>>Nakhon Ratchasima: Thailand's Gunn Charoenkul is hoping to emulate his success from Asian Tour qualifying school at the season-opening Boonchu Ruangkit Championship, which gets underway on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Thai is riding high on confidence after securing his tour card last week and will spearhead a strong local charge at the fifth edition of the four-million-baht event which will be staged at the Rancho Charnvee Resort and Country Club.
The Asian Development Tour (ADT) event hosted by Thai legend Boonchu Ruangkit will also be graced by Thailand's leading players like Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thongchai Jaidee, Poom Saksansin and Jazz Janewattananond, who are all winners on the Asian Tour.
Gunn successfully made the mark after carding a stunning 10-under-par 61 in the final round of the Asian Tour qualifying school to take second place last week. With his game in good shape, the Thai feels optimistic in his chase for his maiden victory on the ADT since joining the play-for-pay ranks in 2011.
"My game feels pretty solid, especially coming off a good finish last week. After playing on the Japan Tour and the PGA Tour of China I have gained a lot of experience and I know more about my flaws," said Gunn, who split his time between playing in Japan and China last season.
"Boonchu [Ruangkit] is one of the greatest Thai players of his generation who has achieved so much success so I really look up to him. I am looking forward to playing there next week and a win will be a huge boost," added Gunn.
Armed with course knowledge since he last played the event in 2016 and supported by his girlfriend Koy on his bag, Gunn will be a strong contender for the prestigious trophy which has been kept at home since the inaugural edition in 2015.
"The key to that course is good putting and putting yourself in a good position on the greens to make birdies. The course is wide open with a lot of slopes on the greens. But I have a better game plan for this year and I am ready to kick start a good season," said Gunn.
Other notable names in the field include former ADT Order of Merit champions Pannakorn Uthaipas and Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand. American duo Casey O'Toole and Johannes Veerman will also be part of the 144-man field vying for victory as the battle for the Order of Merit crown begins.
The leading seven players on the ADT Order of Merit at the end of the season will earn playing rights on the premier Asian Tour.
Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points are offered in all ADT events with the winner earning a minimum of six OWGR points while the top-six players and ties earn points on a sliding scale.
