Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, January 11: Kwanchai Tannin topped the bill at the ASEAN PGA Tour Gala Awards Night held at Sutera Harbour’s plush Marina. The 27 year old Thai received trophies for winning the ASEAN PGA Order of Merit title and he was also voted the Players’ Player of the Year. The young golfer once dubbed the new Boonchu Ruankgit, one of Thailand’s most revered golfers, triumphed in the Singha Pattaya Open and the PGM-ASEAN PGA Negeri Sembilan Masters last year.
Kwanchai was also fourth in the Luang Prabang Laos Open and third in the Singha Chiangmai Open.
He played in seven out of the nine events on Tour and won US$35,630 – a Tour record.
The likeable Thai also claimed the Birdie Leader Award by scoring a sizzling 112 birdies from 26 rounds.
He turned professional in 2006 and recorded his maiden win on the ASEAN PGA Tour in the 2009 Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia.
The Thai star becomes the third player from his country to win the Merit list after Namchok Tantipokhakul in 2009 and Wisut Artjanawat in 2011.
His fine year also meant he was one of the top four players to earn their OneAsia cards along with compatriots Namchok, Wisut and Ratchapol Jantavara. Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club and Singha Park shared the Venue of the Year Award. Wonder kid Phachara Khongwatmai from Thailand picked up the award for Most Inspiring Achievement for victory in Singha Hua Hin Open. He was 14 years old when he won making him the youngest winner of a professional tournament. Ratchapol, who had a breakthrough season as a professional finishing fourth on the Merit list, received the Rising Star Award while Singapore’s Mardan Mamat claimed the Best Stroke Average title, with 69.
Asean PGA Tour backup site 