Sikhio: Buoyed by their success at last week’s MahaSumutr Masters, a strong Thai contingent will again be hoping to do well at this week’s Mena Tour Mountain Creek Open in Sikhio, Thailand, from Monday to Wednesday.
Spearheaded by last week’s winner Jazz Janewattananond, the home players made a strong statement about the rising standard of golf in the kingdom at the Banyan Club, racking up four top-10 finishes in addition to a first in the amateur division; and they will look to keep the momentum going throughout the remaining two events of the tour’s three-stage Thai swing.
Comprising 21 professionals and two amateurs, including last week’s amateur winner Worathon Zeng, the Thai contingent will join a strong field, studded with 12 previous winners on tour, setting up the prospect of another engaging contest.
Notables in the field include Venezuela’s Wolmer Murillo, who won this event last year, Zane Scotland, a record 10-time winner on tour, and Andrew Marshall, who currently leads the Order of Merit standings.
Thai-based Murillo, who finished in a four-way tie for third last week, will need to find an extra spring in his game if he aims to retain his title.
India’s leading amateur Rayhan Thomas, who finished second to Murillo here last year, will look to improve upon his tied for 28th finish last week and defend last season’s amateur crown despite challenges from Thailand’s Zeng and Brazil’s Tiago Lobo.
Further ratcheting up the pressure will be Spain’s Leo Lilja, who won the Mena Tour’s opening event this season in Casablanca, Morocco, as well as former England cricketer Craig Kieswetter and the Czech Republic’s Cyril Suk, a former winner on tour, who will all be hoping to make up for a missed cut last week.
In all 118 players will take part from 24 countries.
