Nakhon Ratchasima: A number of Thailand's top players, led by Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, will tee off at the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship today.
The three-million-baht event at the Rancho Charnvee Resort and Country Club is the Asian Development Tour's (ADT) season finale and held in honour of Thai golf legend Boonchu Ruangkit.
ADT hopefuls will face a strong local challenge spearheaded by world No.29 Thongchai and No.37 Kiradech, who both won in the 2015 European Tour season.
Veterans Prayad Marksaeng and Thaworn Wiratchant will also feature in the event alongside Prom Meesawat, Thanyakon Khrongpha and defending champion Phiphatphong Naewsuk.
Kiradech, who won the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation event in September, said: "I feel honoured to play in Boonchu's event. I told Boonchu earlier that I will come back to support his tournament. We are very lucky to have players like Boonchu who opens up career pathways for the younger players in the country."
The 26-year-old, who claimed two European Tour titles this year, said he wanted to win this week to be title-holder of tournaments hosted by two of the country's most respected golfers.
"This week will be very meaningful for me. I have won Thongchai's tournament and I want to win Boonchu's event as well. I am also hoping to boost my world ranking with a victory this week," said Kiradech who is dubbed 'Asia's John Daly.'
Nine-time Asian Tour winner Prayad said: "This week is not just a normal event. It's an event hosted by Boonchu and all Thai professionals are gathered here. This is going to be a fun and perfect event to end the season.
"Boonchu is a role model for all Thai golfers. He knows everything about golf in Thailand. There are a lot of sponsors supporting this event and that shows how important Boonchu is for the development of golf in Thailand.
Boonchu, who had the honour of hitting the opening drive when the Asian Tour was launched in 2004 as a players' body, is hosting his own tournament on the ADT for the second time this season.
Meanwhile, American Casey O'Toole aims to seal his ADT Order of Merit crown with a worthy performance.
Thanks to one victory and nine top 10s on the ADT so far this season, O'Toole leads the money list with a season's haul of US$55,286.
However, the American is not ready to celebrate yet as his closest rival, Hsieh Chi-hsien of Taiwan still has a chance to pip him to the money title if he wins this week.
"My game feels alright. I have been working on some good stuff over the break. Hopefully it holds up well this week. I am not really thinking about the Order of Merit. This is a great field at a great course this week. I need to just focus on myself and my game," said the 25-year-old O'Toole.
"It has been a great year so far and I hope I can finish it with a good week this week. Obviously the goal is to earn an Asian Tour card through the ADT. I have done that so now I just want to play well this week and get ready for next year."