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Luang Prabang, Laos, 19 January 2012: In a far reaching development for golf in the region Laos will host its’ very first professional golf tournament this year when the Luang Prabang Lao Open tees-off on the ASEAN PGA Tour.

Signifying the rapid expansion of golf in the region and in particular into new untapped nations the Luang Prabang Lao Open will be played at Luang Prabang Golf Club from April 26 to 29.

It will boast prize money of US$80,000 and be the third event of the season on the ASEAN PGA Tour.

“The Luang Prabang Lao Open is the first championship golf tournament in Laos, which reflects the great cooperation between the government and the private sector. We have joined together to promote Luang Prabang City and also to help develop the golf industry in Laos to a world class level. The tournament will be a good public relations activity as part of the 'Visit Laos Year’ in 2012,” said Dr Khampheng Saysompheng, Governor, Luang Prabang.

Laos had a taste of tournament golf in 2009 when it hosted the 25th South East Asian Games.

The Thailand men’s amateur team beat Singapore in a play-off to win the gold medal. Thanyakon Khrongpha, now one of the rising stars of professional golf in Asia, was part of the Thai team which competed at the SEA Games Golf Club in the capital Vientiane. 

Luang Prabang Golf Club is a new world-class venue located in Luang Prabang, which is a city in north central Laos. It is about 425 kilometres north of Vientiane. The city is also notable as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The club is only a 15 minute drive from the town centre and Luang Prabang International Airport.

“On behalf of Luang Prabang Golf Club, it is a true delight and honor to host an ASEAN PGA Tour event at Luang Prabang. I am certain that the exposure will be phenomenal. I would like to thank the Laos Government, the event organisers, sponsors and the Laos National Golf Federation. The Luang Prabang Lao Open will provide an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of the beautiful and peaceful city of Luang Prabang, which is a wonderful tourist destination and also a great place to do business,” Mr Gang Pil Lee, CEO, Luang Prabang Golf Club.

This year marks the sixth season of the ASEAN PGA Tour, which was inaugurated in 2007 to provide more playing opportunities for ASEAN golfers.

Last year Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat took the lion’s share of the trophies on the ASEAN PGA Tour. The talented golfer won the Order of Merit title winnings of US$24,001 and was voted the Player of the Year by his peers.

“This season the ASEAN PGA Tour boasts three new tournaments which is a reflection of the interest and confidence that exists in the ASEAN PGA. More importantly this is wonderful news for the young professional golfers in ASEAN who have embraced our Tour since day one. The fact that we are heading to Laos for the first time is also a truly inspiring development,” said Ramlan Harun, Executive Director, ASEAN PGA.

Along with the Laos government, Thailand-based company Tropical Hospitality Management (THM) have been the driving force behind the event.

“We are thrilled to be able to help showcase Laos as an outstanding tourism destination while also revealing that it is one golf’s new frontiers. What better way of doing this than by staging the country’s first professional tournament on one of the region’s established Tours,” said Mr. Wisith Chawalitanon – CEO of Tropical Hospitality Management.

THM are also working with World Sport Group (WSG), Asia’s leading sports marketing agency; specializing in sports sponsorship, sports content, and sports event management. WSG are the official commercial partner for the ASEAN PGA Tour.

Their television arm produces a one hour highlight show for each event which is broadcast on ESPN Star Sports.

The ASEAN PGA Tour first event this year is the Bali International Pro Am from March 1 to 3. The season concludes with the Sabah Masters in November.