would not be a surprise if we celebrate yet another local winner in Samui next month.”
The addition of the Queen’s Cup also means that Thailand will now stage three Asian Tour events this season, namely the True Thailand Classic and the King’s Cup.
