THONGCHAI VOTED ASIAN TOUR
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sentosa: Thai star Thongchai Jaidee has been voted by his peers as the 2009 Asian Tour Players’ Player of the Year, capping a truly memorable season which set him apart from his rivals.
Through his mastery on the golf course, Thongchai won twice during the year, finished top-10 on three other occasions and did not miss a single cut - his lowest finish was tied 30th - en route to an unprecedented third Order of Merit crown.
Victories at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia O pen and Ballantine’s Championship in Korea took his career tally to 12 titles, the most wins by a player in Asia , and saw him earn a career-high US$981,931 in 10 tournaments.
The popular Thai earned further accolades by sweeping the Lowest Stroke Average category with 69.06. It was yet another wonderful reflection of his continued rise in the game as his stroke average was 69.59 and 69.58 when he won the 2001 and 2004 Merit titles respectively.
Unheralded C. Muniyappa of India , whose classic rags to riches tale inspired many when he won the Hero Honda Indian O pen , took home a deserving Rookie of the Year title.
The 32-year-old wrapped up his season in 10th place on the Order of Merit with US$223,269 through one win and three other top-25s.
Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said: “Thongchai has raised the benchmark higher on the Asian Tour through his terrific performances in 2009. He is a great ambassador of the game for the Asian Tour and will no doubt inspire many young players to achieve success.
“We are also extremely proud of the rise of Muniyappa, whose humble background will serve as an inspiration to many players in India and across Asia to shoot for the stars.”
Big-hitting Australian Scott Hend earned bragging rights when he finished atop the Driving Distance category with an average of 318 yards while Korea ’s Lee Sung hit the most fairways throughout the season with a 75% fairway hit rate.
Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, who won his 11th Asian Tour title at the Macau O pen , claimed the Birdie Leader award after snaring a total of 255 birdies throughout the 2009 season.
South Africa’s Jbe Kruger hit the most Greens in Regulation (GIR) with a strike rate of 79.98% to top the category while Thammanoon Srirot of Thailand took the Lowest Putting Average award with 1.691 putts per GIR (greens hit in regulation figures).
The Sentosa Golf Club, venue of this year's Barclays Singapore O pen , was voted by the players as the Host Venue of the Year for the fourth successive year, reinforcing its position as a premier club in Asia .
Along with the other stat category winners, Thongchai will be honoured at the Asian Tour Awards Gala in Malaysia in March.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sentosa: Thai star Thongchai Jaidee has been voted by his peers as the 2009 Asian Tour Players’ Player of the Year, capping a truly memorable season which set him apart from his rivals.
Through his mastery on the golf course, Thongchai won twice during the year, finished top-10 on three other occasions and did not miss a single cut - his lowest finish was tied 30th - en route to an unprecedented third Order of Merit crown.
Victories at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia O pen and Ballantine’s Championship in Korea took his career tally to 12 titles, the most wins by a player in Asia , and saw him earn a career-high US$981,931 in 10 tournaments.
The popular Thai earned further accolades by sweeping the Lowest Stroke Average category with 69.06. It was yet another wonderful reflection of his continued rise in the game as his stroke average was 69.59 and 69.58 when he won the 2001 and 2004 Merit titles respectively.
Unheralded C. Muniyappa of India , whose classic rags to riches tale inspired many when he won the Hero Honda Indian O pen , took home a deserving Rookie of the Year title.
The 32-year-old wrapped up his season in 10th place on the Order of Merit with US$223,269 through one win and three other top-25s.
Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said: “Thongchai has raised the benchmark higher on the Asian Tour through his terrific performances in 2009. He is a great ambassador of the game for the Asian Tour and will no doubt inspire many young players to achieve success.
“We are also extremely proud of the rise of Muniyappa, whose humble background will serve as an inspiration to many players in India and across Asia to shoot for the stars.”
Big-hitting Australian Scott Hend earned bragging rights when he finished atop the Driving Distance category with an average of 318 yards while Korea ’s Lee Sung hit the most fairways throughout the season with a 75% fairway hit rate.
Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, who won his 11th Asian Tour title at the Macau O pen , claimed the Birdie Leader award after snaring a total of 255 birdies throughout the 2009 season.
South Africa’s Jbe Kruger hit the most Greens in Regulation (GIR) with a strike rate of 79.98% to top the category while Thammanoon Srirot of Thailand took the Lowest Putting Average award with 1.691 putts per GIR (greens hit in regulation figures).
The Sentosa Golf Club, venue of this year's Barclays Singapore O pen , was voted by the players as the Host Venue of the Year for the fourth successive year, reinforcing its position as a premier club in Asia .
Along with the other stat category winners, Thongchai will be honoured at the Asian Tour Awards Gala in Malaysia in March.
Labels: ASIAN TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Monday, December 14, 2009
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