TGGA Team Elite players participate in the PTT Thailand Senior Open Pro-Am

Dec. 2, 2010 - PRLog -- Beautiful blue skies and light breezes welcomed the opening day of the 2010 PTT Thailand Senior Open at the Royal Chiang Mai Golf Resort. The three-day event commences today following yesterday’s opening day Pro-Am. Twenty enthusiastic Pro-Am teams consisting of four Amateurs showed up for an afternoon chance to play a round of golf with a Senior Tour player.

Representing Chiang Mai’s very own Three-Generation Golf Academy (TGGA) and the PTIS International School were Team Elite players Tapat (Es) Wittayakom (Grade 10) and Chayutpol (Smart) Kittirattanapaiboon (Grade 9) along with cricket coach, Englishman David Buck and PTIS operations staff, Australian Rod Driscoll. Teamed up with PGA Senior Tour player Don Leary from Perth, Australia, they appeared to be a well-rounded team with handicaps ranging from 0 to 27.

It’s white-knuckle time for most amateurs teeing it up for the nerve-wracking first shot from the championship tees under the watchful eye of a Tour Player, but with this group one felt as if they were out for a weekend round of golf such was the easy going camaraderie that Don Leary established early on in the day.

Es and Smart, the only junior golfers who entered the Pro-Am event, played with ease and confidence. Their combined tournament experience and golf talent contributed to the Team winning not only the Team event, but also Es taking home the individual Amateur trophy for his gross round of 75.

When asked by their coach, Spike, what they thought about playing with a Tour Player, they both agreed that “We have never seen so many straight shots hit by one person!” When asked how he felt, coach Spike said, “I could not be more proud. I’m thrilled the boys had this great opportunity. I’m very grateful to all the organizers and sponsors for welcoming our young players into this wonderful event. I know they not only learned a lot about their game, but also about the game of golf played by gentlemen.”

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