INDIA'S Jyoti Randhawa won by shooting a last round 65 for an aggregate -17 with Rhys Davies two shots back. Third one shot away was Lu Wei-chih with SSP Chowrasia and Wu Ashun on -13.


INDIAN star Jyoti Randhawa cruised to a comfortable two-stroke victory at the Singha Thailand Open for his eighth Asian Tour victory on Sunday.

The 36-year-old Randhawa produced a flawless five-under-par 65 to hold off Rhys Davies of Wales, who equalled his best performance on Tour with a closing 67 at Laguna Phuket Golf Club for second place.

Chinese Taipei's Lu Wei-chih settled for third position, three behind the winner, after a 65 while S.S.P. Chowrasia of India was tied fourth alongside upcoming Chinese talent Wu Ashun after rounds of 69 and 66 respectively.

''I'm feeling great. I played marvellous golf the last two days. To shoot five under without any bogeys was good, I'm very happy,'' said Randhawa, whose winning total of 17-under-par 263 earned him a cheque for US$79,250.

Tied for the overnight lead with Davies and Chowrasia, Randhawa, who charged into contention with a sizzling 62 on Saturday, pulled one stroke clear of the pack after shooting three birdies in his opening five holes.

He coolly maintained his grip down the final straight with more birdies on the 12th and 15th holes.

''The way the course was set up and the way it was playing, I thought I could shoot some low numbers and I did that the last two days and I'm glad I did it,'' said Randhawa, first Indian to lift the Singha Thailand Open King's Trophy.

He said his relaxed attitude, where he spent time scuba diving with fellow competitor and brother-in-law Digvijay Singh and their families, was the key to his success on the holiday isle of Phuket.

''That's the mantra now,'' said Randhawa. ''I need to relax a bit and chill out. You don't practice and work hard during tournaments. You do it before that.

''I came here, I swam, I went scuba diving and I enjoyed myself. And here I am, I've won a golf tournament. I learned a lot and I think I need to do this more often.''

Davies, who was bidding for a first Asian Tour title, was happy that he pushed Randhawa all the way.

''I thought that if I played a good solid round it would give me a chance. With a few holes to go I had a chance but I just missed out,'' the Welshman said.

The 23-year-old stayed close on Randhawa's shoulders and trailed by two at the turn.

He blew his chance of turning on the pressure at the two closing par five holes by bogeying the 17th after finding trouble in thick rough.

Thongchai Jaidee, winner of the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open last Sunday, and Chapchai Nirat finished as the top Thais in a share of 10th place at 270, seven shots behind the winner.

Two-time US PGA Tour winner Daniel Chopra of Sweden came in seventh place after closing with a 63.



Presenters from ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) will visit Laguna Phuket from March 27-29 to support its corporate social responsibility initiative to raise awareness for the Special Olympics Thailand and benefit aspiring athletes aiming to participate in the Southern Regional Games in June.

This event follows the success of last year's Charity Golf Tournament and Dinner in July 2008, where 750,000 baht was raised, with the help of ESPN STAR Sports presenters, and donated to improve conditions at an underprivileged school in neighboring Phang-Nga province.

This year's event proceeds will support the southern regional Special Olympics teams with particular focus on the Phuket team.

The support from Laguna Phuket will provide more opportunities for students to take part and help ensure that aspiring athletes from this region have a chance to compete in the national and potentially World Special Olympic Games.

The line-up of ESS presenters and pundits visiting Laguna Phuket include ESPN Football Focus presenter John Dykes and Andrew Leci of Football Forecast.

They will be joined by resident football analyst Steve McMahon, former Liverpool midfielder and England international, football experts ex-Birmingham City's Paul Masefield; former Malaysian national player Shebby Singh and former Hong Kong Rangers footballer Derek Currie.

Joining the line-up is ESPN SportsCenter anchors Christy Simpson and Colette Wong. STAR Sports presenters Andy Penders and Jamie Yeo from Nokia Football Crazy's, and football analyst PJ Roberts, will be at the event with Score Tonight's Debbie Lin and Georgina Chang from the tennis magazine programme ACE.

Newcomer to the event McMahon, will be playing in the golf tournament on Saturday March 28 at Laguna Phuket Golf Club, and be a guest speaker at the fundraising dinner at Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket.

