Bangkok--5 Feb--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Channel 7 announced today that the Honda LPGA THAILAND 2013 golf tournament, being held from February 21 to 24 at Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course, will be headlined by the world’s number one-rated woman golfer and defending champion Tseng Yani, as well top players such as Choi Na Yeon, Stacey Lewis, Inbee Park, Shanshan Feng and 2007 champion Suzann Pettersen. The tournament will once again showcase the best players in the world, with all of the current top 10 confirmed. In addition, invited players Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn, Juntima Gulyanamitta, Lydia Ko, Cheyenne Woods and Michelle Wie have also confirmed their participation.
According to Mr. Pitak Pruittisarikorn, Executive Vice President of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd., “As an official sponsor of the Honda LPGA THAILAND 2013 golf tournament, we are very pleased and honored to partner with Channel 7 to organize the event for the seventh time. This year, it will showcase the world’s top 60 women golfers such as Tseng Yani (the winner in 2011 and 2012), Ai Miyazato (the winner in 2010), Paula Creamer, and Na Yoen Choi. In addition, there are 10 exemption spots such as Michelle Wie, Mamiko Higa, Shinobu Moromizato, Ayako Uehara and Thai rising star golfers Moriya Jutanugarn, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Junthima Gulayanamitta, as well as Cheyenne Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods, and Lydia Ko, the Korean-New Zealander who is the youngest rising-star golfer.
“With the Honda LPGA THAILAND 2013 golf tournament, Thai golf fans can enjoy the excitement of a world-class golf competition featuring many of the best women golfers. To promote Thai tourism and culture, a special Charity Night has also been organized under the concept of ‘Exotic Thai’. It will feature a variety of activities plus an auction for which all earnings will be donated to the Bang Sai Arts and Crafts Centre, which helps the local community to generate more income and increase their standard of living while preserving the tradition of Thai local arts and handicrafts. I would like to invite golf fans who want to experience LPGA-level play not to miss this tournament,” added Mr. Pitak.
Mr. Palakorn Somsuwan, Managing Director of BBTV Channel 7, said, “BBTV has earned the right from the LPGA to once again be the promoter of the Honda LPGA THAILAND, now continuing into its 7th year. The event team has the experience and ability to organize a tournament that will be well received by the players as it starts off their season. Each year, the LPGA THAILAND welcomes more and more spectators. In 2012, there were a record 47,090 spectators during all four days of tournament play and the overseas press filled the international media centre with over 200 journalists.”
Each time the tournament takes place, in addition to reviewing the players’ facilities, security, and overall standards of the tournament delivery, the organizing committee gives high priority to one important objective, which is to provide young Thai players with the opportunity to compete on the world stage and improve their skills. The committee has once again invited Thai players to this tournament, such as the Juthanugarn sisters. Both Ariya and Moriya have consistently earned the opportunity to play in this tournament since the very first year of the Honda LPGA THAILAND. Now they too have joined the professional ranks and will challenge the established LPGA players this year. Pornanong Phatlum, who was previously invited as a special exemption, has already become a proven professional within the LPGA ranks. This year, Mamiko Higa, the Japanese rookie player who won the Japan Women’s Amateur Championship in 2011 and 2012, will also exhibit her golfing talent.
BBTV Channel 7 will broadcast all four days of tournament on February 21st and 22nd from 14:00 to 17:00 hrs, and on February 23rd and 24th from 15:00 to 17:00 hrs. Tickets are available at Thai Ticket Major. Admission is free for spectators who are 18 years old or under and 60 years old or over to give them the opportunity to experience this world-class event.
The Honda LPGA THAILAND 2013 golf tournament takes place from February 21 to 24 at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course. It’s a 72-hole stroke play tournament with no cut to win the prize of 1.5 million US Dollars (45 million Baht). Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. will present any golfer who scores a hole-in-one an all-new 4-wheel drive CR-V with a 2.4 liter engine, worth 1,524,000 Baht.
Catch all the news updates for the Honda LPGA THAILAND 2013 at: http://www.hondalpgathailand2013.com
The world’s top 60 women golfers
1. Nicole Castrale
2. Chella Choi
3. Na Yeon Choi
4. Paula Creamer
5. Jodi Ewart
6. Shanshan Feng
7. Katie Futcher
8. Sandra Gal
9. Julieta Granada
10. Natalie Gulbis
11. Hee-Won Han
12. Mina Harigae
13. Caroline Hedwall
14. Katherine Hull-Krik
15. Mi Jung Hur
16. Vicky Hurst
17. Karine Icher
18. Juki Inkster
19. Eun-Hee Ji
20. Jennifer Johnson
21. Danielle Kang
22. Haeji Kang
23. Cristie Kerr
24. I.K. Kim
25. Jessica Korda
26. Candie Kung
27. Cindy LaCrosse
28. Brittany Lang
29. Ilhee Lee
30. Meena Lee
31. Stacy Lewis
32. Brittany Lincicome
33. Catriona Matthew
34. Ai Miyazato
35. Mika Miyazato
36. Azahara Munoz
37. Anna Nordqvist
38. Se Ri Pak
39. Hee Young Park
40. Inbee Park
41. Suzann Pettersen
42. Pornanong Phatlum
43. Gerina Piller
44. Morgan Pressel
45. Beatriz Recari
46. So Yeon Ryu
47. Lizette Salas
48. Hee Kyung Seo
49. Giulia Sergas
50. Jenny Shin
51. Jiyai Shin
52. Karin Sjodin
53. Angela Stanford
54. Lexi Thompson
55. Yani Tseng
56. Momoko Ueda
57. Karrie Webb
58. Lindsey Wright
59. Amy Yang
60. Sun Young Yoo
Exemptions to HLPGA 2013
1. Ariya Jutanugarn Thailand
2. Moriya Jutanugarn Thailand
3. Numa Gulyanamitta Thailand
4. Ayako Uehara Japan
5. Mamiko Higa Japan
6. Shinobu Moromizato Japan
7. Lydia Ko New Zealand (Korea Race)
8. Cheyenne Woods USA
9. Michelle Wie USA
10. The Champion of Australian Open (Reserved)