Crack Thais out to break Philippines Open spell

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran campaigners Wisut Artjanawat and Namchok Tantiphokakul head a fired-up Thailand side seeking to finally end a long Solaire Philippine Open jinx in  the country’s premier championship set at The Country Club in Laguna April 3-6.

Prom Meesawat nearly snapped that spell in last year’s Centennial staging of the fabled event when he grabbed the lead after three rounds of play in brutal conditions. But the talented Thai took a heartbreaker of a defeat to local ace Miguel Tabuena, bowing in sudden death that extended the country’s perennial regional rivals’ woes in Asia’s oldest National Open.

But Artjanawat and Tantiphokakul along with Sutijet Kooratanapisan, Pasavee Lertvilai, Nirun Sae-Ueng and Poosit Supupramai are going all out this time to accomplish what Meesawat had failed to achieve in the 101st edition of the annual championship, also at the Tom Weiskoph-layout.

Tabuena, now busy campaigning in other regional tours in pursuit of world ranking points, will be back to defend the crown and shoot for a third title, along with the other Filipino top guns and aces from 13 other countries making up the early 92-player field in the 72-hole championship.