Fans will have the opportunity to meet the ESS team and donate to a worthy cause at the same time. For those not participating in the golf tournament, dinner tickets can be purchased for 2500 baht a person

On Sunday March 29 the presenters will be attending a Football Fun Day at the British International School, where they will conduct football clinics for students and Special Olympics athletes and have a friendly match kicking off at 11am.

To enter the golf tournament, (a four-person Texas Scramble format), golfers may choose either a Corporate or Standard Team Package. The Corporate Team Package, priced at 30,000 baht, entitles three golfers to play in a team with an ESS presenter/pundit. The Standard Team Package, available at 28,000 baht, is for a team of four golfers.

Both packages include green fees, caddy fees, snacks and drinks prior to tee-off; dinner tickets; prizes; logo on event banners and backdrops.

Co-Sponsor and Non-Golfing sponsorship packages inclusive of dinner tickets are also available. Dinner only tickets are priced at
2500 baht a person, inclusive of wine and beer.

Golf Team Packages and dinner tickets will be sold at the Laguna Phuket Golf Club pro-shop, tel. +66 76 324 374.


INDIAN star Jyoti Randhawa charged into the joint third round lead at the Singha Thailand Open after firing a sizzling eight-under-par 62 on Saturday.

The 2002 Asian Tour number one was in irrepressible form at Laguna Phuket Golf Club, sinking an eagle, seven birdies and one bogey to tie countryman S.S.P. Chowrasia and Welshman Rhys Davies at 12-under-par 198 after starting the day eight shots back.

Overnight leader Chowrasia battled to a 70 in the US$500,000 event while Davies, chasing a maiden victory, missed a five-foot birdie chance for the outright lead at the 18th hole for a 69.

Sweet-swinging Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines and Australian David Bransdon share fourth place on 200.

Thailand's Prom Meesawat gave himself a chance of emulating his father's victory in the Singha Thailand Open with a 66, which left him three shots back.

Randhawa, 36, wielded his putter like a magic wand, rolling in 14 one-putts on his card. ''It was great putting today. I holed everything,'' Randhawa said.He is chasing an eighth Asian Tour title.

His eagle came courtesy of a radar-guided two iron approach from 246 yards which landed four feet off the flag.

''That was the only fairway that I hit all day and I made eagle. I need to hit more fairways to hit more eagles, but I'm not complaining,'' he said.

Randhawa has enjoyed his time on Phuket and reckons it has paid off.

''I'm enjoying the sun, sand and going scuba diving. I'm going to keep this relaxed attitude forever. Every time you get too hyper and try too much, it goes the other way.

''Maybe I just found something that I need to do week in, week out. Sometimes I get too uptight. Maybe this works,'' he said.

The 23-year-old Davies, who posted three top-10s in his rookie Asian Tour season last year, endured a roller-coaster day with four birdies against three dropped shots as the swirling winds knocked him off stride.

''I didn't quite get a few putts to go in but it wasn't like I was putting badly. I just didn't quite get the right lines.

''Overall, I'm not too displeased at all. I'm looking forward to tomorrow,'' he said.

So are golf fans on Phuket.

After a 62 on Friday, Chowrasia, who won the Indian Masters last year, failed to find his rhythm and settled for three birdies against as many bogeys. However, the 30-year-old still feels confident ahead of Sunday's shootout.

''I did not hit it nearly as well as on Friday. But I am still joint leader and I am confident I can play well tomorrow and win the tournament,'' he said.



INDIA'S S.S.P. Chowrasia showed a welcome return to form as he stormed to an eight-under-par 62 for the second round lead at the Singha Thailand Open on Friday.

The Indian standout needed only 25 putts at the par-70 Laguna Phuket Golf Club to top the leaderboard on 12-under-par 128, one stroke ahead of talented Welshman Rhys Davies, who sank a magical hole-in-one en route to a 64 in the US$500,000 Asian Tour event.

Young Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar is third after a 66 while Australian David Bransdon stayed in touch in fourth place following a 65.

Thailand's hopes were carried by unheralded Udorn Duangdecha, whose second straight 66 left him within touching distance of the new tournament leader on 132.

Since winning the Indian Masters early last year for his career breakthrough, Chowrasia's form dipped due to a combination of factors. But a new putter has reignited his game.

''I've been practising my putting a lot. It was very bad the last few weeks but it's come good,'' Chowrasia said. He used a local caddie after his regular bagman Pritan Sikia returned to India on Thursday following a family bereavement.

