Golf: Amata Spring Country Club to host Asian International Final Qualifier
The Amata Spring Country Club has been chosen as the stage for Asian International Final Qualifier, which will take place on 24-25 February, 2011.
Every year, European Tour organises International Final Qualifiers in five continents to give an opportunity to golfers around the world to become part of the Open Championship. The winner from each continent competes against the most
powerful veterans of the world at St George for the glorious Claret Jug.
The series of tournaments started in 2004 for the players who did not hold the membership of European, Sunshine, Champion and Professional Golfers Association Tour.
IFQ 2011 will take place in Thailand with a field of 78 players and interestingly, this is the very first time for Thailand to have the honours.
Thailand will be the third country in the IFQ circuit, which the tournament will visit since its start. Before this, Malaysia had the privilege to host the event on three different occasions, including in 2010. Moreover, Sentosa Golf Club of Singapore hosted
it four times before that.
R&A Director, Michael Tate confirmed the news regarding the venue in a conference. He said, “Amata Spring is a fitting venue for IFQ's first visit to Thailand. In its short history, it has proven itself a stern test for some of the
world's best players, and it will undoubtedly give us four qualifiers worthy of their place at Royal St George's.”
The club earned the honour owing to his flawless reputation in the region. Amata Spring was inaugurated in 2004 and it soon became a host to several renowned events. Moreover, the venue is recognised for its fabulous par-3 17th
hole, which has a floating green.
The club management is extremely happy with the honour. While speaking to the press, Executive Director of Amata Spring, Sarath Ratanavadi said, “It's an honour to be the first club in Thailand to host an International Final Qualifier
for The Open Championship. In five years, the Club and its course have established a reputation for excellence, and the staging of one of five worldwide qualifying events for golf's oldest Major will only serve to enhance that.”
IFQ is a platform that gives opportunities to the players who are either amateurs or do not possess memberships at any of the big tours. Owing to such events, golfers like Hiroyuki Fujita, Danny Chia, Noh Seung-Yul and Eric Chun emerge as big stars in the
world of golf.
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