640 Golfers, 23 Countries & 181 Golf Clubs Gathered at Centara World Masters, Thailand, Hua Hin

GOLD COAST, Australia - June 28, 2015 - PRLog -- More than 700 visitors from 23 countries, representing 181 golf clubs, converged on Thailand’s resort town of Hua Hin for the second annual tournament which ran 14 to 20 June.

The tournament, for male and female golfers aged 35 and over, attracted participants from as far afield as Iceland, France, Germany, USA, and South Africa. More than half of the entrants were from Australia while big groups also came from New Zealand and India

Asia was also well represented with big numbers from China, Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore. China golf travel specialists, Unitrip, brought a group of 42 from Grand Hills Golf, the biggest number from any single club.

There were 43 tournament staff on the ground working to ensure the tournament’s smooth operation and to provide hospitality and service to competitors. Like many, Pablo Soon from the Philippines was impressed with all aspects of the event. “Together with my friends we travel the world playing tournaments. This is the best service we have ever experienced. There were hospitality staff to look after everything.

Plenty of bottled water was given out at the courses and complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks at the welcome and presentation dinners as well as the nightly 19th Hole festivities. The 8,847 bottles of water was eclipsed by 9,123 beers. Clearly ‘fun’ was high on the agenda for most.

The 80 non-golfers were treated to cooking classes and a Hua Hin tour. Many also chose to take up additional day trips to experience the local floating market and River Kwai.

The tournament grew from 500 to 700 this year and such was the success of this year’s tournament, event organisers are planning for a capacity of 800 for the third annual event scheduled for 12 to 18 June 2016

“We are so delighted with the success of the event, and based on the overwhelming positive feedback from participants, we are planning for 800 participants next year,” tournament director, Peter McCarthy, the principal of Australian tour operator, Go Golfing, said on Sunday.

Michael and Christine Marks, Sydney, Australia, were among the hundreds confirming their return in 2016. “We loved the courses and meeting new friends. We are already looking forward to next year.”

The Mulders, Western Australia, were among the many choosing to extend their travels in Thailand. “We arrived a week before the tournament to enjoy more courses. They were all of a very high standard. I have played golf in Asia before and these caddies were just fabulous."

The headline sponsor, Centara Hotels and Resorts, was backed by TaylorMade-adidas Golf, Thai Beverage, Coca-Cola Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Black Moutain, the City of Hua Hin and D’ablo Sportswear.

A gala prizegiving party at the Centara Grand Hotel on Friday night saw the main lucky draw prize go to Kim Payne from Thailand who won a return package to the 2016 Centara World Masters while Lansen Hsieh from the Philippines won a trip to the Ladbrokes World Masters tournament on Australia’s Gold Coast from 25-31 October 2015

Three players scored a hole in one during the tournament. Rob Wilson from Australia aced the 6th hole at Majestic Creek, Nithis Jamlongkaew from Thailand on the 4th at Imperial LakeView and Alistair Purves recorded his hole in one of the 17th at Black Mountain.

Players from Australia and Asia dominated the 20 ladies and men’s divisions contested during the tournament.

Tournament Champions

Ladies 35-55 gross: Robyn Tait, Vietnam

Ladies 35-55 A grade stableford: LiJun Feng, China

Ladies 35-55 B grade stableford: Ester Fasol, Philippines

Ladies 56-65 gross: Marion Wright, Australia

Ladies 56-65 A grade stableford: Lansen Hsieh, Philippines

Ladies 56-65 B grade stableford: Mary Ang, Philippines

Ladies 66+ gross: Noeline Tukaokao, Australia

Ladies 66+ A grade stableford: Helen Nolan, Australia

Ladies 66+ B grade stableford: Loraine Luckie, Australia

Men’s 35-55 gross: Amit Luthra, India

Men’s 35-55 A grade stableford: Tanaset Theeranontakul, Thailand

Men’s 35-55 B grade stableford: Jonathon Tait, Vietnam

Men’s 35-55 C grade stableford: John Brislin, Australia

Men’s 56-65 A grade gross: Richard McGhie, Australia

Men’s 56-65 A grade stableford: Minh Vo Ahn, Vietnam

Men’s 56-65 B grade stableford: Ian Carr, Australia

Men’s 56-65 C grade stableford: Michael Marks, Australia

Men’s 66+ A grade gross: Tony Tan, Philippines

Men’s 66+ A grade stableford: Michael Norman, Australia

Men’s 66+ B grade stableford: Eric Butler, Australia

For more information and more golf tournaments, visit http://www.gogolfing.net.au/golf-tournaments/.