''I put a new putter in the bag last week. The old one was a bit shut and this new putter has a loft which is two or three degrees more open. I was missing a lot of putts left previously,'' he said.

Chowrasia's bogey-free card was sprinkled with eight birdies but none was sweeter than the one on the eighth hole, his penultimate of the day, when he holed a wedge shot from 110 yards after finding trouble in the trees.

''It was good to get that birdie as I was struggling for par,'' said the 30-year-old Chowrasia, who is the son of a greenskeeper. ''My putting is coming back and I'm driving it well. I'm confident of playing well this weekend.''

Davies, who enjoyed a strong rookie season last year with three top-10s, holed his five iron tee shot at the par three seventh hole for his first ace in the play-for-pay ranks.

''I was one over after six holes and not really knowing what was going on. I then holed a five iron which changed my demeanour.

''I went from there, birdied the next three holes and nearly holed it again on the par three 11 and then missed that short putt! I kept going and managed to birdie 15 and 18 coming in,'' said the 23-year-old, who represented Great Britain and Ireland in the 2007 Walker Cup.

Davies hopes to sustain his quest for a first professional victory and feels that last year's play-off defeat to Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand off at the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters will serve him well.

''I'm in a good position. I learned that I could compete at the top of the leaderboard which is the most important thing. I handled myself under pressure and played well down the stretch,'' Davies said.

Overnight leaders Mitchell Brown of Australia and Indian Digvijay Singh slipped back after rounds of 71 and 73 respectively while Thai star Thongchai made the halfway cut right on the mark of 139 after a 70.

Rhys Davies' aces high moment came when the 23-year-old Welshman holed his five iron at the 220-yard seventh for the first ace of his professional career.

''It pitched just short of the hole and trickled in,'' said a delighted Davies.

Davies said that he was due a hole-in-one after a couple of near misses.

''I was saying to my caddy (Scott Russell) only yesterday that since he has been working for me from the end of last year I have hit the flag or hit the hole on a number of occasions.

''It was nice to see one go in this time.

''Also I have seen a couple of hole in ones from the partners in the last five tournaments I have played. I guess it was my turn.''



ASIA'S top players shot a record seven eagle twos at the driveable 315-yard first hole at Laguna Phuket Golf Club during the first round of the US$500,000 Singha Thailand Open on Thursday.

Although the pros had to fly the ball over high trees to cut the dogleg, many took the risk and reward approach. Joint leaders Digvijay Singh of India and Australia's Mitchell Brown both had twos on their way to opening 63s.

Their feat was matched by two-time Singha Thailand Open winner Boonchu Ruangkit, the 52-year-old legend of the Asian golf who holed a 26-foot putt after finding the front edge of the green with his drive.

US PGA Tour star Daniel Chopra, big-hitting Filipino Angelo Que and the Thai duo of Kwanchai Tannin and Udorn Duangdecha also posted eagles at the first.

The first hole was also involved in a rare ruling with Chris Rodgers of England and India's Shiv Kapur both being penalised two shots under rule 13.2 for improving their line of play by moving an advertising board on the tee. Both of them had birdied the hole.

After the penalty Rodgers signed for a 77 while Kapur had a one-under-par 69.

While the players took advantage of the short first hole, they faced big problems on the par-four ninth, which has been lengthened to 456 yards for the Singha Thailand Open.

Most of the competitors were hitting long irons or rescue clubs into the island green, one of the smallest targets on the course, resulting in 34 bogeys and 10 double bogeys or worse.

The leading duo, who are searching for their maiden Asian Tour victory, lead by one stroke from Thailand's Chapchai Nirat, Gaganjeet Bhullar of India and Australia's Unho Park at the par-70 Laguna Phuket Golf Club.

Thailand's 52-year-old Boonchu Ruangkit, a two-time winner of his home Open, rolled back the years to card a 65 and lie two back alongside compatriot Kwanchai Tannin, Korea's Young Nam and Mo Joong-kyung, South African Keith Horne, Indian Himmat Rai, Australian Tim Stewart and Lu Wei-chih of Chinese Taipei.

Tournament favorite Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, winner in Indonesia last week, shot a 69 while two-time US PGA Tour winner Daniel Chopra of Sweden returned a 67.

Singh opened his round with a superb chip-in eagle and ended the day in style with another eagle. ''I was lucky to start with an eagle and finish with another one,'' said the 37-year-old Indian.

