With paramount success of 2017 Laguna Phuket Marathon (LPM) which took place on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 June 2017, the 2018 edition of this internationally-recognised and Southeast Asia’s leading destination marathon race has been officially announced to once again take place at Asia’s premier destination resort Laguna Phuket.
The inaugural Singha Phuket Open, Phuket’s first professional golf tournament co-sanctioned by Asian Development Tour (ADT) and All Thailand Golf Tour (ATGT), climaxed on Sunday 28 May 2017 at Laguna Golf Phuket.
The event, sponsored by Singha Corporation and organised by Sports Management Group (SMG), saw over 300 top male and female international professional players. Vying for over 2 million Baht prize fund, players competed at the award-winning Laguna Golf Phuket course and were welcomed by enthusiastic spectators from around Phuket.
23-year-old Thai talent “Tap” Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol was crowned the Men’s Professional Champion (-27), bagging 300,000 Baht first prize and his second professional win this year. “Thanks to Singha Corporation for supporting the All Thailand Golf Tour. Also thanks to the host Laguna Golf Phuket, despite the rain falling every day, I was very impressed with the conditions of the golf course and the great facilities this week,” said Chanachok.
Laguna Golf Phuket member – 16-year-old “First” Kittiphong Phaichuncharoensu was honoured as the Amateur Champion (-6) and received an invitation to play Queens Cup on the Asian Tour in two weeks’ time.
Another young Laguna Golf Phuket member “Golf” Pawat Prachoomsrisakul produced the “shot of the tournament” with a fabulous Hole-In-One during his third round on Saturday.
The event also witnessed a magnificent final round 59 (-11) by Sutijet Kooratanapisan on Sunday, enabling him to climb the leaderboard and finish in 3rd place.
All Tournament Champions received an exclusive “Stay & Play” package worth over 90,000 Baht sponsored by Banyan Tree Phuket, Laguna Golf Phuket and Banyan Tree Spa, in addition to the trophy and prize money.
Live coverage during the final rounds on Saturday and Sunday was broadcast by True Visions around Thailand to over 2 million households, with recorded highlights shown across Asia via television and social media.
Mr Paul Wilson, Laguna Golf Phuket AVP/Group Golf Director enthused, “As a part of Laguna Phuket’s 30th anniversary year-long celebration, we are very honoured to be host venue for this high-profile international golf tournament. Despite the unsettled weather conditions, our golf course provided a wonderful stage for these top international golfers. All Thailand Golf Tour shares our philosophy of developing golfers in Thailand, it was particularly heartening for me to see some of our homegrown players competing well this week.”
Laguna Golf Phuket’s next golf event will be the 2nd Phuket Hospitality Charity Challenge on Friday 23 June 2017, aimed at welcoming golfing hospitality professionals while raising funds for local charity.
For more information, visit www.lagunagolf.com/phuket or contact +66 (0) 7627 0991 / golf@lagunaphuket.com.
Phuket Province and Laguna Golf Phuket golf course have been selected as the premier venues to host All Thailand Golf Tour 2017’s “Singha Phuket Open 2017” – a newly-launched professional golf competition organised by Sports Management Group (SMG) with Singha Corporation as the founding sponsor.
PHUKET, THAILAND – A total of 85 children ages 4-15 swam, biked and ran to the finish line at Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort, one of the leading training destinations for aspiring triathletes and Ironman champions. The triathlon began at Thanyapura’s Olympic-sized 50-metre pool, continued with a bike ride and a run to the athletics track and grandstand.
The kids raced in individual and relay teams in four categories. Top winners in the overall age categories won a customised race suit.
“The race was good. It was really hot and tough. It ended with the wind, so it was good. The cycling was really tough because of the rolling hills. My long term goal is to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games next year in Argentina. If I can, I’ll definitely join the next race,” said Russell Liew Yuan Wei of Malaysia, 1st place male finisher (0:38:15) in the Senior 13-15 age category.
“It was difficult and also my first time. The hardest thing today was to swim, I felt as if I kept on sinking. Cycling and running were easier,” said Pinthira Thumthitikul of Thailand, 1st place female finisher (1:14:01) in the Senior 13-15 age category.
“This event had great turnout because there were many athletes, especially with more Thai kids competing with international children. The swimming pool and cycling route were safe and beautiful. I’m inviting everyone to get involved in the next kids’ triathlon – IronKids in November,” said Ekkarat “Ricky” Phantip, Head Coach of Triathlon at Thanyapura.
Thai youth from grassroots triathlon club “Born Free to Run” also participated as they propelled themselves to the top three places in their age categories. Coach Ricky started the group. It offers free training for local Phuket youngsters and helps them to become future running athletes.
