Thai beats Oldcorn for European Seniors Tour Rookie of Year award
NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR
Boonchu Ruangkit has been named as the European Senior Tour’s Rookie of the Year following a magnificent debut season in which the Thai won four times and topped the Order of Merit. Ruangkit succeeds Australian Mike Harwood as recipient of the coveted annual award, joining an illustrious list of past winners that includes record Senior Tour money winner Carl Mason (2003), Ryder Cup star Costantino Rocca (2007) and former Masters Champion Ian Woosnam (2008).
He becomes the 13th Rookie of the Year since the award was inaugurated in 1998, when Irishman Denis O’Sullivan was honoured.
Ruangkit, who is revered as the ‘Godfather of Thai Golf,’ enjoyed a whirlwind 2010 having started the year as a relative unknown in Europe.
The 54 year old won on his first appearance of the season at The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford, although his prize money did not count towards the Order of Merit as he was not a Senior Tour Member at the time.
Ruangkit then tore up the record books when he dominated the Chang Thailand Senior Masters presented by ISPS, winning by an unprecedented 11 strokes and a record low total of 21 under par.
He completed his hat-trick by capturing the Berenberg Bank Masters in South Africa before adding a fourth title when he won for the first time on European soil in the Benahavis Senior Masters in October.
That saw him place one hand on the John Jacobs Trophy and he sealed his position as European Senior Tour Number One – and Rookie of the Year – with a superb final round 65 in the OKI Castellón Senior Tour Championship to claim a share of eighth position and take his season earnings to €266,609.
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “Boonchu’s achievements in 2010 have been nothing short of remarkable and he is a worthy recipient of the Rookie of the Year Award to sit alongside the John Jacobs Trophy he received for leading the Order of Merit.
“There was some considerable competition for the Rookie of the Year Award, including five-time European Tour winner Barry Lane and former PGA Champion Andrew Oldcorn, so it is testament to how well Boonchu played that he should finish top of the pile.
“He follows some fantastic names as the winner of the Rookie of the Year and we look forward to another hotly contested award in 2011.”
Ruangkit’s nearest rival for the Rookie of the Year Award was Scotland’s Oldcorn, who finished seventh on the Order of Merit with earnings of €163,114, followed by former Ryder Cup player Lane in 20th place, Mark Belsham in 25th position and Qualifying School winner John Harrison in 41st.
Boonchu Ruangkit has been named as the European Senior Tour’s Rookie of the Year following a magnificent debut season in which the Thai won four times and topped the Order of Merit. Ruangkit succeeds Australian Mike Harwood as recipient of the coveted annual award, joining an illustrious list of past winners that includes record Senior Tour money winner Carl Mason (2003), Ryder Cup star Costantino Rocca (2007) and former Masters Champion Ian Woosnam (2008).
He becomes the 13th Rookie of the Year since the award was inaugurated in 1998, when Irishman Denis O’Sullivan was honoured.
Ruangkit, who is revered as the ‘Godfather of Thai Golf,’ enjoyed a whirlwind 2010 having started the year as a relative unknown in Europe.
The 54 year old won on his first appearance of the season at The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford, although his prize money did not count towards the Order of Merit as he was not a Senior Tour Member at the time.
Ruangkit then tore up the record books when he dominated the Chang Thailand Senior Masters presented by ISPS, winning by an unprecedented 11 strokes and a record low total of 21 under par.
He completed his hat-trick by capturing the Berenberg Bank Masters in South Africa before adding a fourth title when he won for the first time on European soil in the Benahavis Senior Masters in October.
That saw him place one hand on the John Jacobs Trophy and he sealed his position as European Senior Tour Number One – and Rookie of the Year – with a superb final round 65 in the OKI Castellón Senior Tour Championship to claim a share of eighth position and take his season earnings to €266,609.
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “Boonchu’s achievements in 2010 have been nothing short of remarkable and he is a worthy recipient of the Rookie of the Year Award to sit alongside the John Jacobs Trophy he received for leading the Order of Merit.
“There was some considerable competition for the Rookie of the Year Award, including five-time European Tour winner Barry Lane and former PGA Champion Andrew Oldcorn, so it is testament to how well Boonchu played that he should finish top of the pile.
“He follows some fantastic names as the winner of the Rookie of the Year and we look forward to another hotly contested award in 2011.”
Ruangkit’s nearest rival for the Rookie of the Year Award was Scotland’s Oldcorn, who finished seventh on the Order of Merit with earnings of €163,114, followed by former Ryder Cup player Lane in 20th place, Mark Belsham in 25th position and Qualifying School winner John Harrison in 41st.
Labels: Pro seniors
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, December 03, 2010
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