''I missed quite a few putts on the back nine and finally on 18, I made eagle again. I thought the flag was a bit out of reach for me but I hit a rescue club from 255 yards that landed two feet of the pin.''

Along with his brother-in-law Jyoti Randhawa, Singh has been basking in the holiday atmosphere in Phuket but hopes a relaxed approach will lead to a breakthrough on the Asian Tour.

''I'm rushing off for scuba diving again this afternoon,'' said Singh, who enjoyed his best year in 2008 when he finished 30th on the Order of Merit. ''Jyoti and I went to Phi Phi island on Tuesday and we're going further out this afternoon.

''This is like a vacation week and I'm expecting the very least from this week. Hopefully that helps.''

Brown, 23, also chipped in for eagle on the opening 315-yard par four hole and sank eight other birdies and three bogeys.

It was a welcome change in fortune for the Australian as he had missed the cut in two events and was disqualified in another in his four starts this season.

''It's good to play well as things have not been going well for me. It's good to get a few breaks,'' said Brown, who enjoyed six top-10s last season.

''It's one of those courses where if you don't drive it on the fairway, you'll be looking at dropping shots but if you can get it on, you can capitalise and get a few birdies.''

The evergreen Boonchu, winner of the Thailand Open in 1992 and 2004, let the young guns know he means business with an impressive round.

The Thai legend may not hit the ball as long as the majority of the 156-player field but he weaved his magic on and around the greens to stake an early claim for a third title.

''I really want to lift the King's Trophy again,'' said Boonchu, back in Asia after two seasons on the Champions Tour in the United States.

''The Thailand Open means a lot to me. It is in my heart.''

Live scores are available at http://singhathailandopen.com/index.php



SINGHA Corporation has signed as title sponsor for the Thailand Open golf tournament to be played at Laguna Phuket Golf Club early in March.

With the backing of the national brand, the event, which has not been played since 2005, is expected to be fully revived as a tourism showcase for Phuket.

To be played over four days from March 5-8, the Singha Thailand Open will be boast prize money of US$500,000, be a full event on golf's Asian Tour and attract stars and promising players.

US PGA Tour star Daniel Chopra will compete. The Swede is a two-time winner in America having claimed the Ginn sur Mer Classic in 2007 and the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Hawaii last year.

For Phuket, the event represents a great chance to demonstrate its attractions through media coverage, especially on television. The final two days will be broadcast live on Star Sports and a local terrestrial channel.

Chutchai Wiratyosin, Marketing Director, Singha Corporation said:
''To be able to announce that Singha Corporation will title sponsor the Thailand Open is a historic day for us.

''It is a great shame that the Thailand Open has not been played for three years but we are now back on track and Singha Corporation intend to work hard to make this the finest Thailand Open.''

Tim Haddon, Director of Golf, Laguna Resorts & Hotels, said: ''Everyone at Laguna Phuket is delighted the Singha Thailand Open will be played at our resort for the first time.

''We seized the opportunity to stage the tournament as the event, like Thailand's golfers, is so well respected.

''We hope to once again show golfers and holiday-makers across the world the beauty of Phuket and the Laguna Phuket resort.''

Voted in the top 10 for Best Golf Resort in Asia, Best Clubhouse in Asia and Best Golf Course in Thailand by readers of Asian Golf Monthly magazine, Laguna Phuket Golf Club is an attractive 18-hole, par-70 course.

The Thailand Open, first played in 1965, was an annual golfing tradition with some well known names inscribed on the trophy such as Australians David Graham (1970) and Graham Marsh (1973), and Chinese Taipei golfers Hsieh Min-nan (1972) and Chen Tze-ming (1983 and 1986).

Most popular winner of the event is Thailand's Boonchu Ruangkit, who took top honours in 1992 and 2004.

However, he wasn't the first home player to lift the trophy - that was achieved in 1991 by Suthep Meesawat.

Suthep is the father of Prom Meesawat, currently one of the region's most exciting golfing talents.

The tournament also welcomes on board the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and PTT Public Company Limited as premier sponsors.



Son Chases Father to Win Phuket Golf Title
Phuket will be the setting for the national open golf title next month and one young player has a special reason to chase the trophy. His father was the first Thai to claim the championship.
Son Chases Father to Win Phuket Golf Title