LPGA Tour makes Thailand debut
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2006 Honda LPGA Thailand | Preview | 18 Oct 2006
The LPGA Tour is in Thailand this week for the first of three consecutive events outside of North America. The Honda LPGA Thailand is the first of these events and gets underway on Friday 20th October at the Amata Spring Country Club Club in Chonburi just south of Bangkok.
Following this week’s event the LPGA will be in Korea and then in Japan before returning to the USA for the Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions and the ADT Tour Championship.
The Amata Spring layout has only been open for twelve months but has the honour of being the first venue in Thailand to host an LPGA event.
The undoubted favourite is the very much in form Cristie Kerr, who has been one of the real stars of the 2006 LPGA Tour. Kerr has been in fine form in the latter half of 2006 winning twice and finishing runner up on two occasions in her last seven starts including when runner up at the Weetabix Women’s British Open.
Sophie Gustafson has been runner up at the Weetabix Women’s British Open and third last week behind Ochoa and Sorenstam and the Swede has shown a capacity previously to quickly adapt to foreign conditions.
Laura Davies has played well in recent tournaments on the Ladies European Tour but it might be the Koreans who provide Kerr with her hardest challenge.
Mi Hyun Kim and Meena Lee are amongst many well credentialed Koreans in the field.
Rachel Hetherington and Lindsey Wright are the only two Australians lining up for the prizemoney of US$1.3 million.
Photo – Anthony Powter