First started in 2013, the Superkidz triathlon continues to attract young triathletes from different nationalities. Thanyapura runs the Triathlon Junior Development Program (JDP) for kids ages 6 – 15 to prepare future champions for the ITU Triathlon circuit. The program runs from 24 April – 16 June 2017. For more information, please email sports@thanyapura.com or visit thanyapura.com/events.
The next major youth multi-sport event, IronKids, will take place on 25 November 2017.
The 1st PGA Golf Academy in Southeast Asia
The PGA has reached an agreement with Laguna Golf Phuket, Thailand, to brand its new state-of-the-art golf academy. The new Laguna Golf Academy, Phuket, will become part of the PGA family of branded facilities joining a group that includes The Belfry in England and Gleneagles in Scotland. The new PGA academy will be the Association’s first in Southeast Asia based in Thailand, and one of the 11 PGA-branded facilities around the world. It complements the award-winning Laguna Golf Phuket’s 18-hole par 71 golf course, extensive practice and coaching facilities.
The new purpose-built Laguna Golf Academy Phuket was launched in 2016, one year after the golf course was fully redesigned, firstly winning ‘Best Renovated Golf Course in Asia’ at the Asian Golf Awards 2015. More recently it has been named ‘Thailand’s Best Golf Course’ back-to-back at the World Golf Awards 2015 and 2016.
Laguna Phuket is Thailand’s first fully integrated destination resort that, besides top-class golf facilities, comprises luxurious hotels, villas, spas and restaurants such as Banyan Tree Phuket and Angsana Laguna Phuket. Laguna Golf also boasts six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo as an official brand ambassador.
More than 30 PGA Professionals are employed in Thailand, including Paul Wilson, Laguna Golf Assistant Vice President and Group Golf Director.
He said: “We are thrilled to become part of The PGA family and enhance our new Laguna Golf Academy Phuket with this PGA branding.
“We have made considerable investment in the overall golfing facilities in Laguna Phuket over the last few years. Since reopening our 18-hole golf course in January 2015, we have received wonderful feedback and won several industry awards.
“One of our key business objectives has been to enhance golf instruction within Laguna Golf. Developing this new relationship with The PGA will enable us to offer the very best in service standards and golf instruction techniques to our members and guests.”
Robert Maxfield, the Association’s deputy chief executive, added: “The PGA is delighted to announce the start of a new relationship with Laguna Phuket.
“The exceptional golf facilities that now form The PGA academy provide an integral part of a high-class international resort of a quality that is synonymous with The PGA brand and our Members.”
As part of the ongoing relationship, the Laguna Phuket resort will host the first overseas PGA Members’ event.
This will take place from the 5-8 November 2017 and The PGA who is based at The Belfry will seek to engage the 1,500 PGA Members currently operating in 81 overseas countries, offering them an educational opportunity and an ability to network and share their experiences.
PHUKET, THAILAND – Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort has partnered with Sports Camp Australia (SCA) to organise interschool games and sporting programmes from 2017 – onward. Nearly 20,000 parents, students, supporters and coaches from Australasia are expected to participate, generating over 40,000 room nights for Phuket. Fifty per cent of the room nights will be spread out among other resorts in the area.
Students from across the Asian region will compete and participate across various sports in the Phuket over the coming years. The sports include athletics, football, basketball, baseball, swimming, tennis and other sports.
“Thanyapura is committed to turning Thailand into a regional sports hub for the international community. We partnered up with Sports Camp Australia to advance Phuket’s sports tourism economy with the influx of parents, children and coaches from the regional sporting community,” said Philipp Graf von Hardenberg, President and CEO of Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort.
“Sports Camp Australia is delighted to work with Thanyapura in developing Phuket as a sports hub and destination – for upcoming athletes across the region in addition to tourism. The participants will learn from highly accomplished coaches and experience Thanyapura’s world-class facilities, which continue to be an exceptional training centre for athletes of all levels,” said James Mak, Chairman of Sports Camp Australia.
“The government of Phuket is proud to support local partners in driving sports tourism to Phuket. Thanyapura has consistently put on successful sporting events that drive thousands of athletes to Phuket,” said Mrs. Siwaporn Chuasawat, Phuket Vice-Governor.
“Sports Camp Australia chooses Phuket as a destination for the international school sporting community, after many years of holding competitions throughout the Asia Pacific and Australian regions. This not only benefits the visitors who descend to Phuket for the sports programmes, but encourages our nation to compete in sporting events,” said Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports.
Sports Camp Australia partners with the best coaches across the region and in Thailand in running sports programmes. SCA’s goal is to “shape lifelong enjoyment of high quality sports education and skill enhancement.” The Sydney-based company coordinates the most successful sporting programmes across Asia. The new partnership with Thanyapura expands their presence in Asia, specifically, Thailand. The first programme is scheduled for June – August 2017 and features swimming, tennis and football.
Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort, a well-being hub for sports and health enthusiasts, offers a unique concept with sporting events and training camps for all athletes. Facilities feature the 50m and 25m swimming pools and quiet road for cyclists.
Thanyapura is a sport, fitness, health and educational haven. There is the high-quality sports hotel, award-winning organic restaurants, a mind centre, specialised and holistic medical centre and an international school. Thanyapura’s health and wellness centre is the hub of innovative medical facilities and services such as yoga, spa, mind training, physiotherapy, weight loss and much more. In January 2017, the 37-room Garden Wing launched a new concept, welcoming guests with holistic offerings of leading a healthy lifestyle and a balanced mind.
PHUKET, THAILAND – Kenyan runners crossed the finish line at Thanyapura, taking top spots for the third year in row alongside German, Singaporean, and Thai finishers. 785 participants (239 women and 543 men) competed in the 10-Mile race.
David Kibet, who won the 2016 race, finished the 10-mile race in 52 minutes and four seconds. Fellow Kenyan athlete, David Chepkwony took the silver at 54 minutes and 43 seconds. Andreas Dreitz, six-time German Ironman 703 European Champion, finished with a time of 56 minutes and 42 seconds.
A new women’s champion was crowned with Carolyne Mitei of Kenya finishing at 1 hour, 4 minutes and 5 seconds. Ethiopia Gebremeskel of Ethiopia followed in second place at 1 hour, 7 minutes and 6 seconds. Vivian Tang, Singapore’s “Fastest Female Marathoner” claimed the bronze with a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes and 25 seconds.
The Thai runners who rounded out the podium, finished top places in the Thai category:
Male
Female
“I feel good today. Because I was here last year and I win again. This year, I’m happy to defend again. The race was good and humid. I’ll also join next year. This year, I ran 51 minutes. Last year I ran 50 minutes,” said David Kibet (Kenya), 1st place male overall finisher.
“I’m very happy to be the winner of 10 Mile this day. This is my first time to run the 10-Mile in Thailand. Thank you all,” said Carolyne Mitei (Kenya), 1st place female overall finisher.
“I took the chance to test myself and my limits here. It’s a great race and so much fun, to run around Thanyapura’s areas. I had no chance to follow the fast guys but I’m more than happy to take third place,” said Andreas Dreitz (Germany), 3rd place overall male finisher and part of the German team erdinger alkoholfrei.
“I’m very happy. I’m enjoying the scenery and nature as I run. Everything here was well- prepared. The race was perfect. I was here last year and I’ll come back next year,” said Khun Wilaiwan Kumpituk (Thailand), 1st place female Thai finisher.
“Today’s event is a colourful one for Phuket as a province, especially during school holidays. It’s considered a successful event as over 2,500 runners showed up. It supports sports tourism because athletes come from domestic and global markets. We hope Thanyapura and Supersports can continue to build the race’s reputation on a global and professional scale,” said Anoma Wongyai, Director of TAT Phuket.
“This is the first time I’ve been to the 10-Mile Run – the first serious race for me. I come to Thanyapura frequently, since they hold many events throughout the year,” said Metinee Kingpayom, Thai model and actress.
In addition to the 10-Mile, 820 runners (392 women, 427 men) competed in the 5-Mile race.
Now in its third year, the Supersports 10-Mile International Run 2017 Phuket continues to entice recreational runners and renowned athletes to its tranquil and picturesque route – set amid the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park and Northern Phuket’s rubber plantations. 2,500 runners competed in the 10-mile, 5-mile, 2-mile and children’s 500-metre categories.
The event’s success is made possible by these sponsors: Supersports, New Balance, Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort, Gatorade, Johnson Health Tech (Thailand), Krungthai Card Public Co. Ltd (KTC), Thai Health Promotion Foundation, CRG, Mister Donut, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, FamilyMart, Tanita, New) TV 18, Aquafina, Radio Trip 89.75, Khao Phuket, Sports Authority of Thailand, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Ministry of Tourism & Sports and Anda Focus.
Race result:
On 31 January 2017, Phuket International Hospital held a press conference for the 5th Run for Health Run for Charity Mini Marathon
PHUKET, THAILAND – Road cyclists from all over the globe participated in the Third Thanyapura Phuket Classic Cycling competition in two distances: the 45-kilometre and the advanced 106-kilometre on 29 January, 2017.
Laguna Golf Group had recently clinched a harvest of 11 awards at the prestigious Asia Golf Awards 2016 in Hua Hin, Thailand
With paramount success of 2016 Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT), Laguna Phuket has announced the award-winning race’s 24th edition to take place on Sunday 19 November 2017.
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