Order of Merit leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand will lead 27 Asian Development Tour (ADT) champions to the third edition of the US$160,000 Taifong Open next week.
The top-20 players on the ADT Order of Merit will make it one of the strongest fields to assemble in the ADT’s richest tournament which is staged at the Taifong Golf and Country Club from July 7 to 10.
Thailand’s Rattanon Wanasrichan, who enjoyed a come-from-behind one-shot triumph last year, will defend his title at the Taifong Open, which is the 17th leg of the ADT schedule and the Tour’s third stop in Chinese Taipei this season.
Other notable names in the talented field include Malaysia’s Gavin Green, who is aiming to secure his spot in the Olympics this August and ADT winners Chikkarangappa. S of India, Indonesia’s George Gandranata and Panuwat Muenlek of Thailand.
Asian Tour regulars Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka, American Brett Munson and Australian Unho Park will challenge for the title alongside local stars Lin Wen-tang, Lu Wei-chih, Hung Chien-yao and Chan Shih-chang, who won the tournament in 2014.
As the richest tournament on the schedule this season, the Taifong Open will play an important part in the Order of Merit race where the the top-five finishers on the Merit rankings at the end of this season secure Asian Tour cards for 2017.
The Taifong Open will also be the last event on the ADT schedule for players to boost their Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points and move inside the 60-man field on the Olympic rankings before the qualifying window closes on July 11.
Green, a three-time winner on the region’s premier Tour, currently sits in 57th place on the Olympic rankings while Chinese Taipei’s veteran Lin is the first alternate. The Taifong Open will be an important event for both players, who hope to represent their country in Rio de Janeiro.
“It’s huge. It’s not every day that golfers get to go to the Olympics and it’ll be massive if I can get to play there. I’m just trying to play my best each week and hopefully the results will take of itself,” said Green.
The winner of the Taifong Open will receive six OWGR points while the top six players and ties will also earn points based on a sliding scale.
For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com
