Phuket, May 22: The Asian Development Tour (ADT) talents will face a stern test at the Singha Phuket Open, which starts on Thursday, as new Asian Tour champion Rattanon Wannasrichan aims for back-to-back wins.

 

 

Rattanon, who won the Thailand Open on Sunday, will headline the ADT event alongside ADT Order of Merit leader Brett Munson of the United States and Martin Dive of Australia, ranked second on the Merit rankings.

 

Thailand’s Jakraphan Premsirigorn, Panuwat Muenlek, Steve Lewton of England and Oskar Arvidsson of Sweden, who are all ranked inside the top-10 on the Order of Merit will also feature in the two million Baht (approximately US$58,140) event staged at the Laguna Golf Phuket.

 

John Michael O'Toole of the United States who finished tied-10 at the PGM Northport Glenmarie Championship in Malaysia and Janne Kaske of Finland are among the talented ADT members searching for a victory in the new event.

 

The 30-year-old Munson has enjoyed a good season so far on the ADT after finishing tied second in January and winning his second ADT title at the PGM CCM Seriemas Championship in Malaysia in February.

 

He hopes to continue his momentum at the Singha Phuket Open and extend his lead on the Order of Merit. If he stays inside the top-five on the final Merit rankings, he will be afforded with an Asian Tour card for 2018.

 

“The game has been feeling good since coming through the Qualifying School. I went back home and practised in the cold during my off season in winter last December. I am glad to be able to reap some rewards from it,” added Munson

 

The Singha Phuket Open is co-sanctioned between the ADT and the All Thailand Golf Tour. By featuring on the ADT schedule, the event will receive Official World Golf Ranking status, with the winner of each tournament receiving a minimum six points and the top-six players and ties earning points on a sliding scale.