Thai ace eyes sweep

Like Artjanawat, Tantipokhakul is also gunning for a second PGTA win this year after ruling the kickoff leg at Luisita last April

WISUT Artjanawat banners the Thai contingent.

Wisut Artjanawat spearheads a crack Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) Asia contingent bracing for a fierce duel with the top guns of PGA of Taiwan (TPGA), eyeing no less than a sweep of the two PGTA events in Taiwan in the Nan Pao TPGA Open beginning Thursday in Tainan City.

The Thai veteran overcame a huge six-shot deficit in the final round and beat local ace Song Mengyu by two in the Daan TPGA Open in Taichung last May, breaking the Taiwanese domination of the annual event while earning the tag as winner of the first PGT Asia event held overseas.

Although he struggled to finish joint 31st in the last PGT Asia tournament at Aboitiz Invitational at Wack-Wack three weeks ago after a tied for eighth effort at Manila Southwoods last July, the 33-year-old Artjanawat hopes to put it all together again this week in a bid to dominate the Taiwan tournaments in the third season of the region’s emerging circuit put up by ICTSI.

Artjanawat also heads a talent-laden roster of PGTA campaigners in the $100,000 event co-sanctioned by TPGA and Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., including No. 3 Namchok Tantipokhakul, No. 7 Teemu Putkonen of Finland, No. 8 Kammalas Namuangruk and ninth-ranked Tony Lascuña.

Like Artjanawat, Tantipokhakul is also gunning for a second PGTA win this year after ruling the kickoff leg at Luisita last April with Piya Swangarunporn, Poosit Supupramai, Pasavee Lertvilai, Ratchapol Jantavara, Panuwat Muenlek, Atthaphon Sriboonkaew, Sutijet Kooratanapisan, Natthapoing Niyomchon, Peradol Panyathanasedh, Tawit Polthai, Puk Pradittan, Bouahom Thammasack, Choowong Wongsakorn and Sakulyong Pachara completing the big Thai cast in the 72-hole